Residence Inn by Marriott Salem

The fireplace was a nice extra. The hotel itself was clean and friendly, and I was surprised by how hot the water got. I went in for a quick morning shower, but it was so refreshingly hot that I stayed in for another ten minutes. I really enjoy hot showers, and hotels don’t always deliver.

The front office staff were super friendly, I’ll give them that. But the rooms were beat up, poorly maintained, and definitely not clean. The location was okay, though it felt a bit off-putting with two random guys in hoodies wandering around the parking lot. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

That man at the front desk will always be remembered. I can’t recall his name, and I’m very sorry about that. After hearing about my grandfather, he brought a cart up to our room that was basically a buffet, and made our next arrangements much easier. I’d never experienced that kind of service before. My grandfather passed away two days later, and thanks to him I could focus on my family. I’ll book here on future trips. The rooms were spacious and very clean, and the service was second to none. Thank you for such a thoughtful stay, and please pass along my gratitude to the man at the desk. On Monday afternoon, I got a call that my grandfather was in hospice and didn’t have much time left. I was told to fly in from across the country to say goodbye. After a full day of flying, I booked a room here in a bit of a desperate rush, just wanting to get the kids to bed and my wife and me some sleep.

We spent three months at the Residence Inn in Salem while a water leak at home was being dealt with. During that time, we got to know most of the staff and came to love them. They were caring, friendly, and attentive, and when anything was misunderstood, we talked it through and found a solution. Living in a hotel with a toddler isn’t easy, but we found the duck ponds and walking trails, swam in the pool, and had breakfast with the other guests each morning. I wouldn’t choose hotel life, but if I had to do it again, I know where I’d go.