Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

The dining options in the building are a real plus. The hotel restaurants and the attached restaurants are all great choices. The rooms, though, are small, and the bathroom is so cramped that the door nearly hits the toilet. The suites have more space, but the bathroom is just as tiny. I’d choose one of Detroit’s other luxury hotels instead, such as The Atheneum, MGM Grand, The Westin Book Cadillac, The Siren, or Shinola.

The front desk ladies were super friendly, and we had a nice view of the river and Canada. It was about a 25 min walk to the arenas, which worked fine for us, and the hotel sits right on the Riverwalk. The room needed an update, though. The sheets were wrinkled and poorly made, which made me wonder if they’d been changed or if a guest had lain on the bed before switching rooms. There were no bath towels, the shower was old and stained, and the room had a faint smell like it might once have been a smoking room.

The location suited my trip perfectly, but the stay was disappointing on several fronts. I’m a Bonvoy member and usually choose Marriott properties when I travel, but I won’t stay here again. I noticed before arriving that I’d used the wrong credit card for the reservation and asked at check-in to have another card charged instead. The desk clerk said they would switch it, but the bill showed they hadn’t. After I called accounting, they emailed to say they wouldn’t change it because I’d booked a prepaid, nonrefundable room. The escalators to the transit station attached to the hotel were shut off, so my 75-year-old uncle, who has mobility issues and is due for a knee replacement, had to climb one that wasn’t running. Nobody seemed to care. The in-building restaurants were mediocre at best, and the staff were slow and uninterested in helping. This place isn’t even as nice as an average Courtyard.

The on-site restaurant, Fuel, was a little pricey for the food quality, but it was clean and the staff were friendly. I’d stay here again. The valet team were especially helpful and kind. My daughter left her AirPods on the valet cart, and Joyce called me repeatedly to say they’d found them. I really appreciated how persistent she was about making sure we got them back. The bellman who helped with our luggage was friendly and showed us around the hotel.