Courtyard by Marriott Brownsville

The breakfast area needs better service. Several people complained when the egg and sausage containers stayed empty for a long time, and some left without eating while others waited for refills. There was water, milk, and apple juice in a glass-front fridge, but it was locked, so you had to ask someone for a drink. Still, this was a perfect quick overnight stop.

The holiday decorations in the lobby are beautiful, and my grandbabies love them. I first found this hotel five years ago, and it's become my number one place, like a second home. They greet you as soon as you come in, and the customer service is wonderful. Mrs. Paty is especially kind and helpful. I'd definitely recommend it, 10/10.

I was stranded in Brownsville with a bad tire and only 36 miles of range left, so the hotel's location worked well for me. Everything I needed was 1-3 miles away. But the stay itself was a huge disappointment, especially for nearly $150. I'd stayed in rooms in Corpus Christi by Marriott for only $65 a night, and they were much cleaner and better. I won't recommend this place. The room was dirty and disorganized from the start. There was trash under the bed, including what looked like a child's bottle, and the TV was out of place. I hoped a mark was glue, but the sheets were stained and the couches torn. On the first night, the TV didn't work and I left it alone; the AC also wasn't working, though they fixed that. Night two was the worst. I put chicken in the microwave, and within 20 seconds it sparked, flared briefly, and filled the room with smoke. My eyes got irritated and swollen. When I asked the front desk lady to remove it, she said no one was there to do that. I offered to take it out myself, but she refused. At first she seemed reluctant to move me because only a two-bed room was available while mine had one queen. An older woman at the desk told her, “Ni modo,” meaning “oh well,” and said she had to give me the room. Thank goodness for her. At midnight I had to move because my eyes were already so irritated. The desk ladies are sweet, but this shouldn't happen.

The location was convenient, with a couple of restaurants next door and easy access to the interstate and the rest of Brownsville. The pool looked nice, though I didn't use it, and I skipped breakfast. The back entrance is blocked by construction that looks like it may be there a while, so don't follow your GPS if it sends you that way. The room was otherwise decent, with a comfortable bed and pillows, working AC, a mini fridge, microwave, and single-cup coffee maker. The appliances looked old and used but were good enough. The toilet was unreliable and took several tries to flush properly, though sometimes it worked on the first go. What I couldn't get past was the strong musty, stale smell. It hit me as soon as I walked in and was still there in my second-floor room. I checked in close to midnight; someone came out from the back within a couple of minutes, but the welcome felt cold. I chose Courtyard because I trusted the Marriott name and it cost a bit less than Hilton and Fairfield, but those hotels are newer, and I probably should've paid extra. I might stay somewhere else next time. If the smell doesn't bother you and you want to save a little, this could work, but for me it was too much.