Stayed at the hotel before Christmas for 2 nights - used as a base to shop for supplies and get adjusted to US time zone before heading into the mighty 5 parks.

The first impression - the garage is right next to the hotel (you can't get to the room from the garage - typical Vegas style).

When we got off the elevator we thought we were at the wrong place: a closed cafe and a closed UPS shop. The ball room was renovating with cloth covering the whole thing. It looked more normal after we got to the reception.

We drove straight from LAX, we arrived slightly before the finishing of the cocktail hours. We asked the FD to process the check-in fast so that we could get something to eat.

The lounge is a usual US lounge - it offered fried chicken wings and spring rolls - it was ok, at least it filled us up. The lounge attendant even offered us to take the leftover chicken with us since she said, 'if no one takes them they go straight to the trash'. I thought why not - since we have a fridge and we have cooking facilities when we are close to Zion. The funny thing is that the chicken tasted better after they have been refried. She gave me a couple of take out boxes (didn't know they have them in the lounge).

Anyway, the second night is chicken wings again with another kind of spring rolls like thing.

At least there were hot items, Marriott Bakersfield only had salad and biscuits. So this is definitely not the worst lounge we have been to but certainly not the best one either.

The room was nice (of course no upgrade as Plat) - typical US standard (I have only stayed at Marriotts in the US, so it's first time to try a Ren in the US). I like the fact that the shower area is separated from the bath. Aveda products as amenity but they don't provide shower gel (fortunately I brought some to use in the small hotels close to the NPs). I thought since FS Marriott started to provide shower gel then the Ren would follow too. Apparently they do have them, I found out after asking for the housekeeping to trade some soap for shampoo.

After the first night, our keys didn't work after coming back - got the cards re-issued and my cc swiped again (I think they must have done it like 6 times for 4 separate ressies). We went to the lounge, and then after that the keys failed to work again! We went down to the FD, get them re-issued (again), then it still didn't work (we got access to the lounge though).

We went down again and they said they will send someone up, nothing after 10 minutes, then we called from the elevator waiting place. I had to use the restroom in the lobby. The technician finally came and fixed the doors - according to him, it's the lock that runs out of batteries (don't they check regularly?).

Now this is the worst part of the stay:

At check-out, I asked for the folios (they stopped putting it under the doors). They said they could only find 2 out of 4 folios. It took them 15 minutes and they said the bill was 0.

I said ok, just charge my card once you found them, and please send me the folio.

Nothing from them but I found out that my card was charged. Then I used the online form at Marriott.com - the Guest service manager replied and ONLY credited the PAG that they owe us. No stay credit/point for the first night.

I wrote back last week, he never replies. I called MR Plat line - they found the folio and credited the points into our accounts - after waiting for 15 minutes to get to an associate and another 15 minutes to get the points.

Mr. Nacho was very disappointed by the hotel: I told him that people in general like it very much and he thinks that the hotel was worn down and the breakfast was horrible (very little choice). My impression was different: the breakfast had limited choice but the quality is definitely not bad (again had better breakfast somewhere else).

Not sure we'll stay there again.