citizenM Menlo Park

The location works well for Meta, but the room was cold and dark, and comfort was a problem. I heard footsteps indoors, traffic from the expressway, and trash collection at 2 a.m. The rooms are extremely small, with cramped showers and no room to lay out luggage. Check-in on the front desk tablets was poorly designed. Guests have to handle ID verification, make their own key cards, and process payment while two staff members stand by. It may be intended as innovation, but it adds friction and made the queue longer than usual.

The rooms are noisy, perhaps especially the ones facing the bay. My first had loud HVAC running constantly. I switched rooms, but could then hear traffic in the evening and early morning. I'd expect better from a four-star hotel, so try for a landside room. The design is great, everything is new, and the smart rooms use high-end materials. I especially appreciated the generous 4x4ft shower and blackout blinds that made the room completely dark. It's a good business hotel.

Breakfast was nicely prepared, and the service was excellent. The hotel itself is very good, but I couldn't sleep well because there was only one pillow option and it was too high. The double bed was pushed against a wall, so I had to climb over my husband to get up. That doesn't work well for a couple, though it would be fine if you're on your own.

The room felt like a cruise ship cabin, and anyone even a little claustrophobic should avoid this place. I should've read the reviews instead of trusting the Marriott name. They call it modern and efficient, but it feels like the layout is meant to squeeze as many rooms as possible onto each floor, with comfort taking a back seat. That efficiency has gone too far and works against the guest. This doesn't feel like a four-star hotel.