SAN ANTONIO: Marriott San Antonio Northwest

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I recently spent one nightat the Marriott San Antonio Northwest. It’s an older property and humble incomparison to the luxury of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country resortfrom which I’d just come, with an equally modest room rate of literally halfwhat I paid at the resort. Nonetheless, it is a fine hotel for those seekingbasic accommodations.

The hotel is a formerCourtyard that has been rebranded a Marriott. That means a few things. Thelobby is the open, multi-story affair that is common among Courtyards, completewith all its pros and cons. Although attractive, an open lobby can serve as anecho chamber for noise, which is most troublesome if your room opens directlyto the atrium. At this particular property, many rooms are located down typicalhotel corridors and do not face the atrium, so inquire upon check-in if that’san issue for you.
The rebranding also meansthere’s no such thing as a free breakfast, though breakfast is available at oneof the two onsite restaurants. The Red Rim Bistro offers southwester cuisineand serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The River City Cantina offerscontinental cuisine but only serves dinner.
Although the property isolder, it has been well maintained. Furniture and fixtures in my guest roomwere in very decent shape, bed linens looked brand new, towels in the bath wereof a thinner variety but not at all worn, and everything functioned as itshould.
Guest rooms still have tubetelevisions instead of larger flat-screen TVs. The one in my room worked justfine so it’s only a “drawback” if, like me, you’re spoiled by larger,flat-screen models.
Other features include ironand ironing board, shampoo and other lotions and potions in the bath, ahairdryer, etc. I did not see an in-room safe, which is always nice forsecuring one’s traveling electronics.
While a refresh would helpthe hotel and its guest rooms look more contemporary and more appealing, itwouldn’t fix the lower ceilings in the rooms and the somewhat tight feelingthat goes with them.
Service was very good. WhenI tried to log on to the wireless Internet, which was supposed to becomplimentary, I was presented only pay-for-use options. A quick call to thefront desk and the clerk assured me that he would take the per-day rate off mybill so I would not be charged. Service in the lounge was also attentive. Theone hiccup was that the bathrobe I’d requested never came.
This property has a swimmingpool, a fitness center with cardio equipment and free weights, maps withsuggested routes for joggers, a business center and an airline check-in kioskat the front desk. The hotel offers complimentary coffee in the lobby and afree shuttle to nearby San Antonio Airport hourly. Both start at 6:00 a.m.
While pleasant, it’s notluxurious. If luxury is what you’re after, you’ll have to choose another hoteland likely the higher rate that will come with it. But if convenience, goodservice, and modest but pleasant surroundings meet your needs, so will the MarriottSan Antonio Northwest.

Photos by Carl Dombek
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San Antonio Hotel Review