Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth Historic Stockyards Hotel

The hotel bar was handy, and the bartenders were great. We drove all the way from Louisiana, and my three sisters and I stayed at the Courtyard at the Stockyards. The location worked well, with bars, stores, and plenty of other things just down the street. Johnathan, Will, and Dane greeted us at valet and were fantastic, polite, and ready to help with our luggage. We declined since they work hard enough already. Thanks, guys. We’ll be back.

The location is ideal for visiting the Stockyards, and we enjoyed our time at the property. But the room setup was a real problem for our family of four. We booked a king room with a pullout sofa, only to find that the sofa bed was just a twin. How was that meant to sleep two kids, or were one of them supposed to share our bed? We asked to switch to a room with two beds, but the evening desk staff said the hotel was full. They even said they’d turn us away if we booked another room online and came back down for it, and that guests with reservations could still be turned away at check-in. That wasn’t reassuring. The staff came across as dismissive, even though I realized near the end of our stay that a rollaway bed might have been offered. Luckily, my adaptable kids were willing to sleep on the floor on couch cushions, but that’s completely unacceptable. The daytime staff member was much more personable. I wonder if arriving earlier would have made the whole experience better.

The bathroom was the only part that seemed updated. The rest of the hotel felt dated, which surprised me for a Marriott, and I thought the price was high for the quality. It’s close to the Stockyards, but if a good night’s sleep matters, skip a balcony room. It was noisy, and the earplugs by the bed should’ve been a clue. Parking costs extra, and valet didn’t seem worth the money.

Everything you need for a Stockyards visit is right there, so it’s a great place to stay. I had a better experience here than at the hotel where I stayed in New York over Christmas. The valet manager, whose name I think was Jeremy, knew where to go and what to do when we asked, and our car came promptly every time. I’ll definitely be back.