Just back from a stay in 7A, no pictures to post though. When I heard about the hard floors last year I was a bit skeptical, but after last week I decided I liked them! Easy to keep clean, and they were really not cold underfoot. What I did notice is that the room is a bit loud now without the carpet to absorb the sound. Loved the expanded desk area, now we don't have to take turns using the desk to eat at when we bring food back. Lots of room, and that small thin task light on the desk really throws a strong light if one needs to read while others are sleeping, did not have to turn on the main room lights at all to read a bit at night.
Noise was really not an issue, very minor stuff. Did get a little paint odor when there was no breeze since they were still painting the outside of the 7A building. Spoke with a manager who admitted he was just guessing, but that resort CMs felt that 8A, then 8B, and 9A MIGHT be worked on when the pilings would be driven for the new tower since that would be expected to be loud and disruptive. Said the original planned rehab rotation was not followed since 7A took three months instead of just the planned one month, though he never did tell me what that original rotation was. Once you start tearing things out that were up to code 20 years ago you find they are not going to be up to code now, so a lot more work was needed than anticipated. At least that was how he explained the delays. Find it hard to believe the contractors did not take that into consideration when setting a timeline, so maybe it's just an explanation they think people will accept. Other speculation (just speculation folks!) is that the preferred buildings MIGHT be last since most conferences get those locations and they want the new tower to be ready for them before they close preferred buildings and have construction going on around them.
I like the new H2O Sea Salt products, and now they are twice the size of those puny toiletries they started to give out a few years back. Miss the grapefruit/bergamot scent though.
So now we are headed back the end of August. I am sure I won't get lucky enough for a new room again, so will have to stay in an older one. At least it should be closer to El Centro in August, 7A is a real hike!