Hi,

Am currently staying at a Courtyard for a couple of weeks. After just one night and directly comparing it to a SpringHill Suite that I just left, I feel that Courtyards is really the black sheep of the Marriott chains. Starting with

Pros:
- updated ones have a very nice lobby area to mingle
- interiors look more homey and fresh
- clearly somewhat slightly higher in standard compared to SpringHill Suites/Fairfield Inns

Cons:
- Biggest cons - the Bristo concept for breakfast is really horrible. Even as a customer with breakfast included in the rate, you basically can only choose a hot or continental breakfast. For each of these options, you are only limited to certain food items, anything out of that, you have to pay extra, e.g. if you want a banana added, you have to pay approx 3$ for one banana! Furthermore, you can only choose either a coffee or juice...if you want both, you need to pay for one of them in addition...
Basically for someone that likes a bit of everything, this really does not make things easier. And the quality is not any much better compared to what you get at SpringHill Suites. It used to be so much better with the previous concept where I remembered the price was more or less the same and I could get whatever I wanted from the buffet.
- Every single thing is chargable - at least at the SpringHill suites, every evening you could have cookies for free, at Courtyards you pay for every thing. Coffee is limited to only 1 option (3 at the SpringHill); Tea only limited to Herbal type of tea (at SpringHill you have different options) - I was told that if you want others you had to get it (and pay) at the Bristo.
- Rooms are definitely smaller compared to the SpringHill suites
- Fridges at the CY are not with freezer
- Sofa's do not have cushions

In general, I do feel that when I am at the Courtyards, I am being nickeled for every single thing.

I don't know if I am the only one with this feeling. What's your thought on this?

Cheers!