The Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection by Marriott

The room was clean and fairly standard, with a surprisingly huge bathroom. Check-in went smoothly, and the front desk staff were really nice. The location is central, and Old Sacramento is an easy enough walk, though there isn't much right nearby. Parking was the main frustration: there’s nowhere to park yourself, so it feels like you have to use the $50-a-day valet. The setup works, but getting the car often meant waiting, and the valets didn’t seem in much of a hurry.

The lobby and elevator area have a really cool vintage feel, so take a minute to look around. The lobby is striking, though it feels a little odd to linger when the front desk is right there. This is a great, chic base for walking around and checking places out, and the hotel feels luxurious at first. The bathroom let it down: the photos make it look much better than it is, the shower pressure sent water splashing everywhere, and the tile was, well, pretty icky. I'd love to see the bathrooms refreshed.

If you're driving, I'd avoid this place. Parking is valet only at $49 a day, and it's a hassle to request the car through a link on your phone. You also end up tipping whenever you ask for it. My car came back really dirty after being left overnight, and it looked like it had been parked somewhere outside without a cover. The room phone was broken and couldn't make calls. I won't stay here again.

The restaurant attached to the hotel was excellent, and a concert in the park takes place right across the street. There’s plenty to see and do nearby once you’ve parked, and valet parking is a must. My standard room was spacious, though the view wasn’t great. The staff were friendly and paid nice attention to detail, and getting champagne at check-in was a lovely touch. I forgot to take pictures.