I posted earlier this week about my CA trip & how impressed I am with the consistency and quality of these properties. The rooms are spacious, clean & comfortable.

I had 3 Marriott stays last week, 2 C'yards and 1 Residence Inn. All were excellent, with pleasant front desk people. At the RI, they had only been open for 3 weeks, and at check-out asked how my room was, if there was anything they could do better, and to please let them know if there was anything else that might make them a better property.

At the C'yard in LGB, I was given a card from the Front Desk Mgr. with her Ext. and told if there was anything I needed, to please call.
On the back of her card it stated I am empowered to make your stay as comfortable as possible. We want your visit here to be a 'perfect 10'.

And to top it all off, received a handwritten postcard in today's mail from the C'yard in Marina Del Rey that said:

Dear Mr. Rutley,
We hope that you had a pleasant stay with us. Looking forward to serve you on your next visit to the Marina Del Rey area.
Warm regards,
Marina Del Rey Courtyard Staff

And, I only paid .50 per local call & no per minute charges at any of these properties.

PS - Also got a survey from JD Power & Assoc./Starwood for my trip 2 weeks ago when I stayed in the Sheraton in Edison, NJ. Took the opportunity to let them know the PHONE CHARGE issue will keep me from staying at many of their properties in the future.

Join the Courtyard Club, ten bucks a year, and local calls are free and you get one free night after twelve paid stays.

Marriott certainly does meet a very high customer standard and is one of the best on the market. Their Fairfield Inn's are equally well run and less expensive; no pool or other frills but same top grade service.

I have to say that Marriott has really mastered the art of customer service.

I just don't understand why they have not included all their Ritz-Carlton properties in the rewards program, reduce black out dates etc. If or when this is done, I think Starwood would see their customers switching to Marriott Rewards (Marriott are you reading this?).

nathan, I did join the Courtyard Club, but it had not been processed yet. Next trip I'll be set.

Nathan: At the risk of being nitpicky, actually many Fairfield Inns DO have pools. While traveling across Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Idaho this summer, I stayed in a bunch of them. My kids liked the pool and the serve-yourself continental breakfast.

[This message has been edited by Bluebonnet (edited 09-18-1999).]

does the Courtyard Club membership help for an Australian stay too (January 2000, Perth)?

Nathan says COURTYARDS ARE NUMBER 1. And I recall now that Fairfields do have pools but they do not have the kitchen-dining facilities and some of the other frills. They too are great. Courtyared membership is valid world-wide, including, I am sure, the Land of the Black Stump, wonderful Australia!

Cheers,