Pre-arrival. I had called after booking to talk to the front desk manager (to explain my medical situation (broken ankle) and ask for a marina suite (so that I only had to walk about 10 steps to the outdoor pool or restaurant). No return call. Not a good way to start.

Arrival: Well marked from Rt 95.  Valet was kind, particularly since I was on crutches and in my walking boot. Front desk clerk was indifferent. No thank you for being a Platinum, no offer for refreshments or sitting down(even though I was visibly in pain) and only after I asked for an upgrade did the front desk clerk even look for an upgrade. They offered me a water view room, and only after some serious prompting (again, explaining my situation) did they offer me a marina suite for two days (even though, based upon looking online, I knew that had availability). They touted the benefits of a room at the main inn (exec lounge, continential breakfast..both of which I did not care to use). The front desk supervisor then said they would have to check with the front desk manager to confirm an upgrade for the remainder of the stay.

The Marina suites are a 30 second drive from the main house (next to the main pool, marina pool, and outdoor restaurant), with a separate valet  Valet offered to bring in my gear, but oddly set up my luggage rack at the foot of the bed…which would prevent me from opening the luggage properly. Odd, but whatever.

The Suite: Two story suite, with full kitchen (no oven, but stackable laundry) on first floor, 48 inch flat screen, gas fireplace, 1st floor patio. Nicely decorated in blues and tans. So far, so good. ¾ bath two steps up the stairwell, odd, but okay. Upstairs had a large front bedroom (double queens) with a huge set of windows overlooking the parking lot. Small waterside king bedroom with no view....even though there was a big wall overlooking the harbor with a TV hanging on the wall…as the marina suites are in a new building, this was just an odd design. Single vanity master bath with a tiny bathtub (4 feet) and good sized standalone shower. Stepped on a drywall screw on the floor (not good when you already have compromised balance). Small master bedroom porch, but no chair on the porch.

As the week went on, I found the following oddities: Standard Marriott toiletries (do not believe the ‘upscale’ marketing), No music system (even though there was a good sized closet in the living room and plenty of shelving). No heavy fabric window shades on the door to the master bedroom porch (the plastic blinds did very little), meaning I was up at 6a every morning due to the light streaming in. Window in the stairwell directly across from the bathroom entrance meant folks at the valet stand and parking lot could see your comings and goings in the loo.  Paper thin walls meant I heard the arguments from the room next door. On the first floor balcony, one side had a nice privacy divider….the other side did not (easily could have been rectified with some nice potted plants). The first floor porch had no roof, and the 2nd floor porch doesn’t have a view while sitting down due to the solid railing…particularly noticeable as it rained most of the week (would have been nice to sit out on the porch). Two nights out of five, there were loud parties renting marina suites, though they did quiet down as the night went on.

The marina suites are situated close to the main road with a metal drawbridge, so every 30 seconds or so, you hear a loud whirr of the car going over metal grates…not something the hotel can control, but it made sitting out on the porch a heck of a lot less relaxing. And, in low tide, the mud flats (below the bridge) gave off a pungent smell.

Food quality was the same as other Marriotts (literally the same chicken fingers and fries), with undercooked flatbread but a decent steak salad (tho the dressing was not on the side as I requested). Service was good, though for the nights I ordered room service, it was odd not to have a full silverware setup (knife and fork in only in the rollup) nor a glass of water delivered.

Most frustrating was the front desk service. Not only had the front desk not returned my call before checkin, but they had not contacted me by late afternoon Monday regarding if I was going to have to switch rooms during my stay. And given I was waiting to really unpack until then, that was frustrating. Monday afternoon I went up to the front desk, and the supervisor said she had to confirm with the GM about upgrading me for the entire week (due to the $800 upcharge, per night, for a marina suite). So I said fine, and asked them to call me right away. Another 24 went by, with no word. I had to call again, and the supervisor said the GM had not been in yesterday (like she could not have told me that yesterday???) and she would call me later. The front desk manager called a few hours later, with a blunt starter about paying for an upgrade. Bottom line was that they would upgrade me (not forcing me to move), but for $200 a night (for the remaining 3 days of the stay). I asked to talk to the GM, whom I never heard back from. And, most frustrating of all, the marina suites were virtually empty for the remainder of my stay. So there was no reason not to upgrade me, particularly as a long term Platinum with a medical request. I did not pull a DYKWIA, but I was not about to fight a $200 upcharge, particularly after asking to speak to the GM and not hearing back.

Honestly, I don’t think I would return, particularly for the Marina Suites at $1200 a night. And oddly enough, my neighbor on the first night (whom I could overhear) said the same. Which is too bad, because it’s historic hotel with a great view.