Residence Inn by Marriott Grand Rapids Downtown

Charvella at the front desk made the stay great. She was kind and welcoming despite my late-night check-in, and went out of her way to make sure I had what I needed. The room was clean and had the feel of a high-end downtown studio, a good setup for solo business travel and likely couples or families too. I'm usually skeptical of Residence Inns because the kitchens can be hit or miss, but this one worked well. It was fairly quiet at night for downtown. The attached parking structure was small, and I got lucky finding a space. I appreciated the skywalk to the lobby. There are a couple more structures at the intersection if it's full, though you'd have to cross the street.

The bathroom had a few maintenance problems: a broken bottle rack, a shower door seal that was peeling, and a broken hairdryer. The staff quickly brought a working replacement, though that one looked very worn too. Parking also costs extra. Still, the shower had strong flow and the walk-in was roomy, and those smaller issues don't outweigh what the hotel offers. The rooms were impeccably clean, breakfast was good and complimentary, and the location was unbeatable. My wife and I stayed while visiting family for the holidays and had a great time. I'd recommend it for a comfortable, clean stay in the heart of a really cool city.

The city views are pretty neat, and breakfast was exceptionally good for a hotel, even when we came down late before closing. The rooms are well equipped, too. Parking was the one hitch: the garage is a little wonky and expensive. If you can, use entrance B rather than A. Great hotel, and I'd happily look to stay here again.

Room 813 was a lovely corner suite, spotless and comfortable. The breakfast was great and the coffee station was perfect. Parking is expensive, though I suppose that's expected downtown. The blackout curtains were the best I've seen at any hotel I've stayed in.