Melissa L.
Yelp
We stayed here for 1 week which pretty much gave us an all around feel for the place. We have stayed at many Marriott affiliated hotels and there were some differences I enjoyed and some I found odd.
Arrival:
You'll wonder why you booked this hotel to begin with. You'll probably worry about your well being and you'll worry about your life. BUT! After being here for a week I can attest that it is one of the safest places around. Upon arrival you'll need to park in the front of the hotel (where the sliding door is) to enter the building.
Parking:
We were then given keys to our room and told to "drive around the building". It sounds crazy, especially because most of us wonder where we are going to park to begin with when we pull up. You will drive around the back of the building and you will need to swipe your card in the small black key box to open the parking garage gate. As previous reviews have stated it is located on the right side (passenger) of the car so it makes it a bit tricky to swipe your card.
Surrounding area:
The reviews are NOT lying when they say that the neighborhood surrounding the neighborhood is rough, because it is. However, there is a lot of gentrification going on in Downtown Denver and this is just a process of it all. I will tell you that after being there for 7 days, we never felt unsafe and eventually laughed every time we pulled in. There is a dispensary next door but I hardly saw anyone coming in and out of it.
Rooms:
The room was nice and modern. Some parts of it felt like fancy cheap, if that makes any sense. It gave me Ikea vibes, but in a good way. The room was small in comparison to other Marriotts, but overall it worked out well for my daughter and I. The pillows were fluffy and didn't feel cheap.
Showers:
The restrooms have censored lights so be warned, they will shine brightly if you're walking into the restroom in the middle of the night. I did not enjoy the fact that there was nowhere to put the hand soap because it kept falling into the sink. The shower is great too, but there are no handles inside to hold on to so be careful when you're walking in. Also, why do we not have anywhere to put our toiletries?
Closet space:
You have to consider that I was staying here for a week and this hotel LACKS drawers. The 3 they have are tiny and not much a fit in them. There is a lot of random cabinets, so I had to pile my clothes versus being able to organize it in a more sensible fashion.
Kitchen:
It has all the basic necessities, for a short trip. After staying there for a week I felt like I needed more utensils, but again - we made it work. We made plenty of meals here as we ran in and out for our games, but all around a good kitchen to get the job done.
Laundry:
The laundry room is located downstairs past the breakfast area and bar. Walk all the way back towards the water fountain and you'll see it to your right. It is operated by quarters and the front desk is able to trade cash for quarters.
Gym:
The gym is nice and had a good selection of machines. We didn't use the gym, but it looked great.
Bar:
There is a bar!
The lobby and seating area:
We absolutely loved this space! My daughter and I came down here to eat our food so that we wouldn't be cooped up in our room. She was also working on summer school so we hung out often.
Breakfast:
It's complementary so what isn't there to love? More importantly it is NOT the usual continental breakfast you'll find at most Marriotts. The egg omelettes they make fresh were top notch. They have different side options each day. Something to note, the breakfast hours say 6:30a to 9:30am, but was actually 6:30a to 10:30am during the week so confirm the time.
Ice Machines:
There are no ice machines on each floor like most hotels. If you need ice you will need to pick up a bag in the freezer downstairs by the front desk.
Staff:
My friend Matt (I hope that's his name, I can't remember now) was in my book the EMPLOYEE of the MONTH! I saw him moving boxes, working the lobby, and working the kitchen! He has a friendly face and exudes such positive and happy aura. The rest of the staff was always kind and welcoming, but Matt greeted us every time we walked past him.
Belinda in the kitchen is rude and her stare downs were not only unprofessional, but inappropriate, unnecessary, and uncalled for.
Side Notes:
Starbucks around the corner. Grocery store within a mile.
Overall, I would definitely stay here again.