Residence Inn by Marriott Olathe Kansas City

We won't be coming back. After many stays that I loved, my family and I no longer feel comfortable here. The staff are nice, but that only goes so far. Marriott should renovate extensively, make this feel like a real hotel again, or stop managing it when the contract ends. It doesn't meet Marriott standards. The place seems more like an apartment complex than a hotel. Many people stay for months or years. At breakfast I met a kind man with his two boys, who had come from Afghanistan when many people fled to the US in 2021. They'd lived at the hotel since then and called it home. They're welcome, of course, but I wondered why they were still at a Residence Inn instead of an apartment or house. He said there were many long-term residents, so I wonder how much of the occupancy is renters rather than hotel guests. The hotel needs renovation, but my concerns go beyond that. Food and trash bags are often left in the halls. I've read reviews about bugs, though we haven't seen any ourselves. The bigger issue is feeling unsafe. There are apartments next door, and residents have approached us asking for money. Once, as we got out of our car, someone asked to come in and use the shower because theirs was supposedly out of order. Another night, while we were watching TV in our first-floor living room, two young men pounded on the window and wanted to come inside. I don't know if they were from the apartments or long-term hotel residents. We'll find somewhere else to stay in the area.

The front desk agent was very kind, but the room was in rough shape. The carpet in the main room was torn, and its window was unreliable and wouldn't close properly. The fireplace kept switching on and off. The TV only partly worked: it was slow to respond to the remote, and the sound and subtitles wouldn't work together. The two bedrooms were uncomfortable in opposite ways. The smaller one had no airflow and stayed so hot I had to throw off the covers, while my friend needed an extra blanket in the chilly bigger room. In the smaller bathroom, red mold on the showerhead looked like it would wipe off easily. The tub faucet in the bigger bedroom's bathroom dripped constantly, nearly like a little stream. The whole place felt rundown.

We came for my sister's volleyball tournament, and the staff made a big impression on our group by putting together a little pizza party with cupcakes and smores. They're some of the kindest people you'll meet. There's also a fun basketball court and a nice little gym if you get the chance to stay here.

For a stay of 2-3 months, I found this a comfortable, practical choice. The location made things easy: a sandwich shop is a two-minute walk away, McDonald's is five minutes away, and Target and a multiplex cinema are within 15 minutes, with plenty of options. The suite has room to spread out, with a sofa, large desk, and a firm, comfortable bed. The kitchen is well equipped with a full-size fridge, microwave, dishwasher, dishes, and cooking utensils, and housekeeping regularly replenishes consumables. Staff were friendly and helpful. The building feels a little dated, and the outdoor AC unit was sometimes noisy, though that wasn't a big problem for me. Lots of framed pictures on the walls give the room its own character. There are coin-operated washers and dryers for $3 each, plus a basketball court and BBQ grills in the courtyard.