Residence Inn By Marriott New York Queens

The breakfast was better than I expected for the price, with muffins, bagels, breads and toasters, a waffle station, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, milk and yogurt, eggs, sausage patties, potatoes, and regular or decaf coffee. On weekdays, I’d go down before 9 a.m. The elevators get busy, often stopping on every floor, and the dining room fills up fast. Some guests ate in the lounge by reception instead. We had a clean, spacious room and a well-equipped kitchenette, handy for making simple meals. Our room faced Manhattan, and the skyline lit up at night was unforgettable. Getting that full view is one of the nice parts of staying outside the city. I’d read some negative reviews before booking, and I’m sorry others had a rough visit, but ours was genuinely great. For the price, amenities, and view, this place felt like a find. I’d happily stay again.

Breakfast tasted great, though you’ll want to get there early because tables are limited. We stayed in a studio with a king bed and sofa bed. Setting up the sofa was easy, but the yellow quilt felt odd until we put the blanket cover on it. The hotel was cozy, and the heating was a standout. Water got hot very quickly, which was especially welcome in winter. Maybe the generating station right across from the hotel has something to do with that.

While I’m staying at the Residence Inn, Ashley made a rough travel day much easier by arranging a very early check-in in the middle of a snowstorm. She was welcoming, thoughtful, and quick to help. The service and breakfast here are already great, but her hospitality stood out. Thanks, Ashley, for making this such a positive stay.

I landed at Residence Inn / Queens on 9th St in Long Island City for a night after my friend chose this Marriott for the loyalty perks, including a very late 4 pm checkout. It turned out to be a quiet little sleeper of a hotel in industrial Queens near Astoria. The suite was beautiful, with a cozy king bed, full kitchen, and windows that open for fresh air. There’s no balcony, sadly, but the windows help. The place was very clean, and breakfast selection and morning staff were great. The front desk person on the graveyard shift was especially friendly and helpful. Then at 8 am my key card stopped working while I was locked out with a heavy tray of breakfast and coffee, after a long elevator wait. I called the front desk from my iPhone after looking up the number. The woman who answered was responsive and patient, even though I was a bit grouchy. She sent Byron, the hotel staff Engineer on duty. Byron must have run up five flights, because he got me into my room within three minutes of my SOS call. Five minutes later, he knocked and brought me a new key card. I was back to calmly drinking very good coffee. Thanks to Byron and the kind front desk lady. What could’ve become a terrible experience instead left me grateful, and a little more hopeful about humanity. Many thanks to the whole Residence Inn Marriott NY / Queens team. You show visitors what hard-working New Yorkers bring to the table and remind us there’s no place like New York!