Marriott Phoenix Chandler

After a 12-hour workday, I flew into town on Wednesday and went to check in, only to learn they’d given my reservation to someone else and sent me to another hotel. I was told they had given my booking away to people attending a sports tournament. I’ve been a Marriott fan and awards member for a long time, and would have gladly given the usual five stars if I’d actually gotten to stay. It was especially disappointing because I work for a major defense contractor with a corporate agreement with Marriott, which I thought should have secured my reservation. I was too exhausted to argue at the end of the day, so I left. If you work for a defense contractor, be aware your reservation may still be given away.

The mountain view was especially cool at night, with all the lights. Our room was one of the nicer ones we’ve stayed in around the east valley, and the bed was comfortable. We stayed one night; the hotel was very clean and well maintained, and the front desk was friendly with a quick check-in. We’d definitely stay again.

It was a simple, clean, new-looking hotel, and the stay was okay, but the price was very high. At our group breakfast, the bottom of a pastry served by the hotel had mold on it. Luckily nobody got sick, but after that breakfast felt unappealing for the rest of our stay. For what the hotel cost, that was disappointing.

For more than $200 a night, it was frustrating to be placed just above a private event and hear kids screaming outside our window. We weren’t told about it at check-in, and when we asked to move, they refused and said it would go on until 11 pm. No one should have to put up with that. The hotel is nice and modern, but the whole area around it smelled like sewer and wasn’t a great location.