Purpose: for work, have stayed here frequently (50+ nights)
Pros:
- Rooms: I like that they have different styles of rooms and I sometimes score with the corner rooms (which feel bigger).
- Rental Car Service: is located right downstairs. Pickup/drop off cannot get any easier. (Note: they close early on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays)
- Gym: it's the YMCA, so it's a legitimate gym.
- Concierge Lounge: always open for bar snacks and drinks. Open on weekends. Love the free full-sized water bottles.
- Location: less than a 10 minute walk from the Bank of America stadium. Makes it easy/fun for Panther game days! Also, it's connected to various buildings, so you can get pretty far w/o walking outside.
- Early Check In: has been granted each time I've come in earlier than check-in time.
- Security: requires key cards in their elevator.
Average:
- Check In: generally takes longer than it should. Multiple times, when checking in during the evenings, there's no one at the front desk and I'll have to wait a bit for someone to come out.
- Bellboy: always generally have to wait for someone; not as attentive as I've experienced at other hotels.
- Concierge Lounge: the food offered is generally nothing to look forward to (chicken wings, mini corn dogs, etc.). However, the set up is nice and the view is pretty great.
Cons:
- Showers: I prefer showers with bathtubs and most of their rooms don't have that. Makes it difficult to warm up the water w/o getting sprayed from the shower!
- Gym: they close early on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays.
- WiFi: not free for non-Rewards members
- Restaurant: it's not amazing and in my various stays, I've only found 1 item that I like: Tuna Crisp.
- Key Cards: I always have trouble with these deactivating during my stay (even though I do a good job of keeping them away from credit cards/ phones).
Unexplored:
- Parking
Overall: I come here for work and really just need a bed and shower, so the rest is not too bothersome for me (but I've listed them as they may be important for others). The pros/cons balance out some of the pros/cons I've noted at the Marriott City Center hotel, so it's hard to say one is better than the other.