Element by Marriott Denver Downtown East

We were able to walk to King Sooper supermarket, the 16th Street shopping area, and the Colorado convention center. It felt like a safe locality, and we even walked to and from the convention center in the snow. We spent 9 days and 8 nights at Element by Marriot Denver Downtown in early May 2026, and didn’t encounter any unpleasantness inside or outside the hotel, despite what some reviews said. Matt handled check-in efficiently and was friendly and helpful throughout our stay. All the staff were courteous, helpful, and smiling. Our room had a kitchenette with a toaster, refrigerator, microwave, and tea and coffee maker, plus an iron and ironing board, hair dryer, lounge chair, and a large table and chair. There’s an outdoor fire pit and a rooftop viewing deck with a good view of the Denver skyline.

The gym and pool are good, and the rooms are spacious and well maintained. The airport is close by, though the shuttle has to be requested when you arrive and only leaves for the airport once an hour. I found the breakfast disappointing, mostly unhealthy choices, and the staff weren’t especially friendly. The hotel should really improve in that area.

The rooms are updated and clean, the bed is comfortable, and the views are great. Booking was easy and the prices were good. After staying in underpar hotels and Airbnbs for the same or more money, this place felt like a breath of fresh air. Matt was especially helpful. He answered my parking question and added useful information, then took care of an alarm going off in the room next door. I called the front desk after it had been ringing for half an hour, and Matt had it shut off in under five minutes. The staff were very friendly, and I’d absolutely recommend staying here.

The staff were friendly overall, and breakfast was good. Still, the street noise came through badly, and the people stomping above me made sleeping in impossible. I probably had some bad luck, but my first room smelled like sewer coming from the shower, so I had to move. The dishwasher in the next room was broken. That by itself was fine, but both issues made me wonder about maintenance. I asked three times for a mobile key and never got one. The location also didn’t feel safe to me. I saw what looked like drug deals around the hotel, people who seemed strung out sleeping on a porch at the bail bonds business next door, and human excrement and vomit on the sidewalk. Good times. I don’t understand the decent reviews, and I won’t be back.