Courtyard by Marriott Atlantic City Beach Block

From outside, the hotel looked nice, but inside, cosmetic updates didn’t make for a good stay when basic systems weren’t working. We paid what seemed like an excessive $20 a day for parking. Our first room smelled like dirty, sweaty socks, though the staff were nice and moved us when we asked. The hot shower water took eight minutes to warm up, and some light switches didn’t work. At different times, two of the three elevators were out of service. I spoke with a couple who got stuck in one: the emergency call button didn’t work, so they had to call the front desk on a cell phone to get attention and eventually be let out. I saw at least two water leaks on the first floor. One poured from the ceiling onto the carport for two days, and several people slipped on the ice it made in 8-degree weather.

Aminah was the only bright spot. She was courteous and helpful, and the only person at the front desk the whole time we were there. The line was long and the phone kept ringing, but she handled everyone gracefully. She’s the only reason I gave more than one star for service. We checked in on November 22 for one night, but left the same day because of the hotel’s condition. We’d booked last minute for an event in Atlantic City. The first room smelled of urine, so we asked to move. The second had very worn towels, hair on the bathroom floor, a cracked sink, and a couch with dried spray of some kind on it, as if it hadn’t been wiped properly, if at all. An electrical outlet came loose from the wall when I unplugged a charger. I couldn’t feel comfortable about the cleanliness or safety. Parking cost $20 per night and came out of the incidental fee. We’d parked for less than three hours, but supervisor Amber denied my refund request, saying the full fee applied no matter how long we parked. I thought that was ridiculous, since returning it wouldn’t come from her salary or hurt the hotel’s revenue. Between the room and that policy, the stay was a bad experience. I’m definitely not coming back. If you’re considering it, leave it as a very last resort or stay home. The current standards don’t match the quality guests should expect when they’re used to Marriot.

The floor was wet, the carpet soaked, and my husband nearly slipped. The bathroom was dirty and the toilet wouldn’t flush. We found ourselves in a room on the 10th floor, where doors were open, rooms were in disarray, and the hallway smelled strongly of sewage. Staff initially told us the hallway fans were there because of construction, but they hadn’t told us a pipe had burst. When I called the front desk, they said there were no other rooms. Only then did they admit the burst pipe had damaged all rooms from the 10th floor down. They still refused to move us or offer compensation, and the general manager also wouldn’t help. We had to leave and find a last-minute hotel, paying nearly three times as much. The dishonesty, lack of communication and customer service, and unsafe conditions were shocking. This was one of our worst hotel stays. I’ll never return and am seriously reconsidering staying with Marriott. I wouldn’t recommend this property.

We had to extend our trip by a week when someone in our party had a medical emergency at checkout from our previous hotel and ended up in the hospital. The Courtyard let us extend day by day and were very accommodating. The front desk staff were sympathetic and asked how our friend was doing several times. The room was clean, and housekeeping kept the beds made and towels stocked without us needing to ask. Since it was the slow season in December, the hotel was quiet as a mouse and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. Parking in their lot costs $20 a day, but we saved a few dollars by using the Resorts garage around the corner. We didn’t need the car much anyway: most of downtown AC is walkable, and the jitney and several NJT buses are nearby. The bistro was closed during our stay. Perry’s across the street was an outstanding breakfast spot, and we went there almost every day. There are snacks, drinks, and travel necessities available at the front desk 24/7. The negative reviews don’t match our experience. If you want a quiet, central spot and don’t want to walk through a casino for 20 minutes to reach your room, the Courtyard is a solid budget-friendly choice.