Courtyard by Marriott Hattiesburg

The pillows were the best part for me. They came in different firmness levels, so we could each find one that felt right. The staff were friendly, and checkout at noon gave us an extra hour compared with most hotels. Other hotels sit between this one and the freeway, which kept our stay quiet.

The lobby and desk staff were nice, and the bed had the signature Marriott comfort. But the room itself was in rough shape: torn curtains, mold and rust in the bathroom, and broken fixtures. It had the basic Marriott decor, yet felt unbelievably sketchy otherwise. This property needs a serious review by Marriott Corp. It wasn’t up to Marriott standards.

The room’s air conditioner worked really well, and the staff were friendly. The hotel also looked clean and well kept. I stayed one night in 208, and while it was fine, the bathroom, bedding, and a few fixtures need updating. The sheer curtains were split down the middle, and the bed had an annoying vinyl cover. The noise was the bigger problem. In a wood-frame hotel around 20 years old, every creak and groan carries. I could hear plenty from the room above, and I suspect I was just as noisy for whoever was in 108. Earlier reviews said a remodel was coming, and this place needs it.

After five straight days on the road from Alaska toward Florida, I was nervous about stopping somewhere unfamiliar with mixed reviews. I felt safer here than at any hotel before. Our truck was packed with our belongings, but parking felt easy and secure, so I didn’t worry about it overnight. We’d booked the wrong dates and arrived at 1 a.m., and everyone was kind and helped us out. The bistro was good, and the room and surrounding areas were clean and comfortable. I’d recommend staying here.