My husband and I recently enjoyed a one-night romantic getaway in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. For this visit, we chose the historic Peery Hotel. I like to stay at unique and historic places, and the Peery Hotel had been on my list for awhile.
What we loved
History - The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and when we walked into the lobby from the street it felt like we were transported back in time. The lobby is grand, with lots of space to sit and visit.
The elevator is also historic (capacity: 4) and is rumored to be haunted. We used the elevator going up and brought home no ghost tales, but in the morning we used the large and inviting staircase to return to the lobby.
Comfort - The Tempur-pedic king-size bed was the biggest reason I chose the Peery Hotel. Despite our frequent travels, we don’t always sleep well away from home. On this rare night away from our children, we wanted to sleep in and we wanted to be comfortable. We enjoyed an excellent night’s sleep at the Peery Hotel.
Our room had its own temperature control. It was one of the first chilly nights of autumn and we turned on the heat. The fan in the wall ran all night, creating white noise that helped us sleep better.
Location - The Peery Hotel is within walking distance of many of downtown Salt Lake’s biggest attractions, including Temple Square, Energy Solutions Arena, the Salt Palace Convention Center and more. The hotel is surrounded by a variety of good local and chain restaurants and is within walking distance of the City Creek Center and Gateway malls. It is also less than two blocks from the nearest Trax stop.
What we didn’t love
Tiny rooms - Rooms in historic hotels are often small, and the rooms at the Peery Hotel are no exception. We booked a Classic King room and while the room was large enough for our comfort, the bed filled most of the space. Double Queen rooms and King Suites have space for up to four people.
The size of our bathroom was laughable. I had to slide under the sink to use the toilet and climb over the toilet to use the shower.
Parking - The Peery Hotel has no parking lot of its own. The least expensive option may be the metered parking nearby, which is free between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. if you can find an open space. There is also a public pay lot behind the hotel and we had no trouble parking there. We paid $12 for 24 hours. Both metered parking and the pay lot take credit cards.
The hotel is within two blocks of the nearest Trax station on Main Street. It would be reasonable to use public transportation, if desired.
The view - There are no balconies at the Peery Hotel and not much to look at from the windows of most rooms. Many rooms, including ours, have a view of a red brick wall and the windows of other rooms. Rooms with windows facing north and south have a view of the city, but even those views are not exceptional.
The bottom line
Overall, the positives of the Peery Hotel outweighed the negatives for me and I do recommend it. I like to stay in places with character, and things like bathroom space and scenic views were not my priority on this visit.
I would probably choose a different hotel if I were staying with my children. The Peery Hotel’s small rooms and lack of my favorite family amenities make it less-than-ideal for families. However, the Peery Hotel’s unique ambiance, location and comfort make it an excellent choice for a romantic stay.