Residence Inn by Marriott Cypress Los Alamitos

The breakfast bar was nice, the staff were friendly, the amenities were good, and they're very dog friendly. It's also in a nice neighborhood. But the A/C sounded like a semi truck running in the bedroom and only cooled down to 68. We were also asked why we hadn't moved out, even though our checkout date wasn't until the next day.

The front desk staff were friendly when we arrived on October 7th, and even welcomed us with complimentary water and a free toy for our child. The layout is a bit maze-like, but the map they provide helps you find the room faster. The dark-haired worker on October 7th was a professional receptionist, five stars to you! Two things really soured the stay. In room #433, there was black mold on the shower walls. We arrived after 7 PM and just wanted to rest, so we didn't report it that evening. I sincerely hope management deals with it soon, since it's a serious cleanliness and health concern. On October 8th, I called the front desk to ask for just 10-20 extra minutes at checkout because packing with our two-year-old can be hectic. The hotel was fully booked, they said, and couldn't offer it. I understood and accepted that. Then I checked the hotel's website and saw at least 14 rooms available. I wish I'd known the front desk person was lying so I could confront her. If she couldn't offer the extra time, she could simply have said so. After those lies, I won't book here again. Around 11:40 AM, while we were still packing and before the official 12 PM checkout, our key stopped working. It was difficult to get back in for the rest of our belongings. I don't understand why it was deactivated early, and it caused unnecessary stress and frustration with a child in tow. The polite staff didn't make up for the mold or the early key deactivation. The experience left us very disappointed and unwelcome to return.

The lobby market had a good range of snacks, quick meals, and drinks, and there was a BBQ outside. The grounds seemed well kept, and the room appliances looked pretty new. I liked the TV size and swivel stand, which let me watch from the living area or turn it toward the bed. The room was very clean, but the pine-sol type cleaner smell was so strong it gave me a headache and got into my clothes. If you're sensitive to scents, I wouldn't stay here. I also bought cheap flip flops to wear in the shower because the squishy non-skid mat grossed me out. I can't imagine it being thoroughly cleaned between guests without soaking it in bleach, and the tub floor was gross too. The bathrooms need a makeover. I opened the dishwasher about 10 minutes into its cycle after realizing I'd left a dish out, and the water was cold. I wonder about the dishes' sanitation and hope the heat cycle nukes them. The other issues were annoying but manageable. I usually get a “thank you for being a Marriott Bonvoy (status) member” at check-in, plus a bottle or two of water. Because of my status and pre-request, I ask for a high floor, but got a ground-floor room. I could live with that until someone upstairs stomped around. The lamps and hangers rattled, and there's not much insulation. I went to the lobby to collect my DoorDash order from the secured building and saw the clerk check in a man who got a whole goodie bag. What the heck? Maybe those are just for men?

Our whole family came together here, and it was a horrible experience. The room wasn't ready when we arrived because they were short staffed. Once we got in, it smelled, and there were obvious pet stains on the carpet. At the same times every morning and night, the guest above us sounded like they were riding a bike or doing who knows what. When they left, their dogs barked constantly. Breakfast was sparse and they ran out of several items each day. I also found two moldy oranges in the serving bin. There were many people staying there while their apartments were being worked on, and guests brought bags to carry food back to their rooms. Marijuana smell was constantly outside. No one came to clean our room after we followed the proper room service protocol, so we had to ask for clean towels. The front desk ran our card every day, setting off a fraud alert and shutting the card off. When we asked about it, the staff were rude and said that's how they do it there. My son was checking out a day early, but the hotel has a policy requiring payment for every booked night regardless of when you leave. When he asked the manager about it, the manager and front desk staff were gossiping about my husband because he didn't understand why they kept charging our card. My son realized who they meant and confronted them; their mouths dropped. I've never seen anything so unprofessional in my career. The manager explained the no-early-checkout policy, and my son, a Marriott elite member, called Marriott, who confirmed the hotel could do that. There were four separate charges on our card in the end, and they did add up to what we'd agreed to pay. Still, their accounting system must be a nightmare, or they don't have money for payroll. I'll never stay at or recommend this Residence Inn again. They were absolutely horrible.