J Willard Marriott is the founder of what today is known as Marriott International. It all started with a restaurant and evolved over 80 years into the Marriott Hotel Chain that we know today. In 1957 the first hotel was opened in Arlington Va. From this humble beginning it has grown into a behemoth with over 2300 hotels worldwide.
The Marriott brand includes such perennial favorites as the Residence Inn Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn , Marriott Hotels , J.W. Marriott, Renaissance, Town Place Suites and Spring Hill Suites.
The top of the Marriott line is the J.W. Marriott brand. These are luxury hotels, in prestigious locations that offer a level of comfort that the discriminating traveler will appreciate.
The Renaissance brand is also a luxury brand but with a little more of a business travel slant.
The Marriott Hotel chain offers affordable luxury in a wide variety of locations. You can expect a level of comfort and a very comfortable bed in any of the signature locations.
Among my favorites is the Crystal City Marriott in Virginia. It is the perfect hotel for visiting Washington D.C. While Crystal City is a little outside the city, this hotel has instant access to the subway which runs right below the hotel. What could be more convenient? I have gotten some fabulous weekend deals here which included a buffet breakfast and/or free parking. When we went with our grandson we ordered pizza from room service and really impressed him. Okay, a 5 year old is easily impressed but we have always enjoyed staying there. When we fly in, we stay at the Wardman Park Marriott which is near the Zoo and the National Cathedral and surrounded by great restaurants, not to mention that the ones on site aren’t at all shabby.
Overall, I think I stay the most often at the Courtyard by Marriott. Pricewise they are usually less than Marriott but a bit more than Fairfield Inn. I like the high speed Internet access and business friendly amenities that they offer. On our vacation last fall we stayed at two, one in Bethlehem, Penn. and one in King of Prussia. They both had the most fabulous beds and bedding, I was very impressed. For one of them I used my reward points to stay free and the other was right around $100. No complaints from me. I do wish they included breakfast however a very reasonably priced breakfast was offered.
For families or those requiring or desiring a little more space Residence Inn is a fantastic choice. They do include breakfast and many offer evening snacks and even meals. You will have a living area or a separate living room. They come in several configuration but whether it is a studio or a two bedroom suite, there will be distinction between the living, working and sleeping areas.
When I am looking for a bargain choice, I look no further than Fairfield Inn. These are almost always less than $100 per night and yet still offer the comforts that guests of Marriott have come to expect. Breakfast buffet is included and varies by location.
As you can see, there are many choices for those who decide to stay with Marriott and every one of them will offer you a good night’s sleep and plenty of comfort to boot. Marriott has gone smokefree in the United States and Canada and they are also going green. They have proven to be a solid company with a conscience.
