Courtyard by Marriott Baltimore Hunt Valley

This is a handy spot for my work, though the Marriott itself is clearly old. What surprised me was the atmosphere outside: some guests seem like construction crews, tailgating, cooking, drinking, and playing music in the parking lot right by my room. They aren’t really bothering anyone, and it wasn’t loud enough for me to complain. Still, it’s not what I’d usually expect at a major hotel brand when I’m traveling for work.

The new $5 parking charge seems odd for a place outside the city, where parking isn’t limited and getting there by car is really the only option. It comes across as another fee without much transparency. I’ve stayed here for trips over a number of years. The hotel is well maintained, and the rooms are very quiet.

Absolutely terrible. I was given a key to a room where I could shower in the morning, and could move into it if I moved all my things with some help. By then, I was too upset and tired to move. The bathtub in my original room wouldn’t drain and brought up black gunk. The hotel couldn’t fix it and initially said there were no other rooms available. After I went to the front desk and said I could show other guests pictures of the problem, “suite rooms” somehow became available.

The staff here are the best, pleasant and helpful. You can sign into Amazon Prime or YouTube on the TV, and Bluetooth headphones work with it, which is useful because the walls are thin. I have hearing problems and need the volume up, so headphones keep me from disturbing the next room. The rooms have some drawbacks, especially for a longer stay. Standard rooms don’t have a microwave or a freezer compartment in the mini fridge, so you have to go to the lobby to heat food, and there’s nowhere to keep frozen food. The larger “suites” do have a microwave but still no freezer. They also have only a shower stall, while standard rooms have a shower and bath. That setup definitely isn’t for extended stays.