The end of Euro Pillows
 

Has anyone else noticed that FS Marriott properties are phasing out the square euro pillows and putting only four elongated "soft" pillows on the beds now, very similar to a Sheraton/Westin setup.

It's not in all properties yet - but it's coming according to the manager of one of my favorite airport locations. She told me about the new linens, new pillows, and the new line of Thann amenities.

When I inquired about the lack of euro pillows (which I love!), she mentioned if I had been there just a week prior they were selling them for 4 for $1, and the rest went to the local Goodwill.

Yes, I noticed this recently as well. I loved the square euro pillows at FS Marriotts. One of them was perfect for me.

The worst part about the "soft" pillows is that none of them are foam pillows by default. I called to get a couple of foam pillows, and they told me they were "out" of foam pillows. I've never had that happen at a FS Marriott.

If Marriott is switching to this less optimal pillow format across properties, I have some advice. Start actually following your Plat/PP members' profile information for pillow type! Usually, only RC and JW honor your pillow type request consistently. (There are some other great properties that are exceptions to this.)

While I'm at it, charging a $2.50 "convenience fee" for picking up food from the hotel restaurant to use my $10 voucher is incredibly tacky. It's hard enough to use without taking 25% of it off the top for putting my food in a Styrofoam box!

JMHO

I'm very sad to hear this news as well-if they are not completely worn out (like the ones in my room currently, @ the Marriott Waikiki-essentially square pancakes), they are great for reading in bed & one of the things I like best about Marriotts, actually.

I'm at the Boscolo Autograph Budapest and was disappointed to find no Europillows. I just assumed it was a different brand spec. It has the foam plus a soft feather.
It's not so bad they're missing from the Boscolo, the bed headboard is soft leather so don't need the fluffy Europillow, but it's a different story for the standard Marriott headboard. Sad to see them go.

MiniTrippie on Budapest Boscolo...

5 night stay. Free Gold U/G to jnr suite on their cheapest €100 rate. Great circular bath, separate shower cubicle. Whole room beautiful. Free brekkie in the glorious New York cafe daily, good spread. Hotel is in a very active area of the city, but not on the Danube, however Budapest is very walkable. Very classy hotel, a real step up from Marriott FS, I'd say JW standard, bathroom definitely JW+
Tip... If you're a light sleeper request a room at back of hotel. Front faces onto tramlines which are quite noisy, and the glazing isn't completely soundproof.

I'm happy to hear that. Never cared for those square pillows.

Glad to hear it, all they do is take up valuable floor space in my room.

Agree。 it is not needed.

+1

--Jon

This is good news to me. The square pillows were big to sleep on and the standard little pillows were small.

I actually had no idea people were so split on them! I too have always found no use for them.

One change I am hoping for is that FS properties will follow the brand standard at Ren properties and start using KING sized pillows for king beds. I really dislike the current use of standard sized pillows on king beds.

I never realized so many people didn't like choice.

Stayed at a FS property last night (2 double beds), four small pillows on each bed. Actually looked sad, like something I would expect from a Days Inn, though the pillows were okay.

This is also the end of the bolster pillows.

I don't mind choice, but I hate clutter. I feel like the room is cluttered once I take all the pillows off.

I minimize clutter by stuffing a pillow or two (or maybe a folded up bedspread) into a drawer by the bed, and putting a couple more pillows on the shelf in the closet.

I always wonder how quickly housekeeping finds those... :D

(That's in a room with one bed. If I get a room with two beds and don't need the second bed, the second bed becomes the storehouse for all the pillows/etc I don't want from the bed I am using.)

Not really such a good idea if I may say. Here's why.

Why would a company such as Marriott actually want to provide what their customers are asking for?

What would follow is that the properties need to actually follow through--and as you mention, only RCs and JWs consistently deliver.

Now--by getting rid of what customers really like--there will be much fewer problems having guests making explicit requests and feeling let down. :D

Those EURO pillows are part of the reason why I like to stay at Marriott. I live in Europe and until a couple of years ago I had to import my own pillows! Those pillows are not pillows but under-stuffed cushions IMO. I had to fold them up to make them more like a pillow! I know that pillows in Germany are basically 1 square metre (I got a bed set as wedding gift and the pillow cases were practically useless), and even if I fold it up it's still 50cm which is more than enough.