Review - The Smith Hotel
Summary
(Edit, July 2022. We’ve received word that the Smith has now closed)
I really like it when I walk into an SL hotel and get a memory trigger to places I've been to in RL.
That's what happened when I visited The Smith, which looks and feels a lot like a RL boutique hotel. For me it was a little like coming into a Malmaison Hotel in the UK.
The Smith is part of 'The City', which as the name suggests is an urban themed region. The hotel itself has some really well designed suites that are free.
Free for now, as creator Bryce Sun tells me that in future The Smith will probably be charging for rooms.
As a result, if you want a free preview, go now. And then, explore the rest of The City and the neighbouring City Township.
Highly recommended.
Overall look and feel
As already mentioned, The Smith looks and feels like a RL city boutique hotel.
You can get in via the main entrance, or via a special subway entrance, which is a nice touch.
There's a lobby, a lounge that hosts live events, four suites and a rooftop pool.
The lobby and the rooms have high design values and excellent attention to detail, and whether you stay here or not, I think it's a great place just to go to meet people.
Overall - 4.5 / 5
The rooms
The Smith has four suites, which are easily the equal of other five star hotel suites I've seen in SL.
Two of the suites are on two levels, and all have separate sitting / living and sleeping areas. The furniture is adult.
The difference as I mentioned is that other places charge up to 1000L a night. Personally, I will glady pay for SL hotel rooms / suites in exchange for a guarantee of privacy and more of a feeling of exclusivity (plus to stop someone else using the room while you are out).
That's apparently the plan, and over the coming weeks and months, The Smith will start charging.
Based on what I've seen, that's absolutely justified
Overall - 4.5 / 5
Features and amenities
The first thing to mention is the area surrounding The Smith.
The Smith itself is part of "The City", this was originally built to house an urban RP called Cabal.
However, according to Bryce Sun, the sim has now evolved into more oa city community with coffee shops, galleries and clubs.
This includes Circle8, a place that had escaped my attention until now, but somewhere I' will be returning to, as it's a really excellent city bar (with a rooftop area) that again does a good job of replicating the look and feel of similar places in RL.
The hotel itself has the lobby area and the "Oz Lounge." As well as a hangout spot, this is also a live music venue
The Oz Lounge is named after a dear friend of the owners who passed away last February, Osimandias Dastardly, and whose portrait hangs in the Lounge itself.
The hotel also has a rooftop pool, which for me was the weakest part of The Smith. I wondered if different use could be made of the (quite large) space and an indoor pool / spa built instead.
Overall - 4 / 5
Other things to note
There's small guesthouse on the neighbouring City Township sim. This has more of a town / residential feel As well as the guesthouse, the community includes a brewery, barbershop, wine bar and cafe.
Both The City Township and The City have places to rent if you want to stay long term.
The City is adult, as is the furniture in the suites at the Smith
Joining the group gives you rez rights.
Overall
Positives
The overall design of The Smith, in particular the lobby area
The surrounding City, I especially like Circle8
The split level suites, these are really well designed
Negatives
Lack of privacy as the suites are free - though this will change soon
The pool area was weaker than other areas of the hotel
Conclusion
I personally intend to come back a lot more, to use The Smith as a meeting and hangout place and to explore what else The City has to offer.
I'm also coming back for a mini-break once the hotel starts charging.
For now though, there's a window where you can experience some excellent SL accommodation for free.
Overall, highly recommended, I think creator Bryce Sun has done a great job with this place.