Going Deep: Inside the Marriott Mission Valley |
Over the weekend, I checked into the concierge level of San Diego's Marriott Mission Valley (anonymously, of course) to uncover the inner workings of this SoCal lodging option.
What Not to Miss
The most striking part of the hotel had to be the outdoor pool area when lit up at night. Set into a sunken deck area below the hotel’s lobby level and just off the fitness center, the pool is centrally located, but affords guests some degree of privacy. The hot tub, for example, is tucked into a nook at one end of the pool in such a way that you’d have to actually be on the pool level to see into it, and large hammocks set into concrete alcoves along one side of the pool deck await guests seeking shelter from the sun. Cushioned chairs and tables peppering the public courtyard that separates the lobby and the pool area below create an outdoor lounge of sorts that’s not only functional, but quite nice to look at as you’re cruising through the ground level.
Inside, the lobby impresses with its warm hues and colorful seating areas, while the restaurant and bar beyond are casual destinations frequented for business breakfasts and quitting-time cocktails.
An airport check-in computer is a perk for guests without checked luggage who want to hit the airport and avoid the lines.
Although I was disappointed to find the concierge level lounge closed on the weekends, that’s a fairly standard practice considering that the bulk of guests using the lounge are weeknight visitors. In lieu of the lounge amenities, the hotel offered me a choice of various beverages and snacks when I checked in. Soda, bottled water and fruit were among the offerings, but I opted for a half-bottle of wine and a cheese and cracker plate – both of which turned out to be nice perks during my stay.
In the Room
I’m always kind of working in one capacity or another, so even though much of my visit was more leisure than business, my inner workaholic was pleased to find ample in-room power outlets (notice the outlet by the bed, pictured here) and plenty of desk space for my laptop and tangled mass of cords and accessories (camera, phone, aforementioned laptop, wireless mouse, iPod, Apple Airport Express).
Bottled water and chocolates were welcome treats that appeared in my room each night, and I’m always happy to have a balcony (even if it looks out on the highway).
As for the bed, it was honestly more comfortable than my own (note: this may be due to the fact that I bought my mattress off craigslist in a frenzy of sleep-deprived panic after my dog ate a whole the size of her own body in its predecessor).
But what really impressed me about the sleep situation had to be the pillows. Most hotels load up their beds with pillows-on-roids, you know, pillows so puffed-up and bulbous you feel like your neck is positioned at a right angle to the bed when you lie down. And then you toss all night and wake up in the morning totally jacked. But this bed, thank the hotel gods, had at least two normal, malleable pillows that allowed me to sleep with just the right amount of angle.
The Lack Factor
So what was lacking at this hotel? Room service ends at midnight. Clearly, not a huge problem for mid-week travelers, but when you drag your wine-addled self back to the hotel after a night out in the Gaslamp (more on that later this week), you’re going to be S.O.L.
My room had one cramped sink and almost no surface space for toiletries. It was a makeup-meets-hot coffeemaker disaster waiting to happen, not to mention the site of at least two bathroom battles involving my husband and I jockeying to spit our toothpaste out in the sink. He won.
And if you want to get really picky, the television in my room was boxy and old. But it worked. Call me smitten with the flat-screen phenom, and you would be correct.
The Bottom Line
With a location near myriad office parks and big-box retailers (the Westfield Mission Valley Center is less than two miles away) instead of the tourist attractions that draw leisure travelers to the San Diego area, the hotel is an obvious choice for business travelers seeking solid accommodations during the week.
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POSTED BY SYSADMIN - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2007
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