Marriott & Ritz Carlton Hotels

Opinions may vary but many travel experts agree that Calgary is a pretty cool Canadian city. On the western edge of Alberta, this commuity seems to successfully blend a modern metropolis with classic Western style.

Oil companies do have offices, if not skyscrapers, here, but calling Calgary an oil town is selling it short, as it boasts museums, restaurants, a zoo, a airport, public gardens, and more. There are tshopping areas and beautiful natural scenery, all easy to reach.

In the heart of the city is the Marriott Downtown Hotel, located on 9th Avenue. It is considered to not only have the largest hotel rooms in the city, but one of the most luxurious hotels in the area.

It offers 374 elegant rooms spanning 23 floors, including 10 spacious suites. For those considering a conference here, the Marriott offers 19 meeting rooms and 17,270 square feet of meeting space.

Every guest room has wireless Internet access, along with the lobby, conference rooms and public areas.

Fitness and recreation fans can enjoy a full-size indoor swimming pool and a whirlpool, but part of Calgary’s appeal is that there are so many outdoor opportunities that are easy to access that the hotel even directs guests to places like golf courses, lakes and rock climbing areas.

The town even hosted the Winter Olympics, so there are literally Olympic-sized venues through town such as ski jumps and cross-country trails.

But whether or not fitness is your thing, you’ll enjoy the luxury and comfort of the Marriott. It begins with valet parking, and the luxury continues in the rooms which all have down comforters and so-soft bedding. Cable and satellite TV is offered plus a variety of in-room movies and pay-for-view programming. Kids or kids at heart can even rent and play video games.

Pros:
It’s fancy, that’s for sure. But also accessible, so you don’t have to be a captain of industry to stay there. Rooms start right around $100 Canadian, which is very reasonable for such an elegant institution right in the center of a bustling downtown

Cons:
As with any hotel, it’s recommended to call ahead to check rates and availability. Since it’s a conference center in a busy community, there are occasions when rooms and prices are at a premium, and when there may be some bargains available.

Online or In-Store:
Online

We purchased a three night stay at the Ritz for our the beginning of our honeymoon in St. Thomas and couldn't have been happier. We were greeted by welcome drinks and an early check-in. Then, we were immediately upgraded to a bigger room with a better view. Our room was immaculate and had a giant bathroom with his and her sinks, separate shower and tub and cozy bathrobes and slippers.

We enjoyed beautiful sunsets and ocean views from our large patio while laying out on our own lounge chairs. That night, the hotel sent us a bottle of champagne and a tray of congratulatory desserts, a very nice touch. To our surprise, our rooms were cleaned twice a day with turn down service and unlimited supplies of their excellent bathroom toiletries.

Included in our stay was a delicious and elegant free breakfast as well as a credit to their spa. We had relaxing massages and munched on organic granola in more comfy robes before and after our treatments. We still crave the delicious bakery items from breakfast and the fantastic granola from the spa!

The staff was friendly, service was prompt and we felt pampered every step of the way. The pool area is small but very nice with beautiful ocean views. The Ritz has their own private beach with comfortable lounge chairs that their staff will set up for you. We were even offered free platters of fresh fruit as we were sun bathing. Additionally, the resort has a variety of free water sports that are included in your nightly rate. My husband and I took the stand-up paddleboards out for about an hour or so and ventured into the ocean. It was a fun workout and a great way to spend an afternoon! The resort is spread out along a hillside but they have golf carts that come to pick you up and bring you to the front of the resort if you don't feel like making the walk.

The concierge was very helpful in making dinner reservations and we were continually impressed with the staff throughout our visit. We highly recommend the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas to anyone- especially honeymooners!

Pros:
The best part about the resort was the efficiency and friendliness of the staff as well as the amenities that were included in our nightly rate. We enjoyed free breakfast, discounted spa treatments and outdoor activities as a part of what we would have paid for simply a room anywhere else. It was a perfect oasis for a honeymoon.

Cons:
If I had to choose something to harp on, it would be the location. While it is secluded and private, it is about a 10 minute drive to get to Red Hook where the restaurants and bars are and about 20 minutes to get into the heart of St. Thomas. We rented a car and were very glad we did since it is nice to explore the other beaches besides the one beach they have at the Ritz.

Online or In-Store:
Online

Final Notes:
I highly recommend renting a car to explore the island and take a day trip (or overnight trip) to St. John. The beaches around the island are beautiful and definitely worth seeing!

Ritz Carlton, Cleveland Ohio:

I stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland in early December to do a little holiday shopping and see downtown Cleveland adorned for the holidays. I live about an hour from downtown and it was a treat to be in the middle of all of the holiday hoopla. The Ritz Carlton, true to its reputation, is an elegant, luxury hotel. The location couldn't be better. It's located right a Public Square and connected by indoor walkways to the Tower City Shopping/Dining complex, the new Horseshoe Cleveland Casino and even Quicken Loans Arena for basketball games and other special events.

The room at the Ritz Carlton was decorated in muted, relaxing colors and even had a view of Lake Erie (about a mile away.) The sixth floor lounge is a special place for drinks and snacks. The room had a roaring fire, oriental rugs and large over-stuffed club chairs. That, combined with holly and other natural Christmas decorations, made the room relaxing and romantic.

The package I booked included breakfast, which is served in Muse, the hotel's restaurant. This wasn't a quick, "grab and go" breakfast. The tables were set with white linen, silver flatware and crystal goblets. The menu had a score of tasty, if somewhat fancy, choice, but I settled for eggs benedict, which was delicious.

Pros: The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cleveland is an elegant hotel and within walking distance to many of downtown Cleveland's most popular sites.

Cons: Sometimes the Ritz Carlton can be a little too formal, as with their "no-jeans" policy in all of their public rooms. The room rate is also top dollar for Cleveland.

Other Info: Muse, the restaurant at the Ritz Carlton, has a good reputation in town for farm-to-table cuisine. We only ate there for breakfast (included in the room package.) The hotel also has a 24-hour fitness room, which we didn't have time to take advantage of.

Amount paid: $255 (included breakfast)

Purchase date: December 7, 2012

Online or In-Store: I made my reservation online

Final Notes: The Ritz Carlton is a beautiful, conveniently-located hotel, a good choice for celebrating a special occasion and/or exploring the heart of downtown Cleveland.

Recommend: Yes

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Need a home away from home? Marriott Hotels & Resorts has got you covered! Depending on your budget and what you need, you can get a comfortable place to stay for a while, or you can live a life of luxury during your vacation. Who doesn't want a beautiful place to stay at a great price? Marriott is a name most people recognize, and you can book online or over the phone. You can even use the app to book a vacation stay right from your phone. With official social media pages, you can also follow Marriott and see what's going on with them - and that can let you in on some great deals on your next stay. Visit Marriott and live the luxurious life you've always wanted.

I have stayed at several Marriott Hotels over the years, and recently stayed at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Ft. Lauderdale, where I had an oceanfront suite with a balcony which was great for relaxing. Since I had my 9 year old with me, it was great for her because she spent time at the Surf Club and met some nice kids to spend time with. It was a great location for us since it is near a lot of attractions.

I have stayed at Marriot Hotels and Resorts on many different occasions and it has always been a pleasant experience. The last stay was actually in Las Vegas in it was one of the most beautiful hotels that I have ever stayed in. Prices at the Marriot can be a bit high in comparison to other places, but hey, you get what you pay for, especially with hotels, that’s for sure.

The Marriot Hotel on the island of Kauai features world-class modern amenities in a lush tropical setting. The hotel is situated just minutes from the airport near the port of Nawilliwilli harbor. Look out over the harbor and see paddle boarders and surfers work their magic all day long. The pool complex is amazing. A massive pool rises above the harbor and features a collection of beautiful hot tub pavilions. Let the attentive staff pamper you as you swim, relax and dine on the Garden Isle; the oldest and most lush of all the Hawaiian Islands.
 

My work takes me to Chicago often and I enjoy staying at the Marriot downtown. I also use the Marriot when I travel for personal reasons, and it has helped me to enjoy quite a few perks that other travelers do not get. If you travel a lot, for any reason, I would strongly recommend that you take advantage of the customer programs that Marriot has available. I have been able to get free room upgrades and several other enjoyable services for free thanks to my constant business with the company.

When we were taking our kids on a vacation to Orlando, my sister recommended the Orlando World Center Marriott. She had stayed there a few months ago, and was very impressed with the staff and hospitality. It was great because it is close to Universal Studios and a lot of the attractions. My kids loved it because there were so many activities for them, so they weren’t bored even when we had a rainy day. I recommend this hotel for anyone going on a family vacation to Orlando. It was very reasonable, and we plan to go back again.

We stayed at the Atlanta Marriot last month and had one of the nicest hotel experiences ever. While it wasn't quite up to that luxury hotel level that some hotels offer, I have to say that it was pretty amazing. The staff was helpful when we needed a cab to Turner Field, the room was clean, and there was really nothing to complain about. It was probably one of the best nights of sleep I've ever gotten, honestly. I'll be using Marriot anytime we travel from now on.