Residence Inn by Marriott Boise Downtown City Center

The room was spacious and clean, and the breakfast area was spotless. I especially loved the white rice porridge with spicy pickled mustard stem. I’ve stayed in many Marriott brand hotels, and this is the only ONE that offers it. It made me feel at home. Min, the lady looking after breakfast, was professional and nice. This would be my first choice next time I’m back.

It’s a quiet hotel in a walkable spot, close to lots of things to do, and the parking garage was easy to get into. The front desk staff were friendly and helpful. My room was clean and comfortable, though there was an odd smell when I first arrived. I stopped noticing it after I’d been in the room a while.

The restaurant staff were very friendly, the food was good, breakfast was enjoyable, and the location was convenient. Still, we won’t return to the Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown Boise. We paid over $850 for two nights, and it wasn’t worth it. Our suite had a dirty sock left by a previous guest. Someone came to retrieve it, but it was an employee who barely spoke English and seemed to have been sent just to run the errand. Nobody from the front desk acknowledged the problem, and no manager apologized or tried to make it right. Even a complimentary drink or dessert would have shown some care. The toilet had pubic hairs in it, making us question how well the room was cleaned, and there were only two towels in the suite. The pool was freezing and unusable. Parking cost $25 a night, yet the garage was full both nights. Guests parked in non-parking spaces, making it hard for others to get in and out. There are similar options nearby, including a Hilton across the street where we’ve stayed without these problems. We understand mistakes happen, but management showed no concern or apology about the cleanliness or the stay overall. We travel to Boise several times a year and won’t come back to this property.

The room was clean, the staff helpful, and we liked the hotel and dinner at its restaurant. Breakfast and coffee were about what you expect at hotels these days. Parking is the issue that will keep us from returning. There aren’t enough spaces for even half the guests, and the garage is tiny, narrow, with very low clearance. It feels sized for a Prius or Beetle. Trucks, SUVs, and larger cars stick out, so you end up backing up and twisting around parked vehicles just to get through. Every time I went in or out, someone was complaining about parking. Believe me, the clerks know, but they can’t redesign the garage for you. Consider yourself warned.