Nathaniel Austin
Google
We booked a corner city-view room—one of the pricier options. While the views were truly incredible and the 24/7 gym was a great amenity, our stay was, overall, an extremely regrettable experience that does a great disservice to the Marriott brand.
The rooms, especially the corner ones, get *hot*. The A/C is restricted by strict governors, capping it at 66°F (a temperature it never actually reaches because it’s not sufficiently powerful), and it automatically resets to 70°F every morning. As a result, my partner and I were constantly waking up in pools of sweat. I recommend bringing a fan or buying one (which we eventually had to do).
The bathrooms are unironically the worst I’ve encountered in any hotel. They’re essentially transparent and acoustically amplified stalls, offering zero privacy if someone else is in the room. The glass actually creates an echo and amplifying effect that seems almost designed to embarrass your partner and ruin the experience. It may be tolerable for solo travelers, but be wary if you’re with a guest. Many guests seemed to prefer going down to the lobby restrooms to avoid uncomfortable situations in their rooms.
Upon arrival, we found that the sheets had not been cleaned, and there were discarded food scraps on the floor. It took several calls to finally get fresh sheets delivered by staff.
While some of the staff members were pleasant and clearly interested in helping us out (though powerless to execute), others showed clear contempt for their guests, clearly holding back an imminent breakdown as I ask them to ring up my microwave noodles.
The hotel’s lobby is on the 34th floor, and a keycard is required to access the first floor, which serves only as a vestibule for elevators. This setup creates an awkward situation for food delivery, as you’re essentially required to go down and meet the driver yourself—there’s no other way for them to access the building.
Other reviewers have noted that the surrounding area is generally unpleasant and feels unsafe. This is accurate, though is true for all of downtown Los Angeles and not something I would specifically hold against the property. As far as DTLA goes, the location is central and acceptable.
Finally, the hotel charges a mandatory $35 “destination fee” that’s not included in the advertised room rate. So a $180 night becomes really $215. In exchange, they offer something like an $18 coupon to the overpriced on-site restaurant—which, judging by how empty it always was, few people actually use.