Travel Review: Richmond Marriott
It's been awhile since I wrote a hotel review (or anything for that matter) here. I recently stayed at the Richmond Marriott for ASECS 2009, and overall, it was a mixed bag.
When I arrived, a nice young woman got my bags as I dealt with the cabbie (who gave me half off for my return trip), walked me in, checked me in, and was wonderfully cheerful. This seems to go for the entire staff, who have helped me find registration, sundries, and a printer.
They will print the first 20 pages of a document for free, which comes in handy when you are making last minute changes to a paper you are giving in the morning.
The rooms are clean (a nice change from some of my previous hotels), spacious and much prettier than I expect from chain hotels.
My one complaint the first night was that (like the lovely Westin St. Francis) I need to pay for the internet. I've bought my 24hrs worth. After that, I'm going to try to wifi in the lobby and meeting rooms.
But, it seems worth the price to listen to NPR while I type. There was a great Writer's Almanac the first night that focuses on Gloria Steinem, and Flannery O'Connor. (Doesn't seem like their shared birthdate should count as some sort of holiday.)
As the trip progressed other drawbacks emerged. One was the incredibly slow service in the hotel restaurant. If the food had been exceptional, this might have been overlooked, but how long does it take to get some raviolis or their check? The internet continued to be an annoyance. It was rather difficult to log on in the wifi areas. Plus free wifi in the lobby and meeting room did not mean that the benches inside the hotel next to the front door were included (it seemed like part of the lobby) or that the hall by the meeting rooms had access. After a awhile, this became a little trying, especillary when one is trying to organize upcoming panels between meetings.
One more odd complaint: the one vending machine (for when the sundry store and Starbucks is closed) was in pool area of the gym - probably the hottest room in the building. A friend got a chocolate bar from it, and it was completely melted.
The staff managing AV equipment was wonderfully organized and helpful.
Overall, if you can overlook Marriot's political policies, it would be a nice place to stay recreationally, but for meetings (where you may not have time to find a restauarnt or you need the internet regularly) it could be more accomadting.
Comfort of Room: 4/5
Food and Sundries: Starbucks 4/5, Sundry Store 2/5, Restauarnt 2.5/5, Vending Machine 1/5
Internet and Business Accomadations: 3/5
Staff (excepting restaurant): 5/5
Links:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ricdt-richmond-marriott/ [Marriot Hotel Official Site]
http://asecs.press.jhu.edu/ [ASECS Official Site]
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2009/03/25 [Writer's Almanac 25 March 2009]
http://laist.com/2008/11/12/marriott_hotel_owner_responds_to_pr.php [Marriott Hotel CEO Responds to Prop 8 Allegations]
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=83336 [Marriott Hotels Does Post-Prop. 8 Damage Control]
When I arrived, a nice young woman got my bags as I dealt with the cabbie (who gave me half off for my return trip), walked me in, checked me in, and was wonderfully cheerful. This seems to go for the entire staff, who have helped me find registration, sundries, and a printer.
They will print the first 20 pages of a document for free, which comes in handy when you are making last minute changes to a paper you are giving in the morning.
The rooms are clean (a nice change from some of my previous hotels), spacious and much prettier than I expect from chain hotels.
My one complaint the first night was that (like the lovely Westin St. Francis) I need to pay for the internet. I've bought my 24hrs worth. After that, I'm going to try to wifi in the lobby and meeting rooms.
But, it seems worth the price to listen to NPR while I type. There was a great Writer's Almanac the first night that focuses on Gloria Steinem, and Flannery O'Connor. (Doesn't seem like their shared birthdate should count as some sort of holiday.)
As the trip progressed other drawbacks emerged. One was the incredibly slow service in the hotel restaurant. If the food had been exceptional, this might have been overlooked, but how long does it take to get some raviolis or their check? The internet continued to be an annoyance. It was rather difficult to log on in the wifi areas. Plus free wifi in the lobby and meeting room did not mean that the benches inside the hotel next to the front door were included (it seemed like part of the lobby) or that the hall by the meeting rooms had access. After a awhile, this became a little trying, especillary when one is trying to organize upcoming panels between meetings.
One more odd complaint: the one vending machine (for when the sundry store and Starbucks is closed) was in pool area of the gym - probably the hottest room in the building. A friend got a chocolate bar from it, and it was completely melted.
The staff managing AV equipment was wonderfully organized and helpful.
Overall, if you can overlook Marriot's political policies, it would be a nice place to stay recreationally, but for meetings (where you may not have time to find a restauarnt or you need the internet regularly) it could be more accomadting.
Comfort of Room: 4/5
Food and Sundries: Starbucks 4/5, Sundry Store 2/5, Restauarnt 2.5/5, Vending Machine 1/5
Internet and Business Accomadations: 3/5
Staff (excepting restaurant): 5/5
Links:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ricdt-richmond-marriott/ [Marriot Hotel Official Site]
http://asecs.press.jhu.edu/ [ASECS Official Site]
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2009/03/25 [Writer's Almanac 25 March 2009]
http://laist.com/2008/11/12/marriott_hotel_owner_responds_to_pr.php [Marriott Hotel CEO Responds to Prop 8 Allegations]
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=83336 [Marriott Hotels Does Post-Prop. 8 Damage Control]