Brothers In Blog

By the time this post is published I will have returned home from a 3-night trip to Arlington, TX for software training. While just the thought of sitting in a lecture class for 3 straight days makes me drowsy, I still like getting out of the office.

Since my employer sold off one of its affiliate companies and the private plane that went with it, I’ve had to return to commercial flight travel and all the hassles that go with that. As I discussed in an earlier post, I would rather drive under most situations than fly if I can do it within the course of normal office hours. However, travel from NC to TX doesn’t fit under that umbrella so air travel it is.

Strangely enough, I breezed through airport check-in and screening with no waiting or hassles; my American Airlines flight departed on time and arrived early; my luggage made it; I negotiated a free car upgrade with Enterprise Rent-A-Car; and my hotel reservations were in order. All of these companies would get a thumbs up for me on this trip, but it’s Marriott that continues a flawless track record for me in providing consistent quality.

Like most of the large hotel chains, Marriott offers accommodations to fit every budget and traveler type. The Fairfield Inn nameplate targets the economy traveler while the Courtyard By Marriott properties are aimed at the corporate traveler. One market that Marriott appears to be increasingly going after is the extended stay traveler regardless of travel purpose. One of those properties that has been around the longest, and one of my personal favorites is Residence Inn.

Residence Inn offers room sizes from studios to 2-bedroom/2-bath suites. The rooms boast a full kitchen, business desk and seperate vanity/shower area. It warrants mentioning that ALL Marriott properties offer free Internet access via hardwire or wireless. Marriott recognizes that some things should be included in the room price and have tossed daily Internet access charges and dialup connections out the window.

What really knocks my socks off with Residence Inn are the service extras that I have yet to see any other competitor offer. Residence Inn offers a great hot breakfast every morning with eggs, sausage or bacon, hash browns, hot oatmeal, an assortment of cereals and fresh fruit, and you can make your own waffle from a ready to pour mix. On weekday evenings, Residence Inn invites it guests to a light dinner buffet. On the refrigerator in my room, the hotel posts a calendar showing the menu for the month. During my stay, there was fajitas one night and chili on another. I’ve been at other Residence Inns where the menu included burgers, build your own salad or sandwich. You have to serve yourself on paper plates or bowls, but if you’re a family on a budget it’s a no-brainer to keep more money in your wallet for the theme park.

If you’re a workaholic and can’t push your chair away from the desk to come eat in the lobby, you can drop off your grocery list at the Front Desk before 9 a.m. and the hotel staff will shop for you at no extra charge. As Rachel Ray would say, “how cool is that!” I have yet to use this service, but if you’re in town for a long time and not familiar with the town and its stores then this offering would definitely be the solution.

Residence Inn and all of the Marriott brands offer consistency when it comes to quality accommodations, excellent customer service, and reservation accuracy. Marriott has truly set the standard by which all others are compared and they continue to be my first choice for lodging when traveling.