We’ve been a loyal fan of Marriott for years, frequently recommending their services to friends and family. However, a recent experience has left us profoundly disappointed and questioning our loyalty to a brand we once held in high regard. During our recent stay at the Marriott Courtyard Silver Spring Downtown, we encountered a problem that no customer should ever have to face: bed bugs. It was a shock to find ourselves in this situation, as we had always associated the Marriott with quality and reliability. Our frustration with the presence of bed bugs was only surpassed by our dismay at the customer service we received. When reporting the issue to hotel staff, we expected prompt action and a compassionate response. Instead, what we encountered was indifference and a lack of urgency. The hotel's management seemed more interested in downplaying the issue than in addressing it effectively. They failed to provide anything beyond a refund. No mention of compensation for having to completely change our accommodations last minute. The lack of empathy from a company we had previously regarded so highly was deeply disheartening. Our long-standing positive attitude towards the Marriott has been tarnished by this experience. It's not just the presence of bed bugs that troubles us; it's the way the situation was handled. We had expected better from a brand that had earned my trust over the years. We sincerely hope that the Marriott takes this feedback to heart and reevaluates its commitment to customer satisfaction and safety. In the meantime, our loyalty remains shaken, and we are cautious about recommending or patronizing their services in the future.
This hotel was clean and reasonably priced - especially if you are just looking for a place to sleep while visiting DC. The breakfast was good. So here’s the information no one shared with us and we figured out. 1. If you fly into Reagan, go to terminal 2 and get on the yellow metro toward Mt. Vernon Square (you have to know the last stop on that train to know which one to ride). So take that yellow toward Mt. Vernon Square and get off at Gallery Place. At Gallery Place Metro station, go ahead and buy the Metro pass then get on the red toward Glenmont and get off at Silver Spring Station. You can walk from the station to the hotel, but I highly recommend the bus (sure there are some quirky folks on the bus but it’s all part of the experience! Also, I never felt unsafe). The card you bought for the metro works on the bus too. Just ask someone where the buses are located. You want bus bay 222 - take the 70 toward Archives. When you see the Holiday Inn, this is your stop (it isn’t far at all, maybe .7 mile). Pull the cord and get off here. No one told us about the buses (we walked from the station, up hill with our luggage at 11:30 at night) - you may not need all this info, but this is all stuff we didn’t know. 2. You definitely need to eat at Crisfield’s Seafood. This place has been here since 1945 and it was delicious. Order the seafood bisque no matter what! 3. To head out on all your sightseeing adventures, cross the road at the Holiday Inn and ride the 70 back to Silver Spring Metro. You will most likely ride the red toward Shady Grove and get off at Metro Center. Take the blue or silver toward Downtown Largo and get off at Smithsonian to head out to the National Mall and most of the museums. You can also take the 70 immediately in front of the Holiday Inn all the way into DC but it takes forever. You can leave the HI and take a right and walk up to the next bus stop and take the 79 express to DC too. It doesn’t stop as much. These buses will take you to the Archives stop and you can take whatever metro you want from there. 4. Lastly, take the night monument tour with Signature Tours.
This hotel was clean and reasonably priced - especially if you are just looking for a place to sleep while visiting DC. The breakfast was good. So here’s the information no one shared with us and we figured out. 1. If you fly into Reagan, go to terminal 2 and get on the yellow metro toward Mt. Vernon Square (you have to know the last stop on that train to know which one to ride). So take that yellow toward Mt. Vernon Square and get off at Gallery Place. At Gallery Place Metro station, go ahead and buy the Metro pass then get on the red toward Glenmont and get off at Silver Spring Station. You can walk from the station to the hotel, but I highly recommend the bus (sure there are some quirky folks on the bus but it’s all part of the experience! Also, I never felt unsafe). The card you bought for the metro works on the bus too. Just ask someone where the buses are located. You want bus bay 222 - take the 70 toward Archives. When you see the Holiday Inn, this is your stop (it isn’t far at all, maybe .7 mile). Pull the cord and get off here. No one told us about the buses (we walked from the station, up hill with our luggage at 11:30 at night) - you may not need all this info, but this is all stuff we didn’t know. 2. You definitely need to eat at Crisfield’s Seafood. This place has been here since 1945 and it was delicious. Order the seafood bisque no matter what! 3. To head out on all your sightseeing adventures, cross the road at the Holiday Inn and ride the 70 back to Silver Spring Metro. You will most likely ride the red toward Shady Grove and get off at Metro Center. Take the blue or silver toward Downtown Largo and get off at Smithsonian to head out to the National Mall and most of the museums. You can also take the 70 immediately in front of the Holiday Inn all the way into DC but it takes forever. You can leave the HI and take a right and walk up to the next bus stop and take the 79 express to DC too. It doesn’t stop as much. These buses will take you to the Archives stop and you can take whatever metro you want from there. 4. Lastly, take the night monument tour with Signature Tours.