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| - It pays to be a rewards member: In early May I was having a difficult time booking a hotel that was downtown as I needed to be close to where I'd be doing business. Because of that I wound up staying for four nights at the Holiday Inn Express at the Cleveland Airport. Fortunately for me, a representative of the Marriott Residence Inn in Downtown Cleveland called me to let me know they had vacancies for an extended stay that matched the time I'd be in town. I was sold.
Where to begin: this particular Residence Inn occupies an wide portion of the block -- basically it's two towers adjoined by an atrium that itself forms a strip mall filled with small shops and little bistros (Arcade 6 if I'm not mistaken). Inside, it sports a sleek, ultra modern feel with a perfect blend of lime greens, chocolate browns, whites beiges, and turquoises. The staff was ultra-helpful when I checked in and from there on until I checked out.
My room was a traveler's dream: while I had to take the main elevator to the 2nd floor, exit through the mezzanine above the Arcade and then proceed to go all the way to the back of the hotel where another elevator bank awaited me, it was all okay with me: my room was enormous. Loft-sized, with privacy to spare, and a minimalistic decoration that is a dream for someone like me who loves contemporary design. Out of the three large windows only one gave me a full view of the front of the hotel and Residence 668, but that was OK. One pull of the curtains and I was in my own world, still surrounded by natural light.
On the plus the hotel is walking distance to TItans Gym and the entire buzz of activity that is E 6th as well as my work place. The 9/12 trolley literally parks itself across the street so I could easily access it and thus head down towards the financial area if I didn't feel like taking a walk. I had Heinen's and other stores a stone's throw away.
On the minus? I still would have liked the hotel to offer shuttle service, but I guess because one is literally in the center of all activity, Quicken Loans, Progressive Field, Tower City, Horseshoe, Hard Rock Cafe, and others, it's probably understandable they wouldn't carry one.
I hope to come back to this place again.
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