We got automatically upgraded to a pool-side balcony room, which was nice. Although, we really weren't in our room long enough to enjoy anything about it, other than dropping our luggage, sleeping, a walk through the pool area, and the free shuttle service to LAX.
The three of us had just been on a Cruise, so it was a relief to be in a "normal" sized hotel room. We had 2 double beds (Queen?) My sister didn't like the mattress, but I thought mine was alright.
Air conditioning and heating worked fine, which was a relief, as late April 2012 was actually quite cold and windy in southern California.
The pool was a nice view.
We used the free shuttle service 4 times, because we used the Flyaway bus service at LAX for a day out in LA. Getting to the Airport seemed alot easier and didn't take long both times. But going from the airport to the Hotel was another story -- both times. It was easily a 20-25 minute wait or more both times. And each time it's alot of chaos at the airport, because you're constantly looking for the bus to come by. Apparently the bus service is a pooled bus service for all hotels, and only one of the buses goes to the Marriott, so you have to look out for it, which further adds to frantic staring at every bus that goes by for 20 minutes straight at the airport, with tons of other buses, shuttles, cars and taxis whooshing by.
We were at terminal 1, which means the shuttle service goes to every other terminal in the airport to pick up more people. We ended up at the hotel easily a half hour later. It would be maybe a 2-3 minute taxi ride. The shuttle service is free, but if your time is worth more than 5 cents per hour, don't bother with the free shuttle. If there is more than 3 or 4 of you, just grab a cab. It'll be worth it.
I heard this comment several times -- LAX needs a public transportation system, like a LRT or subway or monorail that goes down Century Blvd that could efficiently, quickly and easily service all the hotels. I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and our cities public subway goes all the way into the airport, from downtown. It's extremely convenient, and cheap. I can go all the way to the airport from downtown for $2.50. The trains have lots of space for your luggage. Someone told me it's the oil and gas companies in LA that have power over that not happening in LAX. Write letters to your politicians and make noise.
Back to the Marriott.
Shower water was hard and not nice on the skin, but that's not Marriott's fault, I'm sure it's the City of LA's water supply.
Of course all Hotels haved jumped onto the "user pay" Wi-fi system, rather than letting their customers free service, which sucks. Funny that Starbucks offers free wi-fi service to people sipping a $5 latte, but a hotel charging $130 a night can't offer free wi-fi? No free wi-fi here :(. We wanted to check-in online to our flight, and we were forced to use the Business center. It was like 40 cents a minute for computer usage. Which is alot when you work it out.
Checking out in the morning was easy. We did the express checkout -- I think that's what it was called. Just a simple phone call to the front desk and we just left out cards in the hotel room and we left! Simple!
We had no issues. Usually when I research a hotel, I want to know if it has bed bug reports. We are happy to say we didn't have any. I'm usually suspect when I read a review and it's all "oooh, it has bed bugs". Then you realize it's one of the hotel managers on his break on the internet just making lies about another hotel.
hotel reviews