Residence Inn By Marriott Torrance Redondo Beach

The rooms we were given ended up far apart. We used reward points to book two rooms, then called that same day, two weeks before arrival, to ask that they be as close together as possible. At about 4 p.m. on arrival, the front desk said there was no record of the request. A manager then confirmed it had been noted, but said there were no nearby rooms available right then. One room was in Building 5; the other, in Building 6, was supposed to be ready in 30-45 minutes. We waited in the parking lot until around 5 p.m., but it still wasn’t ready. We were two families traveling with three children, so we left for dinner while we waited. Around 5:30, I got a call saying the room was available. When I came back for the key, a different receptionist didn’t know what was going on, and I had to explain everything again. I wouldn’t call any one staff member rude, but they didn’t make us feel welcome. The way the request, room assignment, and follow-up were handled felt poorly coordinated. It seemed like the staff needed more training, and the whole experience felt disorganized and unwelcoming.

The breakfast setup had plenty of choices and lots of places to sit, indoors, outdoors, and upstairs, so it never felt crowded. The outdoor areas were well kept, too. Our beds were comfortable and we slept well, though the rooms themselves were basic. The bathrooms and carpets could use an update, especially compared with the lobby, kitchen, and pool area. We stayed while visiting family. The location is great, 10-15 minutes from the beach and walking distance to the mall and food places. The room areas are spread out. The pool and outdoor seating are at the front of the hotel, just behind the lobby and breakfast area. Parking costs $26 a night, so plan for that. On Sunday just before 8 a.m., the gardeners started trimming and cleaning with loud equipment, which was a bummer. We’re elite Marriott members, but no one acknowledged that. The woman at check-in seemed focused on moving on to the next person.

My husband and I paid for late checkout when booking, but on our last day staff knocked on our door four times. The first knock came well before checkout and woke us up during our getaway. Having someone keep coming to the door made us feel like we weren’t wanted there, despite paying to stay late. As a world traveler with Ambassador status, I’ve never been treated so poorly. I used to work for Marriott, and this was unacceptable. There’s no justification for chasing out paying guests like this. Management, do better.

The staff were friendly, and the place was kept quite well. There’s a kitchenette, a pool, a jacuzzi, grills, a basketball court, and an outdoor fire pit that’s lit every night. When we visited family, the front desk gladly accepted our packages and kept them in a locked room until we picked them up with ID. Hot water in the shower starts running out after about 10 minutes. Breakfast was just okay, though better than most. IHOP and Dennys are around the corner. There’s no elevator, so get a first-floor room if stairs are an issue. Book it.