Courtyard By Marriott Lexington South/hamburg Place

The location earns five stars on its own: it’s close to food, shops, and the interstate. The hotel, though, looks like it hasn’t had an update in more than ten years. My towels were stained, there was a patched hole in the shower ceiling, and the door lock didn’t lock. The rates don’t match the condition. If I’m back in the Lexington area, I’ll unfortunately find somewhere else to stay.

The staff were friendly and really helpful, and the room was clean and fine for what I needed. I just didn’t find it impressive. The beds weren’t as comfortable as I’d expect at a Courtyard, and the industrial minimalist decor feels cold to me. White and gray walls with nothing on them, and the only nightstand was metal with a glass top. There’s no real reason to avoid the place, it just wasn’t my style.

Breakfast was good, but it took a while because there weren’t many people working. Maybe I caught them on a bad day or at a busy time. Even so, the staff were friendly and very helpful, and service in general was pleasant. The rooms were great, and the hotel is in Hamburg, close to everything.

I spent 44 days here for work, and it was the best hotel experience I’ve had in a very long time. The rooms were clean, turned around quickly, and as good as or better than the pictures. AJ, the manager, helped arrange an extended-stay rate and worked with me through the confusing schedule my job created. At the front desk, Destiny went way beyond the basics, handling check-in and checkout, replacing key cards when I left mine in the room, and helping with packages. She was friendly and helped because she cared. Elijah at the bar was just as kind and helpful. When we talked about why I was in town, she spoke with her manager to get me a good rate for a longer stay. She didn’t have to do that, and I appreciated the extra effort.