Courtyard by Marriott Newark Downtown

The room was acceptable, and that was about the only good part of my stay at this Courtyard. As a Marriott Platinum Elite member, I got no welcome amenity at check-in, just a $10 breakfast voucher, as though that covered it. The front desk staff seemed indifferent and showed little regard for elite members or even basic hospitality. Marriott corporate should look into whether this property is honoring elite benefits. Platinum status shouldn't mean the experience changes wildly from one hotel to another.

I was able to leave my bag at the desk after checking out, spend a few hours in the city, then pick it up and get back to the airport in good time. They didn't offer late checkout, but storing my bag worked really well for my plans. The staff at the desk were great. I was here for work before heading into Manhattan, and the short ride from Newark Airport and comfortable room made it easy to settle in after traveling. I rely on Marriott mainly for the beds, and this one was pleasant. There's no restaurant or bar, but the small market sells things like water, milk, juice, beer, and wine. They were out of red wine, so I got an ale instead. You can order food to the room, or walk to one of several nearby places. Thanks to the staff working April 1st and 2nd.

We’re staying at the Springhill Suites in Newark, Delaware, for two weeks, and the service has often felt short of the professionalism we expect. We travel a lot and stay at Marriott properties frequently, and this one feels well below the brand's usual standard. We wouldn't recommend it for another stay. There are practical problems too. The bathroom light keeps flickering, the lobby coffee has been lukewarm, the pool is very small, and there’s only one washer and dryer for the whole hotel, which is especially inadequate for a longer visit. We also tried to connect our Marriott account for points, as we normally do without trouble, but ran into issues.

During the severe blizzard, the room at the Courtyard by Marriott Newark Downtown was clean and well kept, which I appreciated. The rest of the stay left me disappointed. Staff weren't especially friendly, and the hospitality felt lacking. There was only coffee in the morning, no breakfast. I understand bad weather causes problems, but the storm had been forecast about a week ahead, and I think the hotel could have prepared better for guests who were stranded. Road conditions were dangerous, so I asked to stay two extra hours until it was safe to leave. The desk quoted $55 per hour. I thought that was disappointing in the circumstances, so I paid for one more hour in the room and spent the next hour in the lobby instead. It felt as if extra charges came quickly while there was little flexibility or concern for guests' comfort and safety during severe weather. After this experience, I wouldn't stay here again.