Courtyard by Marriott San Mateo Foster City

I’ve stayed at hundreds of Marriotts around the world as a pilot and frequent traveler, and this location was a letdown. The hotel itself is nice, but that’s about where the good part ends. Everything from water to parking costs far more than seems remotely reasonable. The check-in process also felt excessive. I booked through my Bonvoy account, yet they asked for personal information that should already have been on the reservation, then had everyone sign extra noise policy forms on top of the Marriott-wide policy accepted when booking. And for a newly renovated hotel, having just one elevator at the far end of the longest hallway is a bad setup. My room was upstairs at the end of a different hallway, so after a long day of flying I had to drag three checked bags down, up, and across the hotel. This Courtyard seems to be trying to act like a JW, but puts guests through a dozen extra check-in hoops that travelers don't need or want.

My third-floor room was spotless and quiet, with no noise from the hall or street. After long days, that peace was great, and the price felt more than fair for the location and quality. There are also some good food options nearby. I was here for OpenSauce 2025, and the hotel is conveniently located within about 3 miles of the San Mateo Event Center. Staff were attentive and engaged, making check-in and daily interactions pleasant. Breakfast at the on-site cafe was reasonably priced and came out quickly, and the cafe team was very friendly. I’d happily stay again if I’m back in the area. The only small annoyance was paying for parking in a mostly empty lot. Still, it was a great stay.

For what I need when flying in for work in San Francisco, this place is about 90% perfect. There’s a Costco across the street, a fuel station a block away, and some decent food close by. I’ve never had my rental broken into, and the place feels safe. There’s a nice little outdoor area with a gas firepit too. The one thing missing for me is a hot tub or swimming pool 😢

The front desk service was fantastic and made up for the issues I ran into. The rooms aren't perfect, and the Internet can be spotty, but for the price the rooms are still great. I highly recommend this place and plan to come back next time I’m in Bay Area. Thank you!