Favorite Courtyards
 

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Courtyard LAX.

I have stayed in the LAX and Clackamas Courtyards and numerous other ones. Almost all of them are about the same. Some differences in overall design due to land cost/configuration, local zoning rules, or number of rooms. (e.g., the LAX Courtyard has more rooms and is more of a high rise than most other Courtyards.) Otherwise, the amenities and room configurations are about the same from property to property.

You won't find the kinds of differences that exist between various Marriott hotels.

Courtyards are definitely the weakest link in the Marriott chain. I try not to stay in them and use them only as a last resort. They are generic, no amenities and overpriced, I can stay at a Residence Inn for the same price or a FI at a lower price and enjoy the FI more.

One note, I did like the Fair Oaks (Fairfax, VA) CY for its access to the health club next door.

Most people never see them, but the Courtyards in China are fabulous -- new, beautiful high-rise hotels. And they upgrade elite MR members. I'll spend 7 days at the Beijing Courtyard next month.

Bruce

I really liked the New Orleans Downtown/Convention Center Courtyard. It is the same 'courtyard' concept, but is in an old warehouse building and is very nice, especially the pool area. It is near enough to the Casino, French Quarter, etc, to be convenient, but quiet at night.

Also, the St. Charles, IL one is great--especially the corner suites.

I find them to be pretty much the same... something I happen to like. Pleasant Hill, CA is nice; avoid MEM (the one near the airport.) Noise from MEM is abismal!

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Bob

Anyone stay at the Courtyard Great Barrier Reef Resort in Palm Cove, QLD, Australia?

We are staying there in August on an award stay and there is not much info out there about this property. It seems strange that "the hotel built by business travellers for business travellers" would have a resort property like this.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

I'm glad to read this feedback, as in general my opinion is with trojanhorse's: of all the Marriott products we've tried, we've been the least impressed with Courtyards.

Ho Hum: Spokane, Louisville, Columbus (CMH)
Ho Hum minus: Austin (south)

We tried to stay at the Courtyard in downtown San Diego, but after waiting for over half an hour at 12:30 am (3:30am body time) to be checked in (yes, we had a reservation), we went elsewhere.

My favorite Courtyard: the Downtown Nashville, TN Courtyard. It is actually a renovated bank building, with an enormous lobby/restaurant, interesting room layouts, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Nice for the price. It's just not the one for those I-want-to-know-exactly-where-the-bathroom-is-in-the-pitch-dark types! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The Courtyard Resort in Palm Cove is wonderful. Ask if you can be upgraded (I know it's an award, but they may do it anyway at no charge or extra points) to an ocean view room.

Courtyards outside of the US are very different than in the US. This resort offers a shuttle service to and from the airport at no charge (fax ahead with your flight info) as it's about 25 minutes from the Cairns airport.

The rooms are what you expect at the ocean, not great, but clean and a great staff. They have a good restaurant, but we ended up eating at the pool bar more times for lunch or dinner. You are secluded here - but you can take a shuttle to Cairnes and all tours pick and drop directly at the hotel.

Palm Cove is a unique little town with building guidelines that trees can't be cut down - you have to build around it so you will find one of the more unique pools there. Enjoy your stay - I would go back there in a heartbeat. I've stayed at other hotels in Cairnes and Palm Cove is a breath of fresh air.

I am not necessarily a Courtyard fan either, but one property I REALLY enjoyed was at Larkspur Landing, across the Bay from San Francisco. It is just a short walk uphill from the ferry terminal, and near a small shopping center. The area is quiet and lush, but like most Bay area hotels, it is a little pricey.

I have stayed at several Courtyard's in the US, and the nicest one is the Atlanta/Buckhead location. It was fairly new when I stayed there in '97. Believe it is about 12-stories and has a very contemporary design inside and out. It is in the Tower Place mixed-use development at the corner of Piedmont and Peachtree, right behind the Grand Hyatt.

Also, I have had the pleasure of staying at two Courtyard’s in Europe during a vacation last fall. I second the comments that the foreign properties are on a higher level than most US locations.

The Courtyard - Hannover, Germany was beautiful. It was brand-new, literally. Had been open less than a month when we checked-in. The hotel sits at the south end of a large lake just east of downtown Hannover. Very contemporary design and it was more like a full-service hotel than limited service. They had a big motorcycle on display in the lobby (don't remember why). Large restaurant, a couple of shops, and large well appointed guest rooms. Ours overlooked the lake. Very impressed.

The other was the Courtyard - Linz, Austria. Just a one night stay here, but again I was quite pleased with this location. It is adjacent to the Design Center, which is used for conventions, sporting events, and many trade/exhibit shows. The hotel had a nice business center which was staffed during the day. Full-service restaurant with a great dinner buffet, and a large bar/lounge which seemed to be quite popular with locals and guests as there were more than 50 people there at 10pm. The rooms were rather large. Lots of light wood used, in what was ultimately a sectional room set of sorts, from the closet and mini-bar compartment in the hall to the armoire type piece holding the television to the low-rise dresser to the desk (which jutted out from the corner and curved around creating a large work space) and on around to the headboard of the beds and night stand piece in between. Uniform look, but it worked for me. Also had large windows which swung fully out and had a deep step with railing which was actually the window sill, but large enough to stand on.

There are my testimonials. Anyone else stayed at any of these properties?

AtlMan

There are 2 that stand out as having gone beyond my expectactions. The CY in Santa Monica, CA & Long Beach, CA were both more attentive than any others I've stayed at.

After I returned from the trip I received a handwritten postcard from the Manager of the Santa Monica CY, thanking me for staying with them and looking forward to serving me in the future.

At the LGB CY, the Asst Manager was at the desk when I checked in. She must have seen that I was a Gold & thanked me for staying. She also gave me her card and said if I needed anything, or had any problems, to contact her directly.

Both are gestures I've never experienced at any other CY properties, and I've stayed at many...

Forgot to mention that my experience at Residence Inns has been very positive. Have stayed at about 6-7, just wish their rates were a little better for 1-2 night stays.

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 03-22-2001).]