I regularly stay at Marriott hotels for business, and I think that most travelers would agree that one good thing about Marriotts is that you pretty much know what to expect before you arrive. This hotel was no exception. All of the staff was very friendly, especially the employees at the front desk and at Envy. The room was very clean, there was a separate shower and tub in the bathroom, and the room was very quiet.
Why was it important that the room was quiet? Because over the Labor Day weekend, an Anime convention was held. What did this mean? Hundreds of teenagers running around in full costume. EVERYWHERE. In the lobby. In the lounge adjacent to the bar. Outside the hotel. I had read the reviews about the pool (there is barely any sun and smokers tend to congregate there), but I didn't have a chance to check it out! The costumed guests had taken over the entire pool area as well, eliminating any opportunity for relaxation on the lower level of the hotel. Although I didn't complain (what could the staff do?), I was very surprised that management was so disorganized that they allowed this group to completely take over the first floor. It definitely reduced my enjoyment of the hotel.
That said...
PROS: Very attentative staff, free Envy signature cocktail for silver members, clean room, larger than expected fitness center, restaurant.com offers discounts for Envy, great location if you have a car and want to be off the strip.
CONS (Besides the Anime takeover): For the price, I felt that the food at Envy was only average. The pancakes and design-your-own omlette were good, but not spectacular. (For spectacular, try the lemon souffle pancakes at the Stanford Court Marriott in San Francisco!) Similarly, the burger and prawn appetizers for lunch were just alright. I didn't try their steak, but if you don't think you are getting value at breakfast and lunch, would you gamble on dinner too?
Overall this was a nice hotel and it served its purpose for having a nice room off the strip. I will likely stay there again because I am a Marriott Rewards member, the location suits my needs, and the room rate is affordable. But, I will probably call first to find out what kind of convention is scheduled before I make my next reservation.












