Tamar Weinberg

Review of Marriott Courtyard and Residen...

Having attended Austin for several events over the...

Having attended Austin for several events over the years and always staying at the Hilton (Downtown), I was assigned this time to the Courtyard Marriott and have to say it was a great hotel stay and definitely my hotel of choice for any future trips to Austin. [paragraph break]

The room is equipped with a fridge and microwave (the fridge was super helpful to me). The bathroom actually had Paul Mitchell lotion and shampoo/conditioner! (That's high end stuff for those who don't know better). The beds are comfortable and the hotel staff was quite professional. [paragraph break]

One strange thing to me was actually the layout of the room. You walked in, walked past the bathroom, and then saw the bed against the wall of the bathroom instead of in the center of the room which is what most would expect. There was a couch on the far end of the room, and I was initially taken aback by the obvious reversal of furniture. I'd expect the couch to be against the wall and the bed to be where the couch went. Minor detail, but it seemed very different to me. In fact, another strange thing was that there are no safes in the room. If you have valuables, you leave it downstairs at the desk. I didn't take advantage of that so I don't know where they'd put one's valuables. [paragraph break]

I didn't have any noise issues, but I always bring a pair of earplugs. In fact, I had a pair placed on my bed on the first full day I was out and about. Smart move, since I see some reviews on here (including from people I know!) that had noise complaints. No pun intended, but I guess the Marriott team is listening. [paragraph break]

I hate going to hotels that have crappy shades and light that creeps into your room at the crack of dawn. The curtains in the room were excellent and did an amazing job blocking out light. [paragraph break]

I was there during the DST time change, and they did us the courtesy of slipping a note under our door on Saturday night to tell us to spring forward. [paragraph break]

I liked that there were extra comfy blankets (in a protective case) in the closet if you wanted extra warmth. [paragraph break]

I also love the convenience of having a Starbucks downstairs. [paragraph break]

I felt good that security was out and about after midnight making sure that only key holders were allowed into the building. [paragraph break]

Finally and perhaps most important, I completely LOVE the business center in the hotel lobby; it was wonderful to be able to print out documents during the duration of my stay. [paragraph break]

Beyond my raves of the place, at the end of my stay, I left the room for checkout so it could be immediately turned over to the next guest due to being at the hotel during the busiest season of the year. And turned over it was. I left a spare phone battery charger plugged into my hotel room (while my actual baggage was in the Courtyard's storage area, so I hadn't officially left the vicinity) and they couldn't locate it a mere five hours after I checked out. They asked housekeeping who denied having seen it, and the new guest was already in the room by then--she hadn't seen it either. Obviously, someone is lying, and at this point, I am sure the hotel staff is responsible for the theft. Unfortunately, the hotel investigation was not in my favor, and I was out of a costly device.[paragraph break]

I had a good time and loved the hotel, but I hope karma gets that staffer who lied to their colleagues upon the search of my missing charger, and I'm deeply disappointed that the hotel's insurance company is protecting them and not allowing me to be reimbursed for a theft that the hotel staff was responsible for facilitating.[paragraph break]

Updated 5/22/14: Previously, this was a 5 star review, but it's now a 4 star review due to the outcome of the investigation and the hotel's support of thieves.