Courtyard by Marriott Washington Downtown/Convention Center

. We booked a room with 2 queen beds. We returned to our room about 2 am, and we went to access the room and it did not open. All of our items were in the room. We went down to front desk and thy stated that the battery in the door died. They manage (Alfonse) then proceed to have Security use a battery pack to try to reopen the door. The security guard shared with us this happens very often and that the battery pack never works, and he said we will most likely need another room. And he was right. It did not work. So we went back down to the front desk and they shared they could not allow us access to the room until a engineer came in the next morning at 7am. They offered us another room, that room had 1 king size bed. We are two males who booked 2 queens size beds. We once again went downstairs and asked for a new room with two queen beds. In addition we had no access to our personal items, not even my medication. The next morning we called the front desk and they stated it was fixed we returned to our room.

BITES! Sadly, two members of our party who shared a bed woke up with bites on their eye lids, ear, neck, fingers, and ankle. The manager was sympathetic upon seeing the obvious bites but could only offer a new room and for the room to be tested. The testing occurred three days later, by Eco Labs, and was negative for bed bugs. Something bit them and it was well-documented with photos and in person with front desk staff. I would have liked our clothes and bags to have been laundered and put in the new room and for one night to be compensated. I did not request this however. The manager clearly and calmly explained Marriott’s protocol and it’s their protocol I have a problem with. The obvious bites and discomfort of our party counted for nothing without a positive test. This is on Marriott and not the polite or helpful staff/manager. I would avoid room 631 and the room we stayed in after- 1226, as there could be cross contamination. Three things are suspicious. 1. I was told that every Eco lab test has been negative following bed bug complaints in two years. 2. One employee told me that I must have misunderstood the manager as eco labs was no longer doing their testing. Why are they no longer using Eco Labs and why were they used for our test? 3. The time lapse from incident to testing which was due to the weekend following Thanksgiving. We will never stay in a Marriott property again as a result of this experience. I was shocked that there was no action to compensate any part of the bill after clearly seeing the bites, regardless of the negative test three days later. Our trip to DC was seriously impacted by this stress. Never again, Marriott.

Excellent hotel which turned out to be a surprise - given that I stayed at the more expensive and supposedly better Marriott at the Metro Center a couple of blocks down just a week before, and found the Courtyard to be significantly better. Rooms were very new and well appointed, and the bathroom was large, well lit, and excellent. Also kudos to the front desk staff who were polite, kind, and helpful. The fitness center also had a surprisingly lovely view of DC whilst running on the treadmill.

The place itself looks very nice at first and you wouldn’t think otherwise because . it is situated in a great location. As soon as you go in you can tell no one really cares about cleaning up the place. We were chatting up in the lobby one night and saw mice running down to the mechanical room. I saw someone shooting up right outside the hotel one night. The staff is absolutely horrible. I asked to have a late check out and this lady at the front was extremely rude to me for no reason. A coworker of mine had the exact same situation with the exact same employee. By the time I was ready to check out I noticed that the same employee was helping a Caucasian customer but her attitude was extremely welcoming and nice. I couldn’t help but think that we were being discriminated because we are minorities. I was disgusted by the whole situation and I refuse to stay here again despite the convenient location.