hello,
there's been some discussion lately about the MB marriott in
this thread. i thought i'd chime in, as i had a recent saturday night stay there using a cat 1-4 cert.
for the sat night that i stayed, the online rate was about $150 for a standard room, so i thought it was a fair price (at least for me) to opt to use the cert, instead of paying cash.
to briefly summarize,
UPGRADE: as plat, upon checkin, i was given an executive suite. this was a corner room on the 6th floor (of 7) facing the golf course. the view of the green was really nice. it also had a huge outdoor balcony (probably about 200 sq ft) accessible from the master bedroom. the balcony had a handful of lounge chairs and was not viewable from anywhere else on the property, so you could have all the privacy you could desire if you wanted to sunbathe or something. i believe the next room category up from executive suite is the presidential, so i was certainly pleased with this upgrade.
that being said, a couple of things about the room could use some improvement.
firstly, the carpet and some of the furnishings seemed dated. they could definitely use replacing. secondly, the bathroom tile looked dingy and older (though the shower tile appeared modern and very recently redone). lastly, the TV in the bedroom is on the wall to the side of the bed. the wall directly in front of the bed is the sliding door leading out to the balcony. this isn't a real big deal, but i guess i'm just used to not having to turn my head to the side to watch a little TV before retiring.
LOUNGE: the lounge, located on the 7th floor, is actually open during the weekend, but it is not hosted. you have access to sodas, bottled water, etc. there is also a coffee/tea/hot chocolate self serve machine and a computer/printer.
BREAKFAST: i specifically asked the front desk (after they offered me the suite, assuming they were in a generous mood) about breakfast certs for the hotel restaurant. i was specifically (though politely) told that they do not offer certs for the restaurant.
that being said, i went down and had breakfast in the restaurant anyway. it was the standard buffet breakfast, with a made-to-order omelette and waffle station, variety of fresh fruits, yogurts, etc. you have the option of outdoor seating near the golf course, which makes for a great view on a crisp morning!
PARKING: the hotel is located right by several business offices. since i was there on a sat night, the gates to the office buildings' parking lot were up and the booth was unmanned. so, i parked overnight there for free (as did others) without any issue.
MISC: the hotel is about 2 min from the beach. you can rent bicycles and take a nice ride over to the shore and hang out. very nice! it is also located right by several restaurants (houston's is a good, near choice) and also a bristol farms market.
overall, it was an enjoyable stay, and what i thought was a good use of a cat 4 cert (i understand it was downgraded from cat 5 earlier this year).
enjoy!