Marriott Ste Med Market Ctr

During my weeklong stay, the staff kept our room in great shape and were very friendly. Koray deserves a special shoutout for helping me sort out a billing issue. The Marriott team takes pride in making guests comfortable, and I think they do a good job.

I used to love this hotel, almost like a hidden gem alongside the Renaissance and Hilton Anatole, but after my latest visit I won't be back. The food was a letdown. I expected premade meals like Sysco, but I'm pretty sure it was all frozen or microwaved. I also got terrible sleep on the I35 side because the traffic noise was unbelievably loud. For all four days, the same dishes and trash sat untouched in the hall. In my room there were huge wall cracks, plumbing draining from the ceiling into the shower, gnats in the coffee maker, and no hot water at all. The biggest surprise was that the bathroom door to the bedroom had been removed. I understand people sharing a king room may be a couple, but my significant other and I don't want to listen to each other's bowel movements. The front desk's denial that this was a problem was wild.

I have insomnia that can be triggered by even the slightest noise, and the highway-facing room made my first night miserable. I almost gave the hotel one star. It was fully booked, so when I explained the problem to Darling at the front desk the next morning, she couldn't move me right away. But when another room opened in the afternoon, she helped switch me as soon as she could. I can now say it's a very comfortable hotel, thanks a lot to Darling.

I've stayed here many times over the last 2-3 years, but I'm planning to look elsewhere. I wanted to leave feedback in a survey after my last couple of visits but never got one. Highway-facing rooms have a lot of traffic noise, especially from semis using the Jake brake. The detectors on the ceiling also blink green, and at night I could sense the flashing even with my eyes closed when the detector was above the bed. Without an eye cover, it's really bothersome and can ruin the mood with a partner. It seems like a big oversight, and after all those stays, this is the last straw. Parking costs $30 a night, which feels high, especially with no convenient free options nearby. I don't think the cost should be kept out of the nightly rate or only mentioned after booking. I was told the lot belongs to another company, but that isn't an excuse since guests could pay them directly. It feels like an attempt to extract more money at the expense of satisfaction. Registration is cumbersome too. If we're paying, it would be easier to give the vehicle details to the front desk and have them enter them, especially since forgetting can mean a fine or tow. Travelers often arrive tired and stressed, so adding this to check-in seems obvious.