Oxford Palace Hotel and Galleria

Our experience at this hotel was horrifying. Around 12:30 to 1:00 a.m., a loud fire alarm suddenly went off. My family woke up in panic, grabbed only our phones, and rushed down the emergency stairs. When we reached the first floor, the exit door was locked with a padlock (photo attached). We tried to re-enter the building, but the door would not open. The stairwell was designed so guests could go out but not come back in. The back door was also stuck. We were trapped in the emergency staircase for about 30 minutes, waiting for help that never came. No hotel staff or fire department appeared. Eventually, we had no choice but to climb and jump over a two-meter-high metal gate to reach the hotel lobby again. Some of us sprained our legs and tore our clothes in the process. When we finally got back inside, the fire alarm was still blaring, water was dripping from the ceiling, and many guests were standing in confusion. There was no staff in sight. After about an hour, around 1:30 a.m., a man claiming to be the manager appeared. He said there was “no problem” and told everyone to go back to bed. When I protested about the locked emergency door, he said it was purposely done to keep homeless people out. That is an absurd and dangerous excuse. Does that mean guests can die in a real fire? Locking an emergency exit is a direct violation of fire safety law. The next day, the hotel gave only a small so-called “discount.” Later, I found out they refunded just 20% of the room rate. Our family was terrified, trapped in a stairwell for over thirty minutes, and some were injured. The alarm kept ringing, yet no firefighters ever came. If an actual fire had occurred, many people could have died. This hotel’s negligence and disregard for guest safety are unacceptable. I have photographic and video evidence of the incident and intend to report it to the City of Los Angeles and pursue legal action for the physical and psychological harm my family suffered.

Fire alarm at 1 am with no staff to explain. Tried to exit the fire exit but the outside door was locked. Had to jump from 1 meter to get free. No repercussions. Terrible.

I love the value for money here. The location is great, there are plenty of places to eat nearby, and the rooms are spacious, making it easy to store your luggage. I was so surprised by the prices in San Francisco that this place felt really cheap. Hahaha.