Courtyard by Marriott Vilnius City Center

The check-in and front desk experience completely ruined my day, and my birthday. If you’re loyal to Marriott or accustomed to its service, I’d seriously reconsider staying here. The room was small, with just one little sofa, a small desk, no bathtub, and no heated towel shelf. The lack of a bathtub was okay, but the desk was unacceptable. I’ve stayed at other Courtyard hotels around the world, and this is the first where I couldn’t work properly. Courtyard is positioned for business, yet the lobby was noisy and all I got was a long wait. It took at least 10 minutes to check in. When I called with questions, no one answered. Later, I went back downstairs and found at least five people waiting to check in. It was 9pm and everyone was tired. The staff were impatient when explaining the hotel’s limitations. As a Titanium Elite member, I got two small bottles of water, and they had to tell me that I should drink tap water.

The hotel is about 15-20 minutes from the city center, with a lot of run-down or abandoned buildings nearby. Three out of four of us, staying on different floors, were awake between 4 and 5 in the morning because people were partying. You hear everything outside your room and in the rooms next door. The rooms were fresh and clean, but the bathroom is basically a glass room, so you hear everything happening in there. Breakfast was crowded and messy, with just one coffee machine, long queues, missing plates, and odd placement of things. The food was nothing special. The lobby was boring and way too bright, with no dimming or candles, so it didn’t feel cozy at all. We paid 10 euros for two-thirds of a glass of sparkling wine. When we asked for a little more, they said that was a proper glass. The guy at the bar didn’t know what Blanc de Blancs was either. The service felt like teenagers were serving. The gym is tiny. With five people in there, it was packed and no fun. The place is okay, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone I know.

We stayed four nights, walked to the old city every day, and were very satisfied. The location, breakfast, staff, and parking were all excellent. The rooms were excellent too, apart from the glass bathroom, which I’d avoid if you’re not alone. Courtyard Marriott has been reliable everywhere I’ve stayed, though sometimes it surprises me.

The staff made a very good impression: everyone was courteous, professional, and ready to help. The hotel is also clean and well kept, with comfortable rooms. Its central spot makes getting around easy. Gediminas Avenue is only a few minutes away on foot, Cathedral Square and Gediminas’ Tower take around 10-15 minutes to reach, and the Old Town is close too.