Courtyard by Marriott Lincroft Red Bank

The water pressure was poor, and we found long hairs on the bedsheets when we checked in, so we weren’t sure the sheets had been changed. Our room also wasn’t cleaned between nights, even though there was no Do Not Disturb sign after 9:30 a.m. There’s a $10 daily parking fee, even if you don’t have a car. They remove it if you complain, but plenty of guests may not notice it on the receipt. The front desk staff seemed to go out of their way to defend the charge. Reviews from 7-9 years ago are misleading: the pool has been gone since before 2020, and the parking fee seems to be new. There are other mid tier places nearby, so we’ll try one of those next time.

I couldn’t get breakfast made the way I asked. I wanted the menu’s egg and cheese bagel without the meat, but was told they could only serve it with meat, or give me a bagel and eggs separately. I ordered French toast instead. It came neatly sliced with powdered sugar, which seemed like more work than leaving one ingredient off a sandwich. I won’t be back. The room and hallways were both dingy, dim, and in disrepair, and the walls were so thin I could hear every word of a neighbor’s phone call at a normal volume. The bed was okay, but the pillows were bad and the shower pressure was awful. The gym is a decent size, though the equipment is poor, and the water and towel station was nice. At check-in, I was made to feel bad for not booking directly through Marriott. Then came the $10 parking fee. There’s nothing else around, so it felt like a cash grab. They didn’t even ask for a plate number, so just say no and avoid the charge. I’ve stayed in dozens of Courtyards, and this one is among the most run down.

Had a great work stay. Ashley at the bistro was easy to chat with and so friendly. Her cocktails were amazing, and I’m glad she suggested the wings because they were delicious.

I had a small room issue that was out of anyone’s control, but the front desk ladies were kind about it. They brought me a beer and fixed the problem right away. That kind of service is why I stick with the Bonvoy family.