Towneplace Stes Balt Fort Meade

I’ve stayed here a few times. It’s okay, just a bit rundown and trashy, and it looks like some people may be living in the hotel. The Courtyard down the street is a lot nicer.

The breakfast changed my rating from four stars to five. The buffet had almost anything you could want, including two waffle makers, and everything was clean and nicely set out. We both got the hot egg, ham, and Gouda cheese croissant sandwich, which was excellent. There were also scrambled eggs, bacon, and plenty of other breakfast options. Two high-end stainless steel gas grills sit just outside the breakfast room if you want to barbecue a steak or something else. The room also had a larger fridge with a real freezer and an oven, which we liked. The queen bed is still small, but I’d put up with it and stay again on our way home. This felt like a very well-managed Marriott property, and the breakfast beat any Fairfield or SpringHill Suites we’ve stayed at. We chose this hotel after reading the reviews because it was conveniently placed for our drive home to NJ from Kiawah Island, SC. The front desk woman was welcoming and friendly, and apologized that there were no freshly baked cookies because the kids had eaten them all. Our room was clean, smelled fresh, and had furniture that looked nearly new. My only complaint then was the bed: every room has a Queen rather than a king, and this “hotel” queen is only a little bigger than a double, too small for two adults. I later learned all TownePlace Suite Marriott properties have these small queen beds in every room. That made this my first stay with this Marriott brand, and I thought it would be my last. We usually stay at SpringHill Suite hotels and have had good luck there.

The overnight woman was extremely sweet and accommodating. She took extra time to find another pillow and blanket because my wife often gets cold. We liked the clean room we ended up in, and breakfast the next morning was delicious, though the young woman serving it struggled to keep up with the rush of guests and food running out. That was understandable, since she couldn’t know so many people would arrive at that specific time. Our first room smelled like a dirty hair dryer as soon as we turned on the heater, like the odor after running a hair dryer for five minutes with your nose right in it. It filled the whole room, so we moved to another one, and everything was great after that.

The staff are really friendly, the rooms are clean, and there’s a fully equipped kitchen area. Parking is plentiful and free. There aren’t any restaurants or stores within walking distance, though shopping areas are just a short drive away. A good spot for one night or a longer stay.