Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Chandler/South

I don't think I'd come back. The hotel was just okay, with too many downsides and not enough for a longer stay. There's water with a sign saying no fishing, while people apparently fish from the opposite riverbank right in your face 😂. In the east wing, the walls are paper thin, so normal conversations next door sound like they're happening in bed with me. There's also no elevator in that wing. You have to use the single elevator in another building and cross a catwalk, or take the stairs. The worst part was an employee with tattooed eyebrows, who seemed unable to lower her voice and kept crossing professional boundaries. She loudly called me "Cole" before I had introduced myself. She also made public comments about my job, apparently from hotel information, though I don't talk about work once I'm off the clock. I doubt every guest gets treated like this, but they'll form their own opinions if so. I've stayed thousands of nights in hotels worldwide and never been called by my first name at a hotel. I explained that my name is Coré, and she seemed bothered that it didn't have a "y". Later I saw it misspelled on the TV in my room. When I made a request, she interrupted me and called me "Coré" again. I had to explain that, as a paying guest, I'm Mr Johnson. I hadn't introduced myself or given her permission to use a familiar name. We're not friends. I've never had hotel staff call me by my first name, and when I asked her to stop, she yelled at me. I don't know why someone would argue with a customer about HIS name, but it reminded me of why I left Facebook years ago. I had to leave the room because there was no way the conversation wouldn't turn into a dramatic confrontation. Guests should be allowed to choose how they're addressed. If someone wants to be called by their first name, they'll say so. I was also blamed when my mobile key wouldn't work. The desk person said, "No other guest is having trouble with their keys. This is because you keep trying to switch rooms." I didn't take the bait. I had the EXACT same mobile-key problem at another RI and fixed it by deleting and restarting the app. At my current RI, the staff were solution-oriented and didn't blame me for their inability to get me a working key.

We spent almost two months at the Residence Inn in Chandler/Phoenix, and the staff were a big part of why the stay went so well. Abbie, the assistant GM, made sure we could keep our room when we extended, and told us we were eligible for a refund of certain taxes after 30 days. We hadn't known about that, and the refund was over $300. She was thoughtful, smart, and great at her job. Chris, also a general manager, helped us extend more than once without changing rooms and went out of his way to keep things smooth. He gladly brought things we needed, like kitchen towels or a mid-stay bill printout. Natalia at the front desk was wonderful too. When parking was tight, she moved her own car three times in one night so guests could use her spot, and she found a can opener for me. Other front desk staff and the friendly cleaning crew were helpful as well. We felt comfortable and happy there, and I'd recommend it. Our room had a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom, with plenty of space. We had a water view, with ducks, carp, and all kinds of birds around the pond or lake. When the weather was nice, large sliding doors by the breakfast area opened onto the water, connecting the outdoor space with the seating area. I enjoyed walking by the lake in the mornings and evenings when I could. Breakfast was above average, with a waffle maker, oatmeal toppings, juice, yogurt, eggs, quiches, pork and turkey sausages, toast, bagels, English muffins, bacon sometimes, and biscuits and gravy sometimes. It was one of the nicer hotels I've stayed in.

I was in town for work and won't stay here next time. At first they said the hotel was sold out and put me in an accessible room for a few nights. It had the worst hotel bed I've ever slept in. A few days later I switched rooms and got a decent bed. The hot tub was broken, and when I asked several times when it might be fixed, I never got a clear answer. It had no bubbles and was only slightly warm. The dishes weren't clean either, with finger smudges and lip marks on the glasses, so wash them before using. Construction was happening in the parking lot, where my rental got a flat tire, though it might have been a coincidence. Breakfast was okay, and the property looked nice, with some rooms having a good view. I checked out early and got a lot of attitude from the desk agent. She said she didn't know how to use the computer and would have the manager handle checkout later, then eventually figured it out.

Jennifer and the rest of the staff were so welcoming during the little over a week I stayed here while work was being done at my house. They were accommodating and always said hello when I passed the desk. I loved the room layout. We booked a one-bedroom with two queens, and the separate areas, extra space, and storage made it feel much less like living out of a suitcase. The waterfront area was lovely too. I'd stay here again if I needed a long-stay hotel.