Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center

Big thanks to Evangelina at the Bakersfield Marriott. I came in with a difficult situation, and she calmly took charge. She went straight to the general manager and handled it quickly and effectively. Evangelina went above and beyond to make sure I got what I needed. Her care and service turned a stressful moment into a great experience.

Downtown feels abandoned at night, and there aren’t restaurants or coffee houses within walking distance, so the hotel restaurant is the only option then. Even so, the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center suited me well for a business meeting or an event at the convention center. It’s a decent, safe hotel with friendly service, and I was very happy with my stay. Many government buildings, including the Kern County Superior Court, are a short walk away. There’s a spacious lounge area that serves coffee and similar things in the morning, and parking in the outdoor lot behind the hotel was free. The staff I spoke with, including Evangelina at the front desk, were helpful and made appropriate suggestions.

It’s a classic Marriott, with great beds, linens, pillows, and towels, plus nicely sized rooms and a good sized pool. The staff were fabulous, and there’s a nice bar and restaurant on site. But the place is getting tired. The carpet is worn, bathroom counters are broken, and the old tub and shower combos are showing their age. It’s time to renovate.

The rooms have been nice and spacious, and service has been good to great at all four Marriott properties I’ve stayed at on this trip. It’s been a while since I last stayed at a Marriott in the US, and I’m taking a star off over an issue I’ve noticed across the chain: the in-room coffee and tea setup feels lacking. Many hotels of Marriott’s stature elsewhere provide espresso machines and capsules, like Nespresso. Marriott’s machines seem flimsy and low quality by comparison. At least two of the four properties had faulty ones. One wouldn’t turn on, and another leaked and made a mess. I didn’t use the machines at the other two. The paper cups with plastic lids also felt cheap. Wouldn’t washable, reusable ceramic cups be more sustainable? The coffee itself was poor too. Most hotels provide a kettle as well as a coffee machine for tea drinkers. Honestly, a kettle and packets of coffee and tea might be preferable to the machines they have now.