Residence Inn by Marriott Kansas City Downtown/ Convention

The location made our weekend easy. We could walk to plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars, as well as the River Market and the concert at the park of The National WWI Museum and Memorial. My girlfriend and I were in town for the Chappell Roan show and stayed at the Residence Inn by Marriott Kansas City Downtown/Convention Center. Our room on the 8th floor was comfortable, spotless, and had a terrific view of Main St. The welcome was warm from the start, from the parking attendants and check-in staff to the concierge and even a maintenance person working on our floor. Everyone was friendly and ready to help. We left feeling rested and well looked after, and would happily return next time we're in Kansas City.

We booked directly on the hotel's official website for an event, staying five days and four nights. The site had a small note saying parking was optional and cost $34 per day. At check-in, the desk asked if we had a car, and we clearly said no. Still, the final bill charged us daily parking fees. We paid over $180 for a car we never parked there. It was frustrating and really disappointing. Check your bill carefully if you stay, since unexpected fees may show up without warning.

My $80k vehicle was stolen from the garage while it was in valet's possession overnight. The parking wasn't secured, and my car was taken directly from the garage. They charged me $52 for valet parking it in an unsecured space where, as I understand it, the valet had no control. They were apparently preparing to remove valet service and switch to self-parking, yet still charged customers for what was presented as secure valet. They said they'd follow up and make things right, but over a month later I still hadn't even received an apology. I documented every conversation, and staff themselves admitted valet shouldn't have been offered when they knew the gates were being shut early in preparation for self-parking. I believe they were completely wrong and liable, and it's baffling they didn't take steps to prevent this ending up in court. I'm contacting lawyers because they refused to try to fix the situation, and their negligence cost me severely on a work trip. I strongly recommend never staying here. Spend your money with Hilton or Hyatt instead. Marriott has gone downhill, and places like this are why.

The streetcar is so close, and there's also a bar nearby where you can pour your own beer. You can ride to the WW1 monument or go the other way to the river front trail. I really enjoyed my stay and would definitely come back. Everything was great, from the staff and room to the parking and breakfast. Actually, the whole property was awesome. The breakfast was great too.