Having stayed at numerous Marriott locations over the years, I regret to say that the Downtown Kansas City Marriott ranks among the worst I have experienced. The problems began the moment I arrived and persisted throughout my stay.
Upon arrival, I was met by the valet only to be informed that the hotel had no available parking. To my disbelief, I was told I needed to find parking elsewhere. It’s unacceptable that a paying guest cannot secure parking at the hotel’s own premises.
When I raised this issue at check-in, the front desk clerk handed me a poorly printed map with vague directions to a self-parking area located two blocks away from the hotel. The lack of effort to provide clear, helpful guidance only added to my frustration.
After finally managing to park and return to the hotel, I discovered that my room was located in the East Tower — a section I would strongly recommend avoiding. The rooms in this tower are outdated and neglected. My room had stained carpets, was missing an ironing board, and suffered from a poorly designed lighting system. There was only one light switch, and all other lights had to be manually turned on. I found myself fumbling around in the dark, using my phone’s flashlight to locate the lamps.
Having prepaid for the breakfast buffet, I expected at least a decent meal. Unfortunately, what I encountered was far from acceptable. The food lacked flavor and quality, with the coffee tasting chea