Hotel Keen - Palo Alto

This place was great. Clean, friendly and in downtown.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

excellent

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The room was clean, and checking in late wasn't a problem. We didn't have a car, so I can't speak to the parking. The location is great. We were in town for an alumni event at Stanford, and it was convenient to ride the local bus, the Cal Train, and get around downtown Palo Alto. The morning breakfast was uncommonly good - nice pastries and a good showing […] of fruit. The biggest downside was that I could turn on the light near the door of the room without turning on the lights over the bed, but since we were only there one night, it wasn't a big deal. The rooms are small, which was fine for us, but there's only one chair and a tiny desk, if that sort of thing is important to you. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Curtain for a bathroom door not acceptable

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great place. Clean, helpful staff, well designed. I would recommend staying there.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This is a great, hip metro hotel. Rooms are compact but well designed. Location is great...downtown within 3 blocks of Stanford's main entrance. No hotel parking but lots of street parking and public lot next door.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

If I had been travelling on my own or just with a partner this hotel would have been fabulous. Unfortunately I had my kids in tow, and this hotel is not suitable for families! It is far too modern and trendy and I felt really bad about bringing my kids here as they completely spoiled the atmosphere. It's a small hotel, and I'm sure the bar would have […] been quite fun for after work drinks. We chose to stay at the hotel because it is so central to everything in Palo Alto, and we just couldn't find anything that close to town for the price. The rooms are very basic (and being able to write on the walls is a huge gimmick) but if you are just in town for a night or two you don't really need too much in terms of amenities, especially with all the fantastic restaurants that Palo Alto has to offer. Anyway, it was great value and I would stay here again (without the kids!). Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Rooms are very small, and lack closets. They are stylish, and meant for the short term biz traveller. Hotel staff are exceedingly polite and helpful. They have very comfy beds, and housekeeping is conscientious. No parking (only street) but it was not an issue over a weekend. They have white boards in every room, and sufficient outlets for devices.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Hotel Keen is in a fantastic location, half a block off University Ave in the heart of Palo Alto. The rooms are clean and efficient, but quite small. Biggest downside is thin walls - you will hear your neighbors. Highly recommended for a single business traveler as it's right near Stanford and the best food south of San Francisco. Would not recommend […] for a couple or for romance. The staff is also outstanding. I forgot something very important in the room, and they shipped it to me immediately. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

If you like staying in an 8X10 room with NO closet, NO dresser, NO place to place your luggage except on the floor, then this the place for you!! The staff was very nice and the decor was really cute, but my bathroom at home was larger than the whole room at the Keen.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The rooms are small but so clean and cute. The service is amazing, front desk staff was awesome! Would definitely return.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The location of the hotel couldn't have been better; it is less than a block from University Avenue downtown, allowing me to walk to just about everything. The staff was more than friendly, and the continental breakfast in the morning and wine in the afternoon were appreciated. The room was fine for me, since I was traveling alone; it might have been […] small for a couple. It did not have a window (there was an opaque window, which faced an alley), which was acceptable for me, because I wasn't there in the daytime at all, but might have bothered some. The only other inconvenience was parking. Yes, I found street parking every night within a block of the hotel, but I had to be up and out in time to move the car before street restrictions became a problem. It worked, but perhaps not as smoothly as I might have chosen. Overall, though, I enjoyed the hotel and found the rates to be very reasonable. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Great little hotel. The location in downtown Palo Alto was fantastic, and within walking distance of Stanford University. The hotel isn't like most cookie cutter franchise hotels I've stayed in...one of the walls was a whiteboard!

Genuine Expedia guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Will stay again in my next visit. Don't pay extra money on a "deluxe Room" it's really almost the same size.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Small room, great location, wholesome breakfast, good coffee, good wifi. Not much else you need in a hotel. The maids hung up my shirt. OK, the chairs in the lounge were weird and I couldn't slouch like I wanted to. Slouchers beware of this hotel! But if you really need a good slouch, go to philz coffee on Alma.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Great Location ! / Just a half-block from University Avenue with its great eateries, shops, bars etc. / Near Stanford U.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We really enjoyed the stay here. The staff were friendly (although a bit odd at times) and very welcoming of our toddler, thinking of things they could offer her, such as popcorn and juice. The hotel seems to be aimed at business travelers, particularly those in the tech field, but we were happy and comfortable. There was no door on the bathroom, though […] - only a curtain. We liked the reasonably priced honesty bar and appreciated the complimentary wine offered. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

It is a clean hotel, right in the middle of dowtown Palo Alto and although it does not have its own parking, there are several public parkings around for free. However, it is very, very small, not good for long stays or if you are looking for comfort. Other than the bed and TV, everything else was compact. Breakfast is more than just continental, and […] very good. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

pros: window opens, friendly employee, IDEA PAINT wall (I like that), the snack corner in the lobby is allright, comfortable bed, liked the bathroom (bathrobe is a real one!), lightning, shower cons: during a 5 nights stay they forgot to do my room once, no coffee maker in room (but that's minor since coffee available in lobby)

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The hotel Keen is in a great location and the staff are very attentive. The room was nice, but the property must have been something other than a hotel at some point, as the walls are quite "thin" from a sound perspective, and the power failure in my room that occured by turning on a room light was a surprise and an annoyance.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Everything was great, except the walls were a little thin, so I could hear conversations and TV in the room next to me. Otherwise, the location was terrIfic, the hospitality of the staff was exceptional, and the little extras were quite nice (free continental breakfast, happy hour at 5, environmentally conscience toiletries).

Genuine Expedia guest review

Things started looking shady when a random person walked into my room, thinking it was theirs. Then the staff needed me to come back to the front desk to re-check-in to my room because it wasn't done right the first time. Could have lived with all of that, except that the walls are so ridiculously thin. I could here the entire conversation in the room […] next door late into the night. Got a terrible night's sleep as a result. I will not be going back. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The staff was very friendly and though small, the rooms were nice. The only thing that was a bit unusual was the curtain in lieu of a bathroom door. Would stay there again as it was a good value and not a generic Silicon Valley hotel. The friendliness of the people working there maded the difference. Also, the public lounge was well equipped.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I truely enjoyed it.The facilities are in excellent shape, the staff is genuinely friendly, and the location is right where we wanted to be.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Hotels.com says "complimentary parking" but there was no hotel parking. Parking was metered (2 hour) on the street or in a city lot and tough to get a spot. The hotel is close to a bar and there was a steady murmur of voices until 2 am on the weekend. All else about this hotel is fantastic, from the service to the complimentary breakfast.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I found the hotel to have nice decor and was clean. It is in a perfect location too. We didn't have much of a view but for one night it was great. If you need privacy there is only a curtain separating the bathroom from the bedroom. Wasn't an issue for us but it may be for a new couple.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I arrived after 9pm to a startling question: "we are oversold, so would you mind moving to a different hotel?" I did mind, and apparently my room already had been assigned to me, so no move was necessary. I walked down the hall to find a tiny but tastefully appointed room. Wifi didn't work, but the Ethernet cable was operable. Sparkling white and clean, […] the room would do for one night. Small flat-screen TV had only analog channels - no HDTV here. Would I go back for a week? Doubtful, although the continental breakfast tastes better than what most hotels provide. And the location can hardly be trumped, unless one is willing to drop $100-200 more per night. Good for one person for one night? Yes. For 2 people? Depends on how close you are! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Everything about this place was "just right" for this picky traveler after finding the standard room to be just a bit to small. If you're comfortable living out of a suitcase, the standard room was fine, but I like to hang things up. It took a quick trip to the desk to upgrade to the deluxe room, which was "just right". Easy and interesting walking […] distance in the downtown area with lots of great places to eat. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The Hotel: -The front desk clerks were nice -The front desk was out of toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash. And didn't stock up the next morning either... -Free Wi-Fi -Have to find your own parking, but there is a lot right next to the hotel. -Accepted our request for one hour extension checkout The Room: Cozy Small and Clean -Comfortable Queen Bed -Two […] firm pillows and two soft ones -Nice flat screen TV -Very little channels -Different lighting options -No closet but a wall hook -Drawers under the bed The Bathroom: Clean -No door but a curtain -Came with the basic amenities -Clean white towels -A fan that makes a quiet hum -Shower head has different modes The Major CONS: May get restless sleep. -The AC/Heater is right above the bed. The lowest setting was 63 degrees, and it was blowing some hot air to our heads that I had to set it off. -The Walls are thin. It rained a little over night, and because our room had the rain gutter on the other side of the wall by the window, I was able to hear rain droplets echoing down to the downspout of the gutter all night long... The tapping was endless and it was annoying. And our room was unfortunately right by the elevator and I could hear people walking down the hallway a bit loud, and our door shakes when other doors gets closed. It was a special birthday night, and I was excited on choosing Hotel Keen for our stay. However I am not sure if I will come back again due to a bad experience on the sleep. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Bed was very comfortable and I got a late checkout. The room was kept very clean by staff while I was away but was also very small. No view. The surrounding area was very walkable and lots of restaurants around ... little interesting options for shopping.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

On the positive side, the location was good, the staff was nice, the bed was comfortable, there was some attempt at style, and the morning coffee bar was above average. Unfortunately, this is not a facility I can recommend because pretty much everything else was crap. The room was very small, with no room for any furniture, there was basically nowhere […] to even put anything except either on the bed or on the narrow walkway to the door. There was no closet or drawers, and very limited shelf space. Because of this, I did not feel comfortable with allowing housekeeping into the room during my three night stay - as they would not have been able to do anything without stepping on my stuff. The walls were very thin, and I could clearly hear other guests in adjacent rooms talking at normal levels. Water pressure was poor, so there was no comfort in the shower. Worse of all, the facility has NO PARKING, and guests are expected to find parking on the street or in a public lot with no guarantee that a space will even be available, plus the risk of getting a parking ticket if you do not closely observe the multiple rules and time limitations that apply. The fact that this defect is not CLEARLY stated when you reserve the room stinks - as it was a nasty surprise to learn on arrival. Bottom line, for the price charged, the value was poor. The place clearly has good intentions - but the execution was poor. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Perfect location. Outstanding hospitality- staff was very helpful and thoughtful. Breakfast - good variety, very much Like a B & B. Wine in late afternoon. Missed having a closet, luggage rack and bedside lamp. Room across from housekeeping noisy in morning.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great Hotel - Highly Recommend. Great Hospitality. Great Service. Will be staying again!

Genuine Expedia guest review

The "deluxe" room is very small, with a tiny bathroom just off the entry door that a curtain instead of a bathroom door. Not exactly private, acoustically, and I could hear every noise everyone was making in their rooms. The light-switches were in strange and difficult-to-reach locations...one could turn off the reading lights fromt the since there […] were no table surfaces near the bed and the switch was way up on the middle of the wall separating the bed from the bathroom. The table or desk supplied to sit and work on one's laptop computer has a big overhanging cupboard whose edge is flush with the tabletop and optimally place to bang one's head when getting up from the desk. The color palette was grayish, and the room not particularly arty or even pleasant to the eye. Kind of depressing. A big warning should be given at booking--there is no hotel parking lot or facility, although you can park on the street or in the nearby public parking lot for free after 6 p.m. However, all of the parking is full due to the heavy dining crowd from 6-9:30 p.m. I had to wait until 10 p.m. to repark my car. Otherwise, the staff was nice, courteous, and watchful, and the place was clean. Very easy access to the downtown eateries, to Stanford, and to Caltrans. The bed was comfortable, although the pillows were not. Overall, I would recommend the hotel if it were cheaper, but not at the price I paid. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

In the heart of Palo altyo is is convenient, caltrian 1 block and the general manager is very understanding person his name is Peter. Great Hotel to stay in.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This is a nice little find in the heart of Palo Alto, a block from the CalTrain and bus depot. Full renovated/remodeled just over a year ago, it has the feel of a small W Hotel. However, the rooms are very small, on the order of half of a typical Marriott-type hotel. Clean and comfortable. A bit noisy on a Friday night as there is a club on the adjoining […] property. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Perfect downtown location and lovely contemporary design but on the small side. Nice continental breakfast and the overall price is reasonable for Palo Alto. On the downside there was no hot water and after alerting staff we were eventually given key to another room a floor below to shower in as they said there were no similar rooms that had hot water […] working. After two nights like this we were moved to another room with hot water. No mention of any credit or discount on room price and staff were less than apologetic. Walls are very thin between rooms, we could hear every cough sneeze and phone conversation of the people next door. Also there is no door on bathroom only a curtain. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

We booked this for my mother-in-law over Christmas. The shower in her room had no hot water. When she talked with the front desk she was told that she could go across the hall to an empty room to shower. She is elderly and not great at advocating for herself or dealing with changes of plans and going down to the desk in her robe every morning to get […] a key to the room across the hall to shower was too much for her. She had a cold shower each morning instead. My husband asked about getting a discount to compensate and was told that he would have to wait to speak with the manager after the holiday. When he went back to speak with them they said maybe they would credit her one day but this hasn't happened. Great location but the customer service is terrible. We have used this place to put up guests several times and as long as everything is fine, everything is fine. We are looking for a place that will make everything great even when things go wrong and this isn't it. I think it is time to go back to putting up our guests at the Westin. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Close to everything, nice staff, compeditive pricing

Genuine Expedia guest review

Very contemporary boutique hotel in downtown Palo Alto...perfect walking distance to University Avenue and all the shops and restaurants. Small rooms but enough space for two. Breakfast in the morning and cookies at night...definitely would recommend!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

My room was small and somewhat dark because the window faced the building next door, but it was also very quiet and absolutely clean and comfortable. If you're looking for a luxurious room to hang out in for a lot of the day, this is not your place. But if you're looking for a clean, quiet, well-located hotel, this is a good choice.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Close to Stanford University, walking distance to all the restaurants around University Ave in Palo Alto. No solid doors on bathroom was the only drawback.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review