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Hotel Reviews

The Westin Charlotte

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This past September, a client meeting brought me to North Carolina, where I stayed two nights at The Westin Charlotte. This 700-room hotel, located in the central business district, often functions as a headquarters for convention attendees. While it may cater mainly to the business traveler, it’s also near some of Charlotte’s most popular attractions, making it a decent spot for family vacations as well.

The Westin Charlotte
Built in 2003, The Westin Charlotte has 25 floors and is the largest hotel in the city.  

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Location

The Westin Charlotte is situated in the city’s Uptown district and serves as a gateway to the southern end of downtown. It’s just steps from the Charlotte Convention Center and Bank of America Stadium and near popular attractions like the Discovery Place Science Museum and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Lobby

The hotel completed a complete overhaul and renovation just a few years ago. The result is a modern and elegant aesthetic and the lobby certainly reflects that. The lobby looks brand new and that clean, modern feeling reverberates throughout the entire hotel.

The Room

The floor hallways were more evidence of the recent renovation. The carpet looked brand new, the wallpaper was in great shape and the walls were scuff-free.

My room was located on one of the top floors and I had a great view of downtown Charlotte.

The view of downtown from my hotel room window.

The room itself was modern and clean with plenty of outlets and USB ports on both sides of the bed. Of course, this being a Westin, I was treated to their signature Westin Heavenly Bed.

The room also had a large couch, a work area, a smart TV and a coffee station with refrigerator.

The Bathroom

While not huge, the bathroom was very clean and modern. If I had to nitpick something, the tile work in the shower by the drain looked a little shoddy. It didn’t impact anything and the shower was clean, but I’d expect the tile work to be finished better after a recent renovation.

Hotel Amenities

Dining

When it comes to dining, the hotel has two restaurants and a small cafe. All are located in or next to the first floor lobby.

JP Charlotte

Open for breakfast and lunch, the hotel’s signature restaurant, JP Charlotte, focuses on organic southern entrees, sourced from local farmers.

SoCo Bar

Opposite the check-in desk is the entrance to SoCo Bar. With plenty of natural light due to floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s is a nice spot to relax after a long day. For lunch, it offers a small bites menu featuring salads, wings, dips and burgers. In the evenings, it has a full dinner menu, which includes many of the dishes found on JP Charlotte’s lunch menu.

SoCo Cafe

Located in the lobby, SoCo Cafe serves specialty Starbucks coffee drinks, baked goods, snacks and grab-n-go items.

Photo courtesy of Marriott.

Fitness Center

Open 24/7, the fitness center is equipped with strength machines, free weights, treadmills, elliptical machines, Peloton bikes, and a TRX Station.

Bottom Line

Marriott classifies the Westin brand as “Premium”, which is one level below their highest “Luxury” level of hotels. As such, you won’t get the opulence of a Ritz-Carlton or a St. Regis, but you can expect a beautiful and well kept property. The Westin Charlotte definitely exceeded my expectations. Having undergone a renovation within the past few years, the entire hotel is fresh, modern and clean. It’s in a great downtown location that should appeal to both business and personal travelers alike.

Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa

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The Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa is a charming and unique property, nestled on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Part of the Mr. & Mrs. Smith brand, this luxury boutique hotel has an intimate, low-key vibe. With only 23 total rooms, many of which have ocean views, you’ll often feel like you have the place to yourself. Guests can relax by the palm tree lined outdoor pool or indulge with an indoor or outdoor spa service.

For all that, what really makes the hotel special, is the outstanding customer service. The staff is friendly and attentive, and they go out of their way to make sure guests have a memorable stay. The hotel is also pet-friendly, which is a plus for those traveling with furry friends.

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Booking

This all started because I needed to use my IHG free night award certificate before it expired. I earned the free night, valid at hotels costing up to 40,000 points a night, as a perk from owning an IHG Rewards Club Premier card. Due to a recent partnership between IHG and Mr. & Mrs. Smith hotel groups, IHG members can earn and redeem points at all Mr. & Mrs. Smith properties. So I was able to apply my free award certificate and use points to book five nights at Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa.

For the free night, I was somehow able to redeem it for the Bungalow Suite, which is the most expensive room at the hotel. At the time of booking, that room was going for a cash price of $1,015. For the other four nights, I booked one of their standard rooms. I was a little shy of the required points, so I purchased a few thousand before booking. All in all, the stay would’ve cost me over $2,700, but I was able to book it for only $135!

History

The property dates back to the early 1920s and has been a hotel, an artists colony and a bed and breakfast in its past lives. In 2000, it underwent a complete renovation which returned the property’s buildings to their original Mission-style appearance. Then, after being sold in 2014, it was beautifully restored to its Spanish architectural roots over the next two years.

Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa has a welcoming courtyard with peaceful fountains and lush landscaping.

Location

The hotel is located on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), approximately one mile south of Downtown Laguna Beach. While walking to Laguna Beach’s cafes, restaurants and shops is doable, I’d recommend renting a car. PCH is a busy 4-lane road, which doesn’t make for a particularly relaxing walk. It’s also very hilly and with the sun, it can be quite hot, even in winter. Orange County has lots of other nearby towns worth exploring, so having a car is a plus anyways.

Welcome to the Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa.

Lobby

In the back of the hotel, next to the small parking area, is the entrance most guests use to enter the property. The first thing you’ll notice are the lush green foliage and the quaint winding paths.

The lobby is located in the original Mission House building, which is comprised of a small reception area and lounge with a fireplace and comfy chairs. The indoor dining room is also located in this same building.

Check-in and Customer Service

The check-in process was quick and easy. We were upgraded two room levels, from their standard Garden Room to a Deluxe Ocean View Patio Room. After explaining a few things about the hotel’s offerings, the manager took us on a short tour of the property. During the tour, we were provided complimentary sangrias to sip on. At the tour’s end, he showed us to our room, which contained another welcome gift. On the bedside table, was a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, already on ice. All of the hospitality gave us a very warm and welcoming feeling!

Since we weren’t going to have an opportunity to drink the sparkling wine right away, I went back to the lobby to ask the manager if there was a refrigerator we could use to keep it cold. He said they have a small portable mini-fridge, but another guest was already using it. He also offered to store our bottle in the main kitchen fridge, but we didn’t want to impose. I wasn’t expecting anything more, but after returning from dinner that evening, we walked into our room and there was the mini-fridge!

The staff also went out of their way to accommodate our friends and their young children. Casa Laguna is for guests aged 18 and older, but we wanted to show it to our friends who had their kids with them. We assumed they wouldn’t make an exception, but while at the pool, we decided to ask the waiter if there was any wiggle room in the policy. He said that they’ve made exceptions before, but he’d have to check with the manager. It wasn’t really that important, so we told him not to worry about it.

However, about 15 minutes later, the manager appeared. He said we could invite our friends and their kids to see the hotel and even use the pool. We were so impressed with how accommodating the staff was and the high level of hospitality continued throughout our entire stay.

The Deluxe Ocean View Patio Room

All of the hotel’s guestrooms are nestled within a labyrinth of tiled patios and rustling palm trees.

For the first four nights, we stayed in a Deluxe Ocean View Patio Room, located along the north edge of the property.

The room itself was a little tight on space, but typical for the era in which it was built. While there may not be room to spread out completely, the room was filled with plenty of charm. From the headboard to the tiled ceiling, the Spanish Colonial decor is everywhere. The queen bed was quite comfortable and the room was also equipped with two side tables, WiFi and a smart TV.

The room had beautiful detailing on the headboard and tiled ceiling.

The room also included an outdoor patio, complete with ocean views and seating for two. We ate breakfast here one morning and it’s also be a nice spot for a pre-dinner bottle of wine or a nightcap at the end of a good day.

One thing to note is that the Deluxe Ocean View room patios are setup in a straight line, perpendicular to the water. That means you’re able to see right into your neighbor’s patio. While not as secluded as I would’ve liked, it didn’t spoil our experience, however.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is pretty small as well, but keeps with the Spanish Colonial charm. It included an incredibly detailed, hand-painted Moroccan tile floor and custom marble vanity.

The Bungalow Suite

For the final night of our stay, we moved into the most exclusive room on the property — The Bungalow Suite.

Located in its own section of the property, the suite is a standalone family cottage with private entrance. Walking through the cottage gate, you arrive on the large private balcony with a dining area and hammock for two. Being at the high point of the property, the balcony provided incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.

The Bungalow Suite’s patio has both a dining area and hammock for two.

The Foyer

While I liked the aesthetic of the foyer, the room is a little awkward. It functions mainly as a passthrough between the other areas of the cottage. It has a gas fireplace, which would be lovely to relax in front of, but the room isn’t really conducive to doing that. I’d much rather have had the fireplace in the living room, where we could’ve enjoyed it from a comfortable couch.

The Bedroom

The bedroom doesn’t feel quite as tight as the Deluxe Ocean View room’s bedroom, but it’s still fairly small overall. They did a good job utilizing the available space, though. The room has a king bed, two end tables, a closet, a smart TV and a full-sized desk.

The Bathroom

The bathroom, however, is enormous. Here you’ll find the same beautiful hand-painted Moroccan floor tiles and custom marble vanity.

However, there’s a whole extra space which included a huge jetted clawfoot tub and a shower big enough for two people.

The Living Room and Kitchenette

The living room was cozy and contains a small sitting area and smart TV. The kitchenette had a sink and bar, complete with bartending tools and glassware.

Hotel Amenities

The Pool

Set amid potted-plants and palm trees, the heated outdoor pool is beautiful and serene.

The pool is surrounded by individual lounge chairs and a unique cushion-lined stone lounger, fit for a large group.

The Grounds

What I love about the hotel grounds is how many different areas there are to enjoy. Plus, with the maze-like network of paths, each area can be very private.

Sunset Patio

The Sunset Patio is one of the larger common areas on the property. Set a level down from the pool, and just above the PCH, it’s a beautiful spot, day or night. It’s aptly named with it’s terrific views of sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. We spent some time taking in some sun and finishing our complimentary sangrias right after check-in.

The Sunset Patio is a wonderful place to enjoy a coffee or cocktail.

Palm Court

All guests receive a complimentary European style continental breakfast every morning. During check-in, guests fill out a card to select the foods they’d like and the time and place they’d like to eat. Breakfast can be delivered right to your room or it can be picked up and taken to a favorite spot on the property. We had choices of homemade breads, pastries, muffins, quiches, fresh fruit, cereals, yogurt and granola. You can have as much or as little as you want!

Perhaps the prettiest place to have breakfast is Palm Court, which is their outdoor dining area.

Looking down on Palm Court from one of the winding paths above.

Palm Court has several tables and is wonderfully decorated. Looking around, you’d think you were eating in some Tuscan villa in Italy.

Miscellaneous

Spa

For those looking for a little pampering, the indoor/outdoor spa offers a variety of massage techniques, including deep tissue, reflexology and hot stone. Spa services need to be booked in advance, as the hotel doesn’t employee their own masseuses.

Bottom Line

Overall, the Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa is a great choice for those looking for a relaxing getaway in Laguna Beach. The hotel has a lot to offer, including beautiful views, comfortable rooms, a variety of amenities, and most of all, excellent service. If you are looking for a place to relax and unwind, Casa Laguna is the perfect choice.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Laguna Beach
  2. Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

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As the largest luxury hotel in Arizona, the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa stretches beautifully across more than 300 acres of desert landscape. With plenty of activities, amenities and restaurants to keep guests occupied, this is the kind of resort you never have to leave. It really has something for everyone — multiple pools, a lazy river and a spa for relaxing and tennis courts, pickleball courts and two championship golf courses for recreation.

The resort and its 950 guest rooms opened back in November 2002, and was Marriott’s 25th JW Marriott branded property. Twenty years later, Marriott completed the first phase of an $80 million renovation showcasing a refreshed lobby, redesigned guest rooms and a new signature restaurant.

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Booking

We decided to take this trip almost a year in advance and knew we wanted to stay at this resort. Around the same time, American Express was offering a “best ever” sign-up bonus of 125,000 Marriott points plus two free nights on the the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. When I finally decided to pull the trigger and book the hotel, rates for standard rooms were going for $535 per night. I ended up booking four nights total, using the two free night certificates earned from the card, and 87,000 Marriott points. The card has a $95 annual fee, but I saved around $2,400. Well worth it!

Location

The resort is set on 316 acres in the Sonoran Desert with panoramic views of the McDowell Mountains. It’s around a 25-minute drive from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport and close to Old Town Scottsdale, downtown Phoenix and many hiking and recreation areas.

Lobby

As soon as we walked through the front doors, I knew staying here was going to be great! The grand lobby has an immense entryway with stunning floor-to-ceiling windows and illuminating light fixtures throughout. The sophisticated design reflects the modern and tranquil desert lifestyle. There’s also a new lobby lounge featuring sectional sofas and groupings of lounge chairs, that are ideal for informal meetings, enjoying craft cocktails or watching the sunset.

You actually enter the property, and lobby, on the resort’s second floor. The openness down to the first floor enhances that grandiose feeling. During our stay, the staff had just completed setting up a big beautiful Christmas tree right at the top of the stairs heading down to the first floor.

Looking down the stairs from the lobby is a wall of windows leading out to the resort’s “playground”.

Check-in

Check-in was quick and easy! We were immediately greeted by a staff member and she welcomed me as a Marriott Gold member. I asked if there were any available room upgrades and she was able to get us into a mountain view room.

The Room

The resort’s guest rooms are spread throughout five different wings. Our room was located in the first one, next to the Revive Spa. The design palette is subtle and soothing with natural wood finishes and mural walls evoking the desert landscape.

With the completion of the recent renovation, the rooms are basically brand new. It had the standard amenities you’d expect with a smart TV, a small table and chair, and plenty of outlets and USB ports.

Each room features a private patio or balcony with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door. Our room had a balcony overlooking one of the championship golf courses.

The Bathroom

As with the guest rooms, the bathrooms were recently refreshed as well. The desert color scheme continued in here and included a single sink, walk-in shower and separate soaking tub.

As with many hotel rooms, the bathroom didn’t have double sinks, making it a little tricky to have multiple people in there at once. However, it’s still very functional and the resort did a good job utilizing the available space.

Hotel Amenities

The Pool

When planning a resort vacation, the pool area is typically one of the biggest factors. If that’s true for you, the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa has you covered. When everything is open, the resort offers four acres of water fun the whole family will enjoy. Unfortunately during our stay, the resort had already begun the next phase of its renovation, so the lazy river was closed. Once complete, the pool area will transform into a water park-like destination, including a family area with cabanas, an adults-only pool and three water slides.

See below for a tour of the current pool grounds.

Wildfire Pool

The resort currently boasts five pools and a 1,600-foot lazy river. The biggest pool is the Wildfire Pool.

Wildfire Pool
The waterfall feature at the Wildfire Outdoor Pool is lit with flames at night.

Griffin Bay

Griffin Bay is located in the main pool complex and offers an upgraded pool experience. Available for full day rental, it has 12 luxury cabana cottages, a personal concierge and enhanced food an beverage offerings.

Griffin Bay

Mesa Pool

The Mesa Pool is a bit smaller than the others. It’s shallow throughout and very shaded, making it great for families with little kids.

Mesa Pool

Isla del Sol

Beyond the Mesa Pool and over a quaint bridge is the Isla del Sol. This area had the only open outdoor hot tub during our stay. While we spent a little time here, it was pretty underwhelming.

The concrete in the hot tub was really was rough and it actually hurt to walk from one side to the other and even to sit down. In addition, the hot tub wasn’t very hot, so it attracted kids who used it like any other pool. Some were even “snorkeling”, which killed the relaxing vibe I would’ve wanted.

Dining and the Grounds

The resort restaurants offer a mix of indoor and outdoor dining that blends seamlessly into the property grounds. From casual poolside dishes to Southwestern cuisine and Asian-fusion, there’s no shortage of terrific options at the resort. They also feature in-room dining service, open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The available dining options include:

  • Tia Carmen – open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the resort’s new signature restaurant serves contemporary Southwestern dishes that celebrate the local landscape, farmers, and community
  • Roy’s Pacific Rim – from famed chef Roy Yamaguchi, this restaurant offers bold flavors of Asia and Hawaii, with a delicious assortment of sushi, signature dishes and cocktails
  • Meritage – located next to the Wildfire Golf Club, this urban tavern provides delicious American fare, creative cocktails and more than 50 Arizona craft beers
  • Just A Splash Bar & Grill – outdoor bar and grill offering refreshing appetizers, salads and casual poolside lunch options
  • twenty6 – located on the 1st floor right down the lobby steps, this chic lounge and bourbon bar is an ideal spot for happy hour get-togethers and pre-dinner drinks
  • Spa Bistro – located inside the Revive Spa, this restaurant offers a small but flavorful, health-conscious menu
  • Starbucks – no resort is complete without America’s favorite coffeehouse

Just A Splash Bar & Grill

The bar at Just A Splash Bar & Grill

Just A Splash Bar & Grill sits right next to the main pool complex. The wraparound bar is U-shaped and a great place to enjoy a cocktail or a bite to eat. If you’d rather get more comfortable, there are a plethora of couches, chairs and picnic tables scattered in various seating areas next to the bar. Many of the seating areas have large televisions and plenty of shade.

The seating areas around Just A Splash Bar & Grill

twenty6

Down the steps from the lobby is twenty6, a chic lounge and bourbon bar. This is a great spot for a pre-dinner drink, a light bite or an after-dinner dessert. I recommend the cookie skillet!

twenty6

The Grounds

The resort grounds are beautiful and give guests that “desert oasis” feeling. The resort’s charming pathways are lined with majestic palm trees. Along those pathways are plenty of gathering and seating areas that invite togetherness, relaxation and socialization.

Through the doors by the twenty6 lounge is a covered outdoor area with plenty of seating and several fire pits.

As you exit the main building and walk past the covered sitting area, you come to an open grassy area called Sage Court. During the majority of our stay, this area was an open recreation space complete with ping pong tables and cornhole equipment. On Thanksgiving they used half of it as outdoor dining for guests taking advantage of Tia Carmen’s holiday buffet.

Just beyond Sage Court are a couple big round seating areas complete with with enormous fire pits.

Miscellaneous

The resort has a lot to offer guests looking to be active.

Golf

The Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge has two on-site championship golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo.

Tennis and Pickleball

The Tennis Center offers 5 tennis and 17 lighted pickleball courts. Besides a full service pro shop, the center offers hourly court time, group and private lessons and seasonal daily clinics. Court time is included in the resort fee and we reserved two hours of pickleball for Thanksgiving morning.

The pro shop has all the required equipment so you don’t need to come prepared. Even though we were basically newbies, the game is very easy to pick up and we had a blast!

Spa

The Revive Spa offers a full menu of treatments along with a fitness center, Spa Bistro and separate swimming pool with cabanas. Not too far from the spa and fitness center is a man-made island called the Isle of Capri. This secluded spot would make a very special backdrop for a wedding ceremony.

Isle of Capri

Coming in 2023

As a part of its second phase of renovations, the resort will open a reimagined pool experience featuring three new five-story high waterslides, including the only dual person vertical wall tube slide at a resort west of the Mississippi. It will also include an active family splash zone for little ones, an extended lazy river, new cabanas, and a food truck area with shaded tables and lounge areas.

Besides the water slides, the pool expansion will contain these new features:

  • A family splash zone surrounding the lazy river with five cabanas, lounge seating, a splash pad, a playground and a food truck area
  • Sky Island, an adults-only area with an infinity pool, hot tub, four cabanas, lounge seating and fire pits
  • Sedona Spa, a “VIP family-friendly sanctuary,” with a large infinity-edge hot tub, three cabanas, five shaded day beds, lounge and fire pit seating, a waterfall and a stargazing area

Bottom Line

With the second phase of renovations already underway, the JW Marriott Desert Ridge will soon cement itself as one of the premier family resorts in the western United States. This sprawling resort will be the best of both worlds. For parents, it’s a newly renovated luxury resort with outstanding dining options. For the kids, it provides endless fun with the new pool experience. I would undoubtedly stay here again.

Trip Report Index

  1. Introduction and Planning
  2. Using Points and Miles to get to Scottsdale
  3. Flight from Chicago to Phoenix
  4. JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

The Hotel at the University of Maryland

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The Hotel at the University of Maryland is a 10-story, 297 room hotel that is College Park’s only four-star luxury hotel. It opened in the fall of 2017 so it’s modern aesthetic still has a “brand new” look and feel. The hotel’s objective was to have something to serve as an anchor for economic development for the university and surrounding community. In addition to the guest rooms, there is space for up to four restaurants, a pool, a spa and salon, and 43,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Hotel at the University of Maryland

In This Post

Location

There are really only two hotels “on campus” at the University of Maryland. The Hotel at the University of Maryland (“The Hotel”) is located on Baltimore Avenue directly across the street from the university’s main entrance on the east side of campus. The other option is the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, which is located on University Boulevard on the west side of campus.

I prefer the location of The Hotel because it’s only a few blocks from the shopping, restaurants and nightlife on Baltimore Avenue. There are a few other hotels located within a mile from campus, but they’re a step down in level compared to The Hotel and Marriott.

Parking

The Hotel offers a private parking garage, attached directly to the hotel, with 850 covered spaces. On the website, it says that they charge $24 per day for valet services and $16 for self parking. We self parked, but upon checking out, there were no parking charges on the bill.

Lobby and Mezzanine

Grand is really the only way to properly describe the hotel lobby. The lobby floorplan is open concept, so it feels like the lobby spans the entire first floor of the building.

Lobby Bar

Looking straight ahead after entering the hotel is the Lobby Bar, which feels like a high-end D.C. lounge rather than just a hotel bar.

Photo courtesy of The Hotel at the University of Maryland.

The bar has a lively, fun atmosphere and is a great place to grab a cocktail or a bite from the bar menu. Appointed with 12 TVs, it’s a perfect place to catch nationally televised sporting events and Maryland football and basketball games.

Mezzanine

Heading up the lobby escalator takes you to the hotel’s Mezzanine level.

This is where the meeting rooms are located for conferences and other events. The hotel has 18 meeting rooms, including 3 ballrooms, 2 boardrooms, a penthouse loft, several outdoor terraces and pre-function gathering areas.

The Room

We didn’t reserve any kind of special room at booking, but the room Annie and I received was much larger than a standard room.

It had a king bed and a large sitting area with a full couch, a chair and even a small table. As with most newer hotels, there were also plenty of outlets and USB ports.

The room also had a smart TV, a desk, and a huge kitchenette, with tons of counter space, a sink, a refrigerator and a microwave. Those staying for more than a few days could certainly get good use out of the kitchenette.

The Bathroom

The decently-sized bathroom was very clean and well maintained, showing no signs of wear and tear.

For those wanting to splurge a little, the building’s tenth floor is the penthouse level, which overlooks the university.

Hotel Amenities

Dining

There is space for up to four restaurants within the building, but during our stay only Bagels n’ Grinds and Potomac Pizza were open.

Bagels ‘n Grinds

A perfect way to start the day, this New York-style bagel house serves all-day breakfast, plus sandwiches, soups and coffee.

Potomac Pizza

A casual local chain that offers pizza, homemade lasagna and meatballs, hamburgers and wings.

GrillMarX Steakhouse & Raw Bar

Set to open this winter, GrillMarX advertises itself as a casual upscale dining experience. Guest can enjoy craft cocktails, hickory grilled hand-cut steaks and seafood, an extensive raw bar, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Fitness Center

The 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center is really quite nice. It’s located next to the pool and spa and has everything you might want. It features Matrix® equipment including treadmills, elliptical trainers, bikes and universal weights.

Pool and Spa

The hotel has a large indoor pool with complimentary towel service available pool-side.

The Spa & Salon is the only boutique spa in College Park. Guest can receive a variety of services, including massage, body treatments, facials and salon services.

Pet Friendly

Dogs are welcome as part of their PAWs Program. Guests who check-in with their dog will get a welcome amenity for their pet, bowls and a mat to use in their guestroom.

Bottom Line

If you have plans to visit the University of Maryland, you cannot go wrong staying at The Hotel at the University of Maryland. It has the best location of any competing hotel and feels unexpectedly luxurious, especially for a campus hotel.

Trip Report Index

  1. Saving Money on a Trip to College Park
  2. The Hotel at the University of Maryland

JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown

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Just a few weeks after staying one night at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station, I was back in Indianapolis for another one night stay. This time I accompanied my wife, Annie, who had to go to Indianapolis for a work meeting. All of her coworkers booked rooms at the JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, so she did as well. I absolutely loved this high-rise luxury hotel, which is the tallest hotel in the state of Indiana.

A view of the JW Marriott Indianapolis from the steps of the Indiana Government Center.

Having just completed stays at both the Crowne Plaza and JW Marriott, it’s hard not to compare the two. However, it’s not fair to do that because the Crowne Plaza brand is not intended to be as luxurious as JW Marriott’s. Room rates will surely be higher at the JW Marriott than at the Crowne Plaza, but I think it’s worth it given how nice the JW Marriott is.

In This Post

Location

The JW Marriott, circled in blue, is located kitty corner to the Convention Center.

Indianapolis has made itself into one of the top convention cities in the United States. The downtown area is setup perfectly with numerous hotels and restaurants to cater to the convention crowds.

The JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown is the most luxurious of the five connected hotels that comprise the Marriott IndyPlace. This unique setup of hotels is located adjacent to the Indiana Convention Center and just 15 minutes from the Indianapolis International Airport.

In addition to the JW Marriott, IndyPlace includes a Marriott, a Courtyard, a Springhill Suites and a Fairfield Inn & Suites. This group of hotels is just steps from Victory Field, home to Indianapolis’ minor league baseball team and White River State Park. It’s also a short walk to Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

Parking

As is common in many cities, parking is quite expensive. There are two options for hotel parking — valet and self parking. The valet, with in/out privileges, costs $55 per night while self parking is available for $50 per night.

Lobby

The modern lobby is quite large and had four desks that could each accommodate two check-ins at a time. With over 1,000 rooms and conventions and meetings happening all the time, there’s no doubt it was designed to handle big crowds. We checked in in the evening, so it was not very busy, but there were several staff members available to check us in. All of the employees we encountered during our stay were very friendly and well-trained to assist guests any way they can.

The lobby of the JW Marriott Indianapolis

To the right of the lobby is a big lounge area with a small bar and an Italian restaurant. The elevator banks and a grab and go nook are also down this way.

To the left of the lobby is the sports bar and an escalator to the second floor.

The lobby lounge (left) and lounge bar (right).

The Room

The view from the elevator bank on floor 33.

Our room was located on the 33rd floor, which is the top floor of the hotel. The elevators are surprisingly fast for such a large hotel, no doubt helped by having two different elevator banks. One bank goes up to floor 22, while the other services floors 23 to 33. Upon exiting the elevators, we were treated to a very nice view of the White River and the state park, including the TCU Amphitheater.

The carpeting and walls in the elevator bank and hallway were clean and modern, just the way I like it.

I’ve always loved the look of city skylines and being on the 33rd floor gave us a great view of downtown Indianapolis.

The view from our hotel window at night.

The modern and clean decor continued into the room itself. It has everything you need, including a king bed, a work area, smart TV and a coffee station with refrigerator. Plus, as you’d expect with a newer hotel, there were plenty of outlets and USB ports.

I worked in the room for half a day and found the desk to be very comfortable. The only negative was with the TV. The room’s WiFi must’ve been weak because the TV kept freezing every 10-15 seconds. We usually keep the TV on while we fall asleep, so the freezing became very annoying very quickly.

The Bathroom

The feel of the bathroom was no different than the rest of the hotel. It was very clean and showed no signs of wear and tear. The shower was the highlight, as it had two body jets in addition to the main nozzle.

Hotel Amenities

Dining

There are two dining options located on either side of the hotel lobby.

OP Italian

OP Italian offers fresh made pasta, seafood, Neapolitan pizzas and many other Italian comfort foods. Just outside of the restaurant entrance is a small bar that faces the lobby lounge. This bar is quieter and more low-key than the sports bar on the other side.

High Velocity

High Velocity has over 60 high definition TVs and offers classic American fare in a laid-back atmosphere. After putting away our luggage in the room, we headed down for a drink at the bar. The restaurant itself is huge and the bar is smack dab in the middle.

The bar at High Velocity (Photo courtesy Marriott Hotels)

The bar area is pretty cool, but we didn’t love the positioning of the overhead TVs. Our Chicago Bears were playing the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, but if we stared at the TVs too long, our necks would hurt. They’re just too high and too close to be able to watch comfortably for a long periods of time. There are TVs everywhere, though, so you can always find another spot that’s more comfortable.

Starbucks

There’s a Starbucks located on the 2nd floor by the entrance to the convention center skywalk. While it was as busy as you might expect the next morning, they did a good job of keeping the line moving.

Starbucks on Floor 2 of the JW Marriott Indianapolis (Photo courtesy Marriott Hotels)

Fitness Center

The 24-hour fitness center is located on the 2nd floor and has everything you could ask for. It features free weights, weight machines, treadmills, stair climbers, elliptical machines and exercise bikes, including Pelotons.

The fitness center is enormous by hotel standards.

Bottom Line

I really enjoyed this hotel and would definitely stay there again. It has everything you’d want in a homebase during a meeting or convention. It’s modern and clean with an inviting atmosphere and customer-focused staff. It also has two great dining options, two separate bars and a nice sized lounge. It’s also a great location for non-business trips too, with easy access to Lucas Oil Stadium and other nearby attractions.