Residence Inn by Marriott Charlottesville Downtown

I've spent more than 1,200 nights at Marriott properties, and this has to be one of the worst. The rooms themselves are fine, nothing fancy for a Residence Inn, but the service has been horrible. When I checked in, they didn't recognize my status or loyalty. The person at the desk seemed annoyed to be interrupted from her phone. The view is an amazing filthy window facing a wall, with a ledge covered in bird nest debris and bird shit. The internet has been a constant problem since I arrived. I spent an hour on the phone with the provider last night, and they escalated my ticket and promised a callback. They called almost 15 hours later while I was at work, when I couldn't talk. I said I'd be back at the hotel at 5 PM and was promised another call, but it was 6:40 PM with no callback. I've had to use my phone as a hotspot. The TV remote also stopped working last night. I called the front desk, and she offered a replacement, but said I had to come down to get it because she was the only one there. Unsatisfactory. I'd switch hotels, but I have to leave for my testing site at 6:30 in the morning and don't get back until 5:00 PM. There are much better choices in Charlottesville, so I'd look elsewhere than The Residence Inn by Marriott Charlottesville Downtown.

The location is the standout here. It's a block from the Downtown Mall, with restaurants, shops, and entertainment close by, and a bus stop across the street goes straight to UVA. That makes it handy for visits to UVA, business trips, couples, road trips, or longer stays. Parking in the attached garage was easy, and the hotel access was convenient. We had a spacious one-bedroom suite on the 3rd floor with a great city view. It was fairly quiet, though we could hear some traffic and occasional car radios outside. The rooms are a little worn in places, but everything was extremely clean and well maintained. The lobby also made a surprisingly upscale first impression, and the front desk staff were friendly and welcoming throughout. As someone who travels often with Marriott and Bonvoy and has stayed at many Residence Inns, I found this one especially convenient. The TVs were the main problem. Neither worked properly, and they kept freezing or reloading. Once something was playing, backing out or rewinding could mean waiting several minutes for it to reload. The hotel should address and update them. Breakfast ended at 9:30 a.m., earlier than at most Marriott properties I've visited, though coffee was still available afterward. It was a clean, comfortable stay, and I'd come back for the convenience.

I travel often for work and keep choosing Residence Inn at Charlottesville as my home away from home. Courtney is phenomenal. She knows me by name when I call and treats me like family. That personal touch is one of the reasons I return. Team members who make guests feel this welcome and comfortable deserve to be celebrated. Thanks for making my experience memorable. You matter, and you make a difference!

The employees we met were all very nice, and I loved the Christmas spirit, with the candy cane tree. I was surprised they had an indoor pool, which is convenient for swimmers. I also used the well equipped gym almost every morning. It's got dumbbells, a bench, treadmills, ellipticals, and a bike. A mat for sit-ups would be a good addition. The rooms were fairly updated and the beds comfortable. The stocked kitchenette made even a longer stay manageable, with a full fridge and ice maker, microwave, and stovetop. This was the most updated, clean, and organized extended stay hotel we've tried. We only had breakfast once, and it was okay. There was no grab-and-go fruit, and the cut fruit bowl stayed empty the whole time we were there. I saw them filling it as we were leaving, well after the rush. I'd have preferred berries with the oatmeal and yogurt to what looked like cut melon mix, though there was otherwise a nice selection. The coffee and tea bar by the elevators each morning was a lifesaver, especially if you can't sleep and don't want to wake your spouse. A very pleasant stay. I'd choose it over the other hotels in a heartbeat. Great Marriott option.