Residence Inn by Marriott Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

The staff made the stay easy. Tim checked us in Friday evening, had the extra towels and pillows I'd asked for ready, wished us a happy anniversary, and gave us a $30 coupon for the Driftwood bar restaurant. The front desk team and lobby concierge were friendly and knowledgeable, housekeeping was efficient and pleasant when they cleaned halfway through our stay, and the kitchen staff answered all my questions. We booked less than a week before our anniversary and fall-break road trip. We'd changed our plans from Gettysburg and DC because of the shutdown, and stopped to tour Falling Water in PA. The hotel is beautiful, right on the water, clean, spacious, and quiet. It rained from Friday night until Tuesday, but temperatures stayed in the low 70s and there were no bugs, so we spent a lot of time inside with the balcony door open to hear the water and get fresh air. The rain was gentle, didn't come inside, and we even took a long romantic walk on the beach in it for our anniversary. I would've left the balcony open overnight, but my husband wouldn't. When the sun came out Tuesday, the bugs came too. A neighbor smoked cigarettes and marijuana despite the hotel's no-smoking policy, so we kept the balcony closed most of the day. The front desk said security knew and believed it was coming from the hotel next door, though I was skeptical because the smell was so strong. There was a large lobby with continental breakfast each morning, a gym, an outdoor pool, and a lap pool under the first-floor overhang, so you can swim outside out of the sun. I swim regularly and have a fair Irish complexion, so that was a big plus for me. It's a very short walk along the seagrass path to the beach. The lobby loft has the Driftwood bar, and there are lots of seats and patios with dining tables. I highly recommend staying here.

The beach was great, but the price didn't feel worth it. Our room was filthy, there were bugs, and the elevators were dirty. The carpets need a deep cleaning, and the outdoor pool area was also filthy, with wet, sandy seats. They mop the first and second floors often, but that seemed to be about it. Breakfast was chaotic, and the front desk staff seemed overwhelmed by how many people were staying. The one bright spot was the front desk manager, who was very kind and helpful when we reported the bug. Update: the general manager said the bug in the photo was a palmetto bug. Either way, there shouldn't have been bugs in the room, and they did apologize.

We only stayed one night on our way back from Florida, but I'd book a longer visit next time. We'd stayed at Residence Inn properties before and thought we knew what to expect, but this was a pleasant surprise. Our one-bedroom was on the 9th floor and had a separate bunk room for the kids. We arrived after dark, but even from a side-facing, non-oceanfront room, the view was amazing. The pool area was incredible too, and one pool was heated, which was perfect in late October.

The free breakfast was great every day, and I liked that there wasn't carpet in the rooms except for a rug by the couch. That helped me feel better about cleanliness. I usually run the dishwasher and wipe down surfaces when I arrive, and the room had a broom and dustpan in the closet too. I used the washer and dryer, and the washers were clean inside, unlike the sludge I've found at other hotels. I'd read mixed reviews and always worry about room cleanliness, so I was glad about those things. There is some wear on the building and a few spots that could use attention, so maybe some complaints focus on that instead of the big picture. I would definitely stay again and recommend it.