Courtyard Ontario Rancho Cucamonga

The room was nice and clean, and there's a nice little bar for a nightcap. Service was great, with a friendly, personable bartender. The TV could be updated, though, and Starbucks coffee wasn't available because the espresso machine wasn't working.

The bed alone was awful. It was so soft, like whipped cream, that when I sat down I thought my backside had hit the floor. Getting back out gave me some pull-up practice, and the mattress squeaked with every breath. Where did they get these, Goodwill? No offense to Goodwill. I didn't even want to lift the sheet to check for bodily fluids, disease pathogens, sharps, or bedbugs. Shocking, and I hope I don't catch something. There were other problems too: the light switches were wired upside down, parking in the middle of nowhere Ontario cost $12, and the $10 credit couldn't be used anywhere except the Marriott marketplace, the one place you'd actually use it. After 15 years at Marriott properties, this may be the worst bed I've had. Four complaints, so the math comes out to one star.

Lauren and Jose are why I keep coming back. Lauren makes martinis I love, with a good balance and just the right dryness, and she’ll customize a cocktail if I want something different. She also helps with food choices and can tailor an order to what I like, whether I'm after something light or heartier. Chef Jose makes me the best West Coast version of a Pittsburgh Salad. I've been coming to this Marriott for a while, and Lauren always greets me with a smile and makes me feel like a regular. She's easy to talk to and makes me feel like more than just another customer. Great drinks and food are part of it, but that welcoming connection matters too.

I stay here for business once a month, and Lauren is a big reason I return. Whenever I check in and head to the bar, she's cheerful, friendly, and makes me feel at home. Once, there was no cook available. She was genuinely apologetic, pointed me to good nearby places to eat, and made sure I was taken care of on my next visit.