Residence Inn Bryan College Station

The breakfast was organized well and had plenty of food, and the hotel is close to restaurants, shopping, and the main Texas A&M University campus. We were able to get some rest here before driving the last 1050 miles of our 3200 mile road trip. We were visiting family over the holidays and stayed several days. The staff accommodated our request for a lower-level room because someone in our party is disabled, and gave us a first-floor studio. It was clean, nicely decorated, and the kitchen appliances looked new. The bed was very comfortable, and there was a good-sized desk with power and USB outlets by the entry. We used the first-floor laundry facilities, which were centrally located, and appreciated finding a laundry basket in the closet.

I’ve stayed here off and on for work since May, so this isn’t based on just one visit. Every time, I get bad allergies and headaches. I suspect there’s something in the walls or the air in those rooms. The place feels neglected and in serious disrepair. Shower walls have cracks covered with glue, bathroom walls have mildew and mold, and the mirror frames are rusty and deteriorated. The AC is sometimes functional and sometimes swampy. Doors stick and take a hard shove to open. Rooms smell of food, Ben Gay, pets, or just general grime and heavy use. Dishwashers often have a few inches of standing water, and microwaves don’t fit properly in their cabinet spaces, sometimes making it impossible to open either one fully. On my latest stay this week, there were food crumbs on the table. When I asked for late checkout, they said they were overbooked. An employee also said a note on my account restricted late checkout. I’ve been Marriott Platinum for several years, and this was the first hotel where I felt they were merely putting up with my business. There are other Hilton properties nearby, and I’d suggest trying one. Maybe this is how hospitality businesses work in that area, but I can’t recommend this hotel. I travel for work and have stayed here repeatedly, yet the upkeep and service have left me feeling unwelcome.

We came for a big game, but I’m now feeling weak and laid up from an allergy reaction. I woke with a runny nose and watery eyes, and broke out in hives. Before bed, I saw water damage in the door casings and in the drywall beneath the wallpaper beside the shower. I wondered whether they’d chosen poor materials for a hotel bathroom. After they moved us to another room, I saw the same wallpaper by the shower, apparently hiding a breeding ground for mold. This hotel is awful. We’re members and stay often, but after this experience and their low standards, especially their choice to hide the problem instead of making the hotel healthy, I’ll report it to Marriott and choose other brands.

We’ve stayed here around a dozen times over the last few years, usually getting friendly service, good rooms, and a decent breakfast. It’s close to campus, restaurants, and shopping. When the hotel is full, the internet slows to a crawl. The TV takes almost 10 minutes to start, so be patient, and there are no USB ports in the rooms.