Gaithersburg Marriott at the Washingtonian Center?
 

There is precious little on this hotel except someone saying that they would prefer to stay here rather than the nearby Courtyard.

Could someone opine about their stays here, the quality of the rooms,their Concierge level (which I think is closed on the weekends -- do they give comp breakfast coupons instead?), whether the hotel is walkable from the nearby Shady Grove Metro Station, the local restaurants, etc.

In addition, if anyone has stayed at the nearby Residence Inn of the same name, I would be most appreicaitive.

Have booked an award stay at the Marriott but am unable to do so at the Residence Inn.

Thank you for your assistance.

great hotel, great restaurant, great rooms. no experience with the concierge floor. but the restaurant is good--used to be a J.W.'s steakhouse a long time ago, maybe 4 or 5 years ago, and now it is something else but still good. Don't know about the Residence Inn.

Thank you!

Now, anyone have any info on the Residence Inn?

The Residence Inn and a Springhill Suites (both built in the past 3 years) are a short walk from the Marriott and a big shopping/movie complex. As a local, I have no experience staying at any of these properties. The Shady Grove Metro station is several miles away, but the Marriott hotel will reimburse rides to/from the Metro with Regency Limo Service (I just called the hotel to verify).

I've stayed in all three properties.

The Marriott is what was known as a "compact" design - fairly limited meeting room and ballroom space, and a single restaurant (I think it's now called the American Grille). Rooms are pretty good and it's the shortest walk to at least six or seven restaurants, 12 or more theatres, a Galyans sporting goods, a bookstore, a Kohls, and lots of other shopping in Rio and the Washingtonian Center.

Next closest is the Residence Inn, which has that friendly RI feel, heavy snack food in the evening, BBQs on Wednesdays or Thursdays I think, and a decent breakfast.

The SpringHill Suites is the most actual hotel room for the money, but is the farthest walk from the shopping (an extra two blocks by my estimate). I don't mind the exercise, and a room here is usually $20-40 less a night than rooms at the MHRS or RI properties. It has a lighter free breakfast than the RI has.

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Brian/\/\

Thank you all very much! FWIW, the Residence Inn stay was an award cert stay for Category 4 hotels and below, and since the RI provides breakfast on the weekends where the Marriott probably does not, I was thinking about the former!

This Marriott gets really busy every weekend. Sometime it's hard to find a place close to park.

The lounge is typical but not open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Last time I stayed there I asked for breakfast coupons for weekend and was told their property does not offer coupons for non-lounge days.

Asked for a suite upgrade and was told none available.

I actually like the Springhill Suite better.

Thank you for the info, I am glad I chose the RI!

<bump>

I'm sitting in the lobby of the Marriott Washingtonian right now and I have to say it is a fabulous hotel. The rooms are comfy and everything is spotless, the staff here is almost Ritz-style attentive. The lobby is nicely decorated. It's in a cute little area too with a lake with paddle boats, nice restaurants, a theater etc. I just happen to have a client near here and it's been a welcome surprise to stay at this hotel. ^

On a side note, I only recently started staying at Marriotts. I love *wood, but there just aren't that many of their hotels, and I've found my business travel recently focused more and more on places where there are no Sheratons, Westins, 4 points etc. for hundreds of miles. I've been thorougly impressed with the Marriott brand, their loyalty program, and their facilities. Has anyone stayed at the Courtyard in Bristol, VA? It's extremely well run, and the consistency of its amenities is commendable, particularly for the semi-rural area it's in.

One thing to add to the above--a multistory CY has recently opened on the artificial lake next to the Marriott, within the updated "town center concept" shopping complex.

Can anyone opine as to this property lately?

In addition as a Gold I plan on being there the Sunday of a 3 day holiday weekend, so if one knows whether they open the lounge on such a night and what are the offerings or whether they send you to be restaurant, I would be appreciative of such information.

Thanks,

NJ

This is some good info. The low conference footprint means you won't have to deal with -or have stay rates like - paid conference and other players as in some of the other DC area properties. Like those near me in Crystal City in Arlington. I stayed in this property a few times before relocating to NVA. The location just off 270 is easy to navigate - much easier than inside the Beltway for a first trip.

edit: I forgot - there are some pretty good restaurants in the area around the hotel, too.

Stayed here one night last weekend. They had a parlor suite available, they had no problem upgrading me. Lounge was closed as it was the weekend, not accessible and no breakfast certs given. I have not eaten in the restaurant.

Thanks and congrats on the certs. That appears to be a departure from what was last reported at least for Plats on the weekends.

Congrats on what?