Seeking feedback on Marriott Providence,R I
 

Trying to decide between The full service Marriott in Providence Rhode Island or The Westin any feedback? Greatly Appreciated
I am not a Courtyard fan and the one in Providence is asking almost as much $$$ as the last 5 star Conde Nast Gold list award winning property I stayed in.
No Court Yard is worth 200 bucks a nite.............unless on drugs (grin)

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AA & Starwood,Marriott Platinum
Diamond Hyatt, Hilton
U/A 1 K
Swissotel Club Gold

[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 08-04-2002).]

I stayed there extensively last year. Its one of my preferred Marriott's in fact. Great Executive lounge, excellent snacks at night, including Dessert at 8 pm...... spoiled me as other Marriott's have not been up to the same level since.

Very convenient to the RI state buildings and a short walk to the shopping and tourist sites. Easy to catch the bus to the Ferry into Newport too.



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AA member since 1981

Thanks Im booking the Marriott as we speak!!!!!!!!Thats all I needed to hear
To many complaints on the Westin . Their rates are what some of my friends paid in 5 star hotels in Paris this year in peak season.
Thanks Marriott for pricing fairly once in a while in the market!Those Can't beat Friday rates and elite member special rates keep me coming back!

[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 08-04-2002).]

Though I do like the Marriott, I was once required by a client to stay in the Prov Westin and found it to be a mighty sweet property. Whenever I am staying up that way, I definitely hear Starwood's siren song pulling me to that hotel . . . http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The siren isn't calling me at over @ twice the price plus $20 for parking plus breakfast and its a non refundable rate.
I'll will have to sweat it out at the Marriott and it sounds like I'll be doing just fine.
Glad to hear the Westin still made the grade!
Thanx

The Providence Marriott is really nothing special. It's a basic Marriott hotel. The big problem for me is that its location sucks. It's located on the outskirts of downtown behind the Rhode Island Capitol Building. You will need a car to get anywhere (parking is free).

The Westin is the best hotel in Providence, hands down. The property itself is a standard Westin (which is much significantly better than a standard Marriott), featuring heavenly beds, heavenly showers, etc. The biggest selling point is its location. It's connected via skywalks to the Ocean State Convention Center and the new Providence Place Mall. It's right on the riverfront, so great restaurants are in easy walking distance (Cafe Nuevo, located in the Citizens Bank building, less than 5 minute walk from the Westin, is Providence dining at its best). You're right at the base of the hill, so Brown University and RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) are about a 10 minute walk (uphill from the hotel to Brown).

The biggest problem with the Westin is that it charges really high rates, so it creates inflated expectations that it simply can't meet. As said above, people expect a 5-star European hotel because the price is the same, but the Westin Providence can't deliver that quality. So unless someone else is footing the bill or you get a good deal (the rate drops to the $150-175 range on Westin's website for weekend, nonrefundable deals), consider staying elsewhere. And hope that you never want to stay here while there is an event at Brown University (first week of classes, Parent's Weekend in Feb, and Commencement Weekend over Memorial Day) because rates climb about $500 with a 3 or 4 night minimum requirement.

There is a new Courtyard by Marriott located directly across the street from the Westin (I think it's a new build, but it might be a converted office building or something). I haven't stayed there, but they share the same great location as the Westin (riverfront, restaurants, Providence Place mall, Brown).

Another great Providence hotel is the Biltmore. It's location is almost as good as the Westin and the Courtyard, but it's a really nice classic property. No big-chain affiliation, however, so no points. Its rates tend to run equal to or slightly under that of the Westin. Presidents, current and past, choose this property when in town.

Thank you BizJet.You sound like you know the city very well.And the whole score with the pricing as well!
One of my objectives of the trip is to dine at Al Forno. Might you know if the Westin is within walking distance ?May reconsider and book it with points.The non refundable is currently $230 to 300 per nite at the Westin
With other rates refundable/changeable $300 to 400
Would be great if there was a 150 rate but even 50 % off at that property runs 200!
I have currently booked the Marriott for 139 per nite.I assume the location is pretty bad.........Greatly appreciated again

As I and others noted in previous threads, the Westin is, IMHO, the best in town, yet it's also kinda' the classic "big fish in the little sea," and not all that special, but for the location, by any means. I like the place! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

FWIW, the Providence Marriott is not my favorite in the chain by any means, and I may have even posted to that effect in the past, yet I'd surely choose between the two, as an upper level elite, based upon price. So Marriott it should be in this case, IMHO! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

These aforementioned properties, (Marriott, Biltmore, Westin) may prove to be roughly equivalent, as is the Holiday Inn, in many respects, IMHO!

And please forgive me, and I love Providence, but it's a very small city, compared to many. You can walk anywhere if you like - and I do! Yet admittedly I truly like walking! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

True the Marriott is a bit north, yet it's as far so from the State House (and the RR station) as the Westin is south (as well as a bit west) from it - almost equidistant! I bet it's a quarter mile away for both, or a 5 min walk for "slowbees" and the elderly!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

As you now, Al Forno, is way south and a bit east on S. Main Street, down at the harbor on the river below Rt #185/#6, and the only place really close, of any consequence, is the Radisson and it's a cut below, IMHO, and thus not recommended.

So it's over a mile, maybe even a 2 mile "trek" at most, I'd guess, from the Marriott to Al Fornos, or perhaps a 2-3 minute ride by car or taxi! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

They have parking at Al Fornos but I do not know what the charge is or even if they even do!

Enjoy tour trip, in any case, as you cannot go wrong! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I stayed at the PVD Marriott one time 2 years ago. Nothing special, and, they added some mysterious items to my bill. Had to spend time at the front desk arguing to have the charges reversed. I haven't stayed there since.

I totally agree with BizJet. Nothing special about the PVD Marriott, and the location is poor. The Westin, OTOH, is a beautiful property, nicely located and well worth the added cost.

However, the Courtyard may also be a good choice. I can't say, because I haven't stayed there.

For the cost difference, the PVD Marriott has no competition. The Westin, Courtyard and Biltmore are definitely better hotels for the price paid........... Most were double, even triple the cost of the Marriott.

I was there for almost 3 months and was treated very special. I also saw the "Special fees" but a firmly worded discussion got them removed and I never saw them again.

In my case I was working on a project with the Department of Administration and the location couldn't have been better. Also with the bus system in Rhode Island, I was able to get anywhere I wanted, in a reasonable amount of time too.

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AA member since 1981

I disagree with doc that the Marriott location is just as good as the Westin, Biltmore, or Courtyard. Yes, it's located close to the train station and state house, but unless that's important to you it's not a great location. While anything I suppose is walkable, a walk from the Marriott to the riverfront, Providence Place Mall, Brown campus, etc., is not really easy. It's an acceptable property if price is your primary considering, though, but I'd still prefer the Biltmore, Courtyard, or Westin, all things being equal (which price-wise they aren't!).

Doc mentioned the Radisson as a subpar property, which in some ways it is. I got it on a 3-star Priceline stay ($45 or so). The property was fine for an overnight, but it had no amenities or anything. IIRC, it used to be a Days Inn. For those of you who know the area, I was staying with a friend who lived on Prospect (IIRC) so his campus and the Brown campus was walkable, but it wasn't really a nice walk (highway-type industrial rode), much like the Marriott to city-center.

I love Providence. It's a great city, very nice small-town atmosphere, some great dining. It's very close to Boston for some more world-class culture (easy 1 hour drive...easy, that is, until you get to the construction project called Boston), and easy access to the world with a great airport.

Don't worry if you choose to stay at the Marriott. As I think I said before, I'll be staying there on Friday of this week for a wedding (thus, no other choice for hotels) so I can give you a more hotel-specific update then.