Crowne Plaza Palo Alto Review: The Beatles, a Balcony, and a Dog Who Ruined My Pool Plans New

Sometimes (ok, most of the time) I have the urge to spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing beside a hotel swimming pool. No sightseeing itinerary, no attractions to check off, no particular reason to be there other than a comfortable lounge chair, a cool atmosphere, and the temporary achievement of a “life of leisure”.

On one such Saturday, I started looking around Silicon Valley for an interesting hotel where I could enjoy a little poolside leisure. I had just one additional requirement: the hotel had to accept my Golden Retriever, Ellie.

After considerable searching, I came across the Cabana Hotel Crowne Plaza Palo Alto, a hotel with an very cool looking resort-style swimming pool, attractive grounds, and pet-friendly accommodations. It looked like just the place for a relaxing little getaway, so I booked a junior suite with the hotel’s pet package, packed up the car, and headed to Palo Alto. (BTW, Silicon Valley hotels are usually cheaper on weekends than weekdays.)

Little did I know that my poolside vacation was about to become a hotel-room vacation. There would be no lounging beside the swimming pool, but there would be room service, two enormous televisions, a lovely balcony, and an unexpected connection to the loves of my life, the Beatles (ok, my kids are up there too).

Crowne Plaza Palo Alto at a Glance

The hotel also advertises swimming pool day passes, an option worth considering if you’re interested in an afternoon by the pool without an overnight stay. Rates, amenities, and policies can change, so check the Cabana Hotel website for current details.

A Dog-Friendly Hotel With a Catch

I’m relatively new to traveling with a dog, and I’m still learning the ropes. (Read about the first time my dog came along here: Pacific Point Resort Pismo Beach Review.) One of the first things I’ve discovered is that “pet-friendly” can mean very different things depending on the hotel.

When researching hotels, I had been carefully eliminating any property that explicitly stated dogs couldn’t be left unattended in guest rooms. After all, if I was planning to spend the afternoon at the pool, Ellie would need to stay in our room for a little while. She would undoubtedly have preferred the air conditioning anyway.

The Crowne Plaza’s listing on the IHG website didn’t mention that restriction in the pet information I saw, so I went ahead and booked. It wasn’t until I arrived at the front desk and was handed the pet agreement to sign that I discovered the rule: dogs could not be left alone in the room at any time. Well, there went my afternoon at the pool.

I understand why hotels have this policy. Dogs can bark, become anxious, or damage a room when their owners are gone. But it was disappointing to learn about the restriction after arriving, especially since it was the swimming pool that had attracted me to the hotel in the first place.

There was another surprise on the pet agreement. It stated that dogs were only permitted in ground floor rooms, even though the hotel’s booking system had allowed me to reserve a third-floor junior suite with the pet package. I didn’t bring this discrepancy to anyone’s attention. I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of staying on the ground floor, and the hotel had already assigned us our room.

The published pet information is also a little confusing. At the time of writing, the IHG website states that dogs and cats are limited to 50 pounds, while the Cabana Hotel’s own website says 60 pounds. Both advertise a $100 pet fee per stay. The IHG website also asks guests to contact the hotel before arriving with a pet.

My advice to anyone considering staying here with a dog is to call the hotel before making a reservation and ask about the restrictions, particularly the weight limit, room assignments, and whether your dog can be left alone. The online booking process doesn’t necessarily tell you everything you need to know. To be fair, the website does suggest calling, but it also lets you complete the booking without calling. As someone who is not a big fan of phone calls, I took the online option.

Searching for the Hotel’s Dog Relief Area

After dropping our bags in the room, Ellie and I headed downstairs to find the designated dog relief area. I’d asked about it at check-in, and the front desk clerk directed me down a hallway, out a door, and to the left. It sounded straightforward enough.

Once outside, however, I couldn’t find anything that clearly identified a dog area. There were no signs, waste-bag dispensers, or trash cans that I could see. I did find a small area with a fire hydrant in the middle of it, which seemed promising. Perhaps the hydrant was meant to communicate something to the canine guests, although I couldn’t tell whether it was a real fire hydrant or a decorative one. Ellie, being willing to pee anywhere, offered no helpful input..

We ended up walking around most of the hotel’s perimeter, examining various areas that might have been intended for dogs. I even located the designated smoking area, which was easily recognizable thanks to the cigarette receptacle and trash can.

Apparently, the smokers had received more detailed instructions than the dogs. I asked again at the front desk but still couldn’t get a clear explanation of exactly where Ellie was supposed to go. Ultimately, we used the planter areas near the front entrance for her bathroom breaks, and that worked out fine. Fortunately, I’d brought our own waste bags.

Interestingly, the hotel’s website advertises an on-property dog park. I certainly wasn’t able to identify it during our visit, despite asking twice for directions. The property has plenty of outdoor areas where it’s possible to walk a dog, but better signage and a clearly identifiable relief station would make the experience much easier for guests traveling with pets.

The Pet Welcome Package: Treats, but No Dog Bowl

The hotel’s website promised special welcome treats for pets, and I somehow interpreted that to mean Ellie might be getting a few amenities of her own. Perhaps a water bowl or even a dog bed. What we actually received was an invitation to take a handful of treats from a jar at the front desk. The clerk kindly supplied a Kleenex to carry them in. Apparently, I’d been imagining a rather more elaborate welcome ceremony.

I hadn’t brought Ellie’s dishes from home, expecting there might be something available in the room. In the end, she drank water from a coffee cup and ate her dinner off the balcony floor. Ellie didn’t appear particularly troubled by the dining arrangements, but next time I’ll pack her bowls and the other essentials rather than make assumptions about what’s included in a pet-friendly stay.

What Solo Travelers With Dogs Need to Know

The biggest complication wasn’t the missing dog bowl or the elusive pet relief area. It was realizing that Ellie couldn’t accompany me to the swimming pool or inside the restaurant, and I couldn’t leave her in the room while I visited either one. That really limited the possibilities for my afternoon of leisure.

If you’re traveling with another person, this restriction probably isn’t much of an issue. One person can stay with the dog while the other visits the pool or restaurant. But when you’re traveling alone, there’s nobody to take a shift with the dog while you enjoy the hotel’s amenities. For me, this was a useful lesson in the difference between a hotel that accepts dogs and one that’s particularly convenient for solo travelers with dogs.

Fortunately, we’d been given a spacious suite with a lovely balcony, so spending the evening in our room wasn’t a terrible alternative. We watched movies and YouTube, ordered room service, enjoyed the sunset, and went to bed early. Ellie seemed perfectly satisfied with this arrangement. From her perspective, we had driven to Palo Alto for the express purpose of hanging out together in a different bedroom.

I’m still figuring out the practicalities of traveling with Ellie. Our stay at Pacific Point Resort in Pismo Beach was another part of that learning experience, and I’m discovering that pet policies deserve almost as much attention as the room itself.

Our Junior Suite at the Crowne Plaza Palo Alto

We were assigned Room 307, a third-floor junior suite located almost directly across from the elevators, near the center of the hotel. It was a spacious accommodation, with a separate bedroom and sitting area, a good-sized bathroom, and a private balcony overlooking the hotel’s interior courtyard.

The bedroom featured a king-size bed with bedside tables, plenty of electrical outlets, a large television, and a generously sized refrigerator. The mattress was quite firm, which may appeal to some travelers, although anyone who prefers a soft bed might find it a little too hard.

Separating the bedroom from the living area were sheer curtains and heavier blackout curtains, which could be drawn to create privacy between the two spaces. I was particularly impressed by the blackout curtains. They actually worked, which isn’t always the case with hotel window coverings.

The sitting room contained a sleeper sofa, coffee table, desk, chair, Keurig coffee maker, and another enormous television. The sofa had definitely seen better days and wasn’t especially comfortable to sit on, but the room was otherwise pleasant and functional.

With a television in each room, Ellie and I could theoretically have watched two different shows simultaneously. We have fairly different tastes in entertainment, although I’ve never actually asked her opinion of Succession.

A Balcony Overlooking the Courtyard

The balcony was probably my favorite feature of the suite. It faced west toward the sunset and had a small table with two comfortable wooden armchairs. Below us was a pretty courtyard furnished with tables, chairs, and fire pits. Strings of lights stretched across the space, creating a pretty setting after dark.

The hotel’s swimming pool was located just beyond the courtyard, although trees blocked my view of it. I could hear people enjoying the pool, however, which served as an occasional reminder of how I had originally intended to spend my Saturday.

One thing worth mentioning is that the balconies aren’t especially private. They’re separated from neighboring balconies by railings, so if someone in the room next door happens to be outside, you’re essentially sharing the outdoor space with a stranger. Fortunately, I never encountered anyone on the neighboring balconies during my stay, so I had the entire little sunset-facing retreat to myself. Well, myself and Ellie. To be honest, Ellie spent more time on the balcony than I did.

Bathroom and Other Room Amenities

The bathroom was large and included a single sink and a bathtub, something I always appreciate in a hotel room. The closet was oddly located inside the bathroom and had full-length mirrors on the inside of its doors. Inside were a safe, iron, ironing board, and two bathrobes.

The hotel shows its age in places. There are spots where the paint is worn, and other areas where years of repainting had left noticeably thick layers. The furniture wasn’t all in pristine condition, either. Still, the room appeared clean, and I appreciated the space, the balcony, and the amenities. It wasn’t a shiny new luxury hotel room, but it had a comfortable, slightly old-fashioned character.

Cabana Cove Restaurant and Room Service

The hotel’s restaurant and bar, Cabana Cove, is located on the lobby level. I walked through long enough to take a few pictures, but since dogs aren’t allowed inside, sitting down for dinner wasn’t an option for Ellie and me.

Cabana Cove offers breakfast and dinner, along with a bar and lounge. Guests can also make reservations for Cabana Cove through OpenTable. I can’t comment on the restaurant’s dining experience since I didn’t eat there, but I did get to try its food through room service.

Room Service and a Little Website Detective Work

Once we had settled into our room for the evening, I decided to order dinner. There was just one problem: I couldn’t find a room service menu. In fact, there wasn’t any hotel information in the room that I could locate. No printed directory, no menu, and no obvious instructions for ordering food.

Fortunately, I had my computer with me, so I started looking online. I’d originally booked the hotel through the IHG website, where the property is listed as Crowne Plaza Palo Alto. The website provides the usual hotel information, but I found it fairly limited when it came to the details I needed.

While searching, I discovered that the Cabana Hotel also has its own separate website, which contains much more information about the hotel’s amenities, accommodations, and history. I managed to find the Cabana Cove room service menu on that site and ordered a club sandwich with fries. I’m happy to report that the food was good, and room service turned out to be a perfectly pleasant way to enjoy dinner without leaving Ellie behind.

A little more information in the guest room would have been helpful. A QR code linking to the room service menu and hotel directory would have saved some searching. But my online investigation led me to something considerably more interesting than the dinner menu.

The Beatles once stayed at this very hotel. Eeeeeeeek!!!

The Beatles Stayed at the Cabana Hotel in 1965

Now, this was a discovery that made me sit up and take notice. On August 31, 1965, the Beatles performed at the Cow Palace in Daly City and stayed at the Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto during their visit. I’d booked the place because of the pool, with absolutely no idea that I was spending the night in a hotel with such a wonderful piece of rock-and-roll history.

At the time, the Cabana was one of the most glamorous hotels in the area. Opened in 1962, it was a lavish property with a distinctly Las Vegas vibe, complete with fountains and classical statues. It was developed by Jay Sarno, who would later open Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and the Cabana is often described as a precursor to that famous resort. Doris Day was also among the early investors in the hotel, adding a little Hollywood glamour to the enterprise.

It’s a little hard to imagine this scene along El Camino Real today, but back in the 1960s, the Cabana was quite the place to be. And when the Beatles arrived, it became the center of a major episode of Beatlemania. Hundreds of screaming teenage fans surrounded the hotel, hoping for a glimpse of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

How the Beatles Escaped the Cabana Hotel

My favorite part of the story involves the elaborate plan to get the Beatles out of the hotel without being mobbed. Decoy limousines were positioned to attract the attention of the fans, while the actual Beatles were secretly escorted out through another exit and loaded into a delivery truck. It was a clever plan, except for one minor detail.

They forgot Ringo.

The truck had to stop so the drummer could climb aboard, which seems a fairly significant oversight when you’re transporting a band consisting of only four people. The scheme ultimately worked, and the Beatles managed to escape the hotel.

Afterward, pieces of the bedsheets from the Beatles’ rooms were reportedly cut up and sold to fans as souvenirs. I’ve stayed in quite a few hotels, and I’ve never encountered a housekeeping department with quite that entrepreneurial spirit.

This Palo Alto History article has a great account of the visit, including details of the escape and the fans who gathered outside the hotel.

You Can Still Stay in the Beatles Room at the Cabana Hotel

What makes this history even more interesting is that the hotel still has a Beatles-themed suite on the eighth floor.

Room 810, known as the Beatles Room, commemorates the band’s visit and is decorated with photographs and memorabilia from that famous stay. According to the hotel’s website, it also has a record player and mountain views. I would absolutely have booked that room if I’d known about it before making my reservation.

Instead, I was five floors below the Beatles’ old accommodations, watching movies with a Golden Retriever and discovering the hotel’s rock-and-roll history on my laptop. Not exactly Beatlemania, although Ellie does attract a certain amount of attention when she walks through a hotel lobby.

For fellow Beatles fans, the room alone would be a fun reason to consider staying here. I’d recommend contacting the hotel directly to ask about Room 810 rather than assuming you’ll find it among the standard room choices in the online booking system.

Would I Stay at the Crowne Plaza Palo Alto Again?

Yes, I would, although I think I’d enjoy it more under different circumstances. The junior suite was spacious, the balcony was lovely, the room service food was good, and the hotel had a relaxing atmosphere despite its busy conference facilities.

There were some drawbacks. The furnishings and finishes showed their age, the sofa wasn’t especially comfortable, and the lack of readily available guest information made simple things unnecessarily complicated. The pet policies also weren’t as clear during the booking process as I would have liked.

Who Would Enjoy Staying Here?

I can see this being a good choice for a couple planning a relaxing weekend, particularly if they want to spend time by the swimming pool. Business travelers may appreciate the spacious accommodations and conference facilities, while Beatles fans have an entirely different reason to consider the hotel. The Cabana’s history gives it a personality you don’t necessarily expect from a Silicon Valley hotel.

For anyone traveling with a dog, I’d strongly recommend confirming the pet policies before booking, particularly if you’re traveling alone and hoping to enjoy the hotel’s amenities. In my case, bringing Ellie meant giving up the whole reason I’d booked the hotel in the first place: an afternoon lounging beside the pool.

On the other hand, we had a perfectly pleasant evening, and I discovered a fascinating piece of Beatles history that I hadn’t known about. Next time, perhaps I’ll leave Ellie at home, book the Beatles Room, and actually make it to the swimming pool.