Courtyard by Marriott Faro Blanco Resort, Marathon Florida Keys

The staff stood out most for their professionalism and friendliness. We had a great stay, with a clean, comfortable room and excellent resort amenities, including the pool, bar and grill, and outdoor spaces. We could also check out chairs and a cooler for our trip to Sombrero Beach.

Lynn at the front desk made us feel welcome and valued from the start. She was warm, attentive, and quick to think ahead about what we might need, making sure the details were handled so we could enjoy a comfortable stay. Her service is a big reason we’d happily come back to this Marriott. Lynn’s a real asset to the hotel. Thank you so much for making our visit wonderful!

The front desk staff and manager were really nice, and the free beer and wine ticket was a great touch. Our room was a good size, but we’d requested a balcony and were told they were full with nothing else available to switch us to. Rooms were clean and the property has been updated. The pizza was good. We didn’t try breakfast or any other meals. Some of the pool chairs were reserved for paying customers in ridiculous numbers. This isn’t Vegas, give me a break. The Marina pool was cold and not heated. Room service also took too long. We wanted to shower and change after the pool before heading out around Marathon, but were stuck with wet towels and waiting. The daytime male bartender, Kendall? was working Thanksgiving. He wasn’t very personable, was slow, and seemed unable to multitask. Plenty of people waited 15 minutes for a drink, and no amount of motivation seemed to speed things up. The woman bartending at night was about three times faster, knew her business, and was nice. The daily parking and resort fees always make me cringe. If you need to charge more, just put it in the room price.

The waterfront views are spectacular, and the amenities were well maintained. I saw a bike technician tuning the rental bikes, which were included in the resort fee, while the grounds crew kept up with the property. That care made the stay relaxing and enjoyable. This may be a three-star hotel, but the experience felt five-star. The staff take real pride in their service. There are Marriott Courtyards, and then there’s the Faro Blanco Marriott Courtyard Resort. I’d stay here again in a heartbeat.