San Jose, CA Marriott Recomendations
 

Any recommendations for the greater San Jose area next week, 5 night stay? Bringing 2 older kids along, would really love any property known for upgrading PP guests to more space. My normal go-to, the SJ Marriott seems sold out.

Thank you.

PS did a search first.

I liked two:

San Mateo Marriott San Francisco Airport

and

Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley

Both treated me nice as Plat.

Add my vote for the San Mateo Marriott. Received an upgrade to an Executive Suite as a
Gold on a Saturday night :).

Why can't you get the Platinum override? I had this happen last week when I wanted to book a CY in Seattle. No way to book on the web site so I called Platinum reservations. The hotel showed sold out on the agent's system as well but the (excellent) agent called the hotel directly and was able to secure a room (at my corporate rate, no less ^).

Yes, thanks, but I want to use points. Got 2MM of them devaluing away and its the only personal trip I see in the near future. Seems pointless :p to chase them like we do and not redeem them when we need too. I guess if worst comes to worst, I do 2 rooms at a RI for 160,000 but that kills me too...

Is Monterey close enough? They do a great job with elite upgrades, plus it's probably a nicer place to be with the kids anyway. Unless you're in San Jose on business and just having them tag along.

One time, many years back, I was in a similar situation only traveling alone. San Jose Marriott was sold out, Santa Clara Marriott was exorbitant, etc. I ended up staying all the way up in San Ramon and driving to my meetings in Sunnyvale all week, and found that I didn't mind the drive and really liked the hotel!

These are both great hotels. I have only a few caveats about each. San Mateo is fairly strict on the number of guests allowed into the lounge. You'll be asked to pay extra if you want to bring 5 people with one room. You should get a suite upgrade there as a PP. The lounge offerings are pretty nice, definitely in the top 20 % for US properties. The only thing I really dislike about this property is the ultra low flow toilets that barely flush anything. If I were a regular at this property, they would need to send someone up on a daily basis to unclog the toilet.

The Fremont Marriott is a bit away from SF proper, but it is a great deal at a category 3. You should get a suite upgrade here as well. The breakfast buffet in the restaurant is a bit more basic here with no smoked salmon. I'm not sure if they are opening the lounge on weekends for breakfast. The evening offerings here are okay, generally better during the weeknights as opposed to Sunday night. The gym here is a bit of a disappointment if you like weights. I found the machines to be relatively low resistant (maxing out the stacks and not getting much of a workout).

I think the Fremont hotel is nice if you want to visit Monterey, Santa Rosa (Peanuts Museum), and go to Sonoma Valley. You can reach all these places as long as you're willing to drive about 2 hours each way from the hotel.

Santa Clara Marriott
 

I just got back from a two night stay there. The service was excellent, it is right next door to a huge amusement park, the outdoor pool is better-than-average and there are four tennis courts with complimentary racquet rentals. I definitely recommend it.

Thanks for all the responses. Actually headed there for a wedding for a friend who just moved into SJ Downtown so we want to stay pretty close since it will only amount to 4 days after the traveling. Santa Clara Marriott appears to be the best thus far, hope I'll get a bigger room / suite. Thanks again.

SC Marriott is pretty good option, but from what I remember all rooms are basically the same size at SC Marriott, and no suites except for maybe like one "presidential" suite, so if you are really counting on an upgrade might want to look elsewhere. As a plat I've never had anything besides very similar looking rooms on one of the top floors in the "tower".

+1 on having a much better than expected pool, and I'll also add that I thought the CL staff and evening food offerings were some of the best I've had lately. This was important because the nice restaurant closes quite early during the week and whenever I've been there the sports bar downstairs was always comically crowded during the happy hour/dinner timeframe (think like standing-room only club atmosphere).

With your activities being in San Jose I would recommend staying nearby even at a hotel with smaller rooms rather than driving an extra 20, 30, or 40 miles each way on the hope of getting a suite upgrade. It's just not worth grinding it out in commuter traffic IMO.

If you do want something with more space closer by, have you looked at the TPS properties in Sunnyvale and Cupertino, or the two RIs in Sunnyvale? They are all Cat 4.

Courtyard San Jose Cupertino
 

We stayed at the Courtyard San Jose Cupertino the first weekend of May 2014 for a wedding. The hotel is a Category 4 property for the Marriott Rewards program.

Two certificates were used for the weekend stay - one was the Visa credit card certificate and a MegaBonus Free Night certificate was also used. Both had short time periods before they were to expire.

Upon our Friday afternoon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the Front Desk and were advised that we had been upgraded to a King suite (from a standard King) and thanked for our Gold status.

The second floor room was in very good shape and had no noticeable flaws. The bathroom shower had a Speakman shower head and great water pressure.

On Saturday, we requested "early" maid service as we would be in and out of the room throughout the day for wedding events. When we returned in the late morning shortly after the first of three wedding events the room had been refreshed and serviced by housekeeping.

After the wedding reception that evening, we noticed that several hotel guests were enjoying the firepit in the courtyard.

The room was quiet and the bedding comfortable.

Sunday's checkout was efficient and the charge for highest speed wireless for two nights was removed from our bill before we checked out.

We'd stay here again in Cupertino for family-related events in the San Jose area. There is free guest parking and easy access to freeways.

Thanks for the update. Much appreciated.

Cheers.

Santa Clara Marriott gets my vote. Good lounge and fitness area.

Santa Clara Marriott gets my vote as well. It has several nice suites with French doors and the staff is very pleasant.