Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh West Homestead/Waterfront

The pool was the main reason we booked this hotel for my daughter, so finding it closed the next morning was a huge letdown. The front desk said it had already been out of service for over a week while they waited for a part. We hadn’t received an email or seen anything on the website about it, and I wish they’d told guests before booking, or at least given them a chance to cancel afterward. Our arrival was already off to a bad start: the room wasn’t the one I’d reserved, and the replacement had a toilet that leaked badly. It was midnight, and no one was available to fix it. We were told we’d get some kind of compensation, but nothing came of that. When I followed up, the front desk just looked at us and didn’t ask my name or say anything more. I emailed the company too, got an automated reply, then heard from the front desk that it wasn’t their responsibility. They said they looked forward to seeing me again, but I won’t be back. The place looked so beautiful that I’d recommended it to others. The service was awful, though, and this felt like another money-grab hotel. I’m unhappy with the whole experience, and I’ll make sure the people I recommended it to know I won’t be returning.

The pool being closed really disappointed my three-year-old, since that was why we booked. Before that, the check-in lady had been wonderful and upgraded us to a room with a balcony. It seemed fine when we first walked in, but then we spotted a giant toenail on the floor, hair on the pillows, and a really nasty shower. I also couldn’t work out how to lock the balcony door. By bedtime, the room smelled strongly of pot, and my toddler kept saying how stinky it was. The smell was back in the morning. With the room so dirty, I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

The extra charges are why I won’t book here again. We paid $190 for one night, but the total came to $480. We’d cleaned the room to make things easier for the workers and still got hit with a big cleaning fee. They also blamed us for breaking an ironing board we never touched. I used to clean hotels, so I’m not new to this, and I don’t recommend staying here. It felt like they’d find any excuse to add fees, since they get the money either way and don’t care about guests. I’d been warned about this hotel, but needed somewhere nearby at the last minute and didn’t feel I had a choice. There was just one staff member working, so we never got the fresh sheets we asked for, and the ones on the bed were stained as if they hadn’t been changed. I’d have gone to the Hampton inn if it had been closer. They have several staff on at night, clean sheets, and great service.

We chose this hotel for the good rates and indoor pool, but the pool experience turned out badly. After checking in, we waited nearly six hours the next day while they said they were preparing and cleaning it. I don’t know what they put in the water that morning, but my children broke out in rashes and chemical burns almost as soon as they swam. They’re still dealing with a rash and taking medication. I told someone at the hotel before we left because the reaction started so quickly, but the place was busy and it didn’t seem to concern anyone. No one did anything, so we left. I never got to speak with a manager. I have photos from during and after the stay, and would like a refund, since we waited hours for the pool and my children are now suffering from the reaction.