Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando Downtown

Lori made my one-night visit feel welcoming from the start. She was warm and personable at check-in, and the one-bedroom suite she put me in was huge, with windows overlooking the busy intersections and the sunrise and sunset. The whole place was super clean, from the lobby and room to the pool. When I ran into Lori in the hallway the morning I went for a swim, she checked that everything was okay. The room felt like a mini apartment, with a full fridge, microwave, oven, dishwasher, pots, pans, mugs, bowls, dish soap and a scrubdaddy. The bathroom had everything I might need. I also loved the free breakfast, with options for vegetarians, vegans and picky eaters, plus two waffle makers. There was an all-day coffee and tea station with lots of choices, including hot coco. The pool was lovely and had towels to use. For the price, this is one of the best places around, especially if you're traveling solo without a car. It's walkable to downtown Orlando's main hubs. This was my first stay at a Residence Inn, and I'll definitely be back.

Karen at the front desk went out of her way to help when I arrived and realized I'd booked the wrong date on Expedia. She found us a room and contacted Expedia herself to get them to refund the full amount. The hotel was clean and very nice, and breakfast had a huge, delicious variety. Downtown is about a 10-minute walk, with restaurants, clubs and Orlando Magic Arena nearby. I'd book again.

The room was good, though its location wasn't ideal, and the amenities made up for that. The hotel is in a good location and the rooms are nice. Self-parking is cheap, but once the lot fills, you may end up paying after scanning and still have nowhere to park. Also, watch your bank statement: they charged me a "security fee" without telling me. I only authorized the parking charge, but found a hold for double that amount.

Karen, the assistant general manager, gave me one of the warmest welcomes I've had at a Marriott in a long time. She was cheerful, welcoming and great at customer service. Breakfast was pretty good, and the room was standard for a Residence Inn, but the staff went above and beyond. I had an awesome stay.