Courtyard by Marriott Across Universal Orlando

Jovan and Addie at the bar were really attentive and took great care of me. The property is clean, with spacious rooms. It's still under construction, so be patient, but it's definitely worth a stay if you're going to a conference at OCCC or visiting Universal across the street. It used to be a Holiday Inn and has now been converted to a Courtyard.

The location near Universal and the Starbucks downstairs were the only good parts. The photos don't match what you find here, and the renovation is only "supposedly" done. The lobby gives a misleading impression. The elevator took forever, and emergency signage was lying on the ground. The bedding seemed fine, but the floors were disgusting. The shower dripped from both the top and bottom and sprayed water everywhere, and the refrigerator didn't work.

Parking costs extra, and you have to pay when entering or leaving the lot throughout your stay. They use a sketchy third party that randomly tries to charge a bill in your name to someone else's card weeks later. No, no, no, don't stay here. They also don't provide room service for your entire stay, and the rooms stink. TGIF is the only good thing about the place.

The location was the one bright spot, but there are other nearby hotels that seem much more ready to welcome guests. As a Titanium Elite Marriott member who stays at Marriott properties often, I found this experience far below the standard I expect. The place felt like an active construction site, with work visible throughout and a general sense that it had opened before it was ready. Our room seemed unfinished and unclean. Hair was visibly painted into the walls, and the strong smell of fresh paint and building materials made it unpleasant to stay in. Even the TV wasn't set up. My husband spent 25 minutes putting it together and connecting it, which shouldn't fall to a guest. This went well beyond the usual new-hotel snags. I'd recommend staying elsewhere until the hotel is actually finished.