Courtyard By Marriott Houston Rice University

“Property in very good condition off the beaten path”

I’ve stayed with this place before, and I had a bad time with it which was never remedied. Normally I wouldn’t be back, but location pretty much required I use them. On this trip, so far, things have gone much better. The property is somewhat off the beaten path, but not far from a major hig... more

I’ve stayed with this place before, and I had a bad time with it which was never remedied. Normally I wouldn’t be back, but location pretty much required I use them. On this trip, so far, things have gone much better. The property is somewhat off the beaten path, but not far from a major highway. It looks good, and the facilities, furniture and fixtures were in good condition. Everything in the room was working as designed, and the beds and towels adequate. The employees don’t have name tags on, but I do want to compliment the African-American lady working deep nights on July 03 and 04. She went well beyond the call of duty to correct incompetent guest problems, and very promptly. From the customer side of the desk she is an outstanding performer and I was more than grateful for the professional help. I could only suggest that the brand’s choice to use a black colored key card is not the best, as they are easier to misplace. The pricing was very appealing for a holiday weekend, but it’s obvious there were not a lot of guests checked in. The elevator farthest from the desk makes some unsettling noises that are not reassuring to the guest. They don’t serve free breakfast, but they do have a bar open in the evenings, even though they don’t have enough customers to operate it profitably. I write a lot of reviews, and pay attention to details. I don’t find much wrong with this place. It’s not young, but it’s been kept fresh and appearing to be new. And, the traffic patterns around it are certainly easier to maneuver than some other brands just across the freeway. There was a tiny spec of mold in the tub area, but nothing to get excited about. The overall facility was very clean, including the common areas and my sleeping room. I can’t say much about housekeeping as I specifically asked them to pass me by, but SOMEBODY is going the extra mile to keep the place looking good. However, the pictures you see on Trip advisor look nothing like what’s actually inside – they are way out of date. I can recommend them for what they are, although I just don’t like the brand for non-hospitality reasons. I certainly got what I paid for, and there’s no complaint with that. I’ll probably be back someday, which remains to be seen.

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