Residence Inn Delray Beach

I am a platinum Marriott member and checked in on a not busy Sunday night. Front desk person was exceptionally nice. She said there were no one bedroom rooms available and all she had was a queen bed studio. So we went to this room on the fourth floor. The elevators are all scratched up and semi decrepit– they move ever so slowly. It looks like they added new carpeting since our last visit to years ago. Our room was an old-​style room and it just was not great. The Internet didn’t work at all in our room except for my laptop. When I called the front desk, they suggested I call the Internet company. After an hour on the phone with them, they couldn’t fix it. The front desk woman came to my room with her Samsung phone and found a signal. Both my iPhone and my iPad couldn’t get any signal. So we had to do without Internet for one business night — not good. When I went to take a shower the next morning neither the sink nor the shower had any hot water. The breakfast was fine, and then I went to check out. The front desk woman asked me how my stay was, and I told her we had no Internet and no hot water, and she said maybe next time you’ll get a better room. The hotel has a fantastic location, but I think they’re resting on the laurels of this location and not putting the money into the hotel. I wouldn’t stay here again they recommend you look elsewhere as well for any price. VERY DISAPPOINTING !!

This location is a great one for Delray Beach vacationing. We have a one room suite (with kitchen and pull out couch for kids). Being able to cook in our room has saved expenses, and the kitchen is very user friendly. We have an awesome view of Atlantic Avenue and the pool and a 5 minute walk to the beach with our three kids — super convenient. There are little shops all around us and the night life is somewhat removed, but still within walking distance a few blocks away.
Breakfasts are convenient and really pretty good on most days, and staff is courteous. Only subtracted a star for the parking issues we have had — some problems with getting blocked in on more than one occasion because drivers seem to park in the driving areas when the lot gets more full, and the hotel doesn’t seem to regulate that very well.
Anytime we needed something, it was provided!

Rooms are quite comfortable, staff was courteous. Parking easy and the hotel is an awesome location (close to walk to beach and restaurants).

Needs a facelift. Very nice staff and of course the location is great. Close to the beach but not all crowded and crazy like the Marriott on Ocean Av. The room was worn. There’s no other way to say it. The cabinets were chipped, the carpet frayed at the bathroom threshold, the patch on the bathroom wall was visible & peeling, the kitchen chair has something weird going on and the couch was uncomfortable. We were there for a stay-​cation and didn’t spend much time in the room but were surprised that Marriott has not renovated sooner. It’s off season so maybe they will get to it soon. Even the elevator needed to be vacuumed each time were used it.

It really deserves 1 ½ stars. And an explanation.
I like Residence Inn. I like the complimentary breakfasts, the large rooms, the space to work — good for business travel.
So we booked at the Residence Inn, Delray Beach. A month before our arrival, 2 King studios, elite hotel status, 2 nights. Easy.
We called same day and advised we would be arriving late due to work. We were told no problem, the rooms were waiting. And they were looking forward to seeing us.
The good first. Because it wasn’t all challenging. Wonderful complimentary breakfast (with great staff in the kitchen) and a clean workout room. Both are greatly appreciated. Very convenient location as well.
Now the not so good.
We arrived around 9 pm. Only one King room was available. We asked why as we booked a month ahead — and were told the rooms were assigned the day before. My associate was over 6’4″ so I gave him the King and took the smaller room. I was told the water view was lovely however…
The room had seen better days. Quite small, dark and tired — if you were sitting on the couch, the television would be in your lap, on the bed, the television didn’t rotate fully in that direction. The room was very dark, partially due to the broken heavy drapes that couldn’t be pulled back. The pillows were so firm that unless you enjoy sleeping straight up, it was better to not use them. The bathroom was clean, but rather dark as well.
The room was also next to the elevator — so you could hear each elevator stop — and the paper thin walls allowed me to hear most of my neighbors conversations.
I called for a wake up call which came right on time the next morning (also good!). Then another came 10 minutes later and another 8 minutes later. I called downstairs and let them know of the problem. Their response was to simply repeat each of my statements and turn it into a question «I received three calls», «you received three calls?», «Perhaps something is wrong with the system», «I think something might be wrong with the system?»…etc.
The next morning, I called down and asked that both room receipts on my credit card be sent to my room if at all possible. The conversation:
Them: You would like them both?
Me: Yes please.
Them: What’s the name?
Me: (gives name)
Them: What name?
Me: (gives name again and room number even though I was calling from the room).
Them: And you need both receipts?
Me: That would be helpful as I’m paying for both.
Them: Oh.
Etc.
Upon checking out I asked if i could change a twenty at the front desk. Not an unusual request at a hotel for tipping and the like. I was told there was no change. Because the billing department hadn’t come in yet. (It was 930 on Monday morning). They did offer me a ten and a five…
I asked if there were comment cards, The response was «Yes, but we don’t know where they are». I left a note for the GM, asking him to call. He did not call. I did see him speaking with some guests during breakfast, sharing pictures, laughing chatting. But he could not be found to assure that the front desk had change.
When I returned home, I called (it was 430) but the General Manager had already left.
I called their corporate office and was transferred to the Director of Operations. I transferred back to the operator when I got a voice mail and asked if there was anyway to know if the Director of Operations was in or not that day. The answer? «I transferred you. It’s out of my control to know if he’s here».
Clearly, the manager at the location learned his management style and training methods from corporate.
We will probably choose a different hotel in the area next time.
Oh – and the lovely view? Couldn’t see it due to the broken drapes. But when I went on the balcony it was primarily an apartment building and a church. With a slice of water beyond.
Residence Inn, you’ve let me down.

We asked for a king suite, based on the advise of the front desk person. We wanted a room large enough
for a third person to stay a night without having to get another room. The room was sooo small, that they ended getting their own room after all. A side note, when we thought this 3^rd person was going to stay in our room, we left a note for housekeeping to make up the sofa bed and leave extra towels. With the note, I left $ 5.00. When we can back, the couch was not made up, there wasn’t any extra towels and the money and the note were gone!!! As far as I’m concerned, that’s stealing!!! When I told the front desk people, I was told that housekeeping really can’t read English??? What, how did they get the job??? The furniture is beat up, the couch cushions were stained, the office chair, someone had burnt the seat with an iron. The room was right on the street so super noisy. Tiny balcony.

About the only thing I can say on a positive note is the room was clean. This hotel needs a makeover. Don’t be fooled by the ultra wide angle pictures of the «suites.» The bedroom has a king size bed and a dresser. When you open the dresser drawer there literally is no room to move in. The living room looked out over a seedy parking lot and had the most uncomfortable couch I’ve ever sat on. Like a fabric covered bench. The bathroom comes supplied with shampoo, conditioner qnd soap which was about enough to last 2 days tops. There’s something almost a little creepy about this hotel. Much nicer and newer hotels in the area.

Good spot in Delray. Clean hotel and quiet. Worked for my visit.

I liked my stay here.
Front desk people were very nice.
The room was a decent size and the beds were pretty comfy.
And the granite granite counter tops make the women happy of course.
The balcony had a great view, but the doors need screens! For those of us who can handle the humidity it’s nice to be able to open a door or window, thank you.
Free breakfast! However, it is pretty crazy by 8:45 am. My favorite was the mom who stood over her 3 kids insisting they keep stuffing their faces. Trust me, these kids had been fed very well. Ever heard of childhood diabetes, lady? Anyways, not the hotels’s fault but talk about pathetic.
Their hot tub was broken. :(
I liked the fact they had laundry machines. Nice touch!
Great location, easy walk to beach.
I will be back!

This hotel has things about it that are really great, and some things that are not so great. I’ll address the good first.
The location is exceptional; best in Delray. While it is not technically «oceanfront,» it is about a block to the beach and most of the balconies in the hotel have a great ocean view. The beautiful ocean is less than a 5-​minute walk. Also, there are plenty of shops and restaurants within a 2 or 3 minute walk from the hotel. There are fine restaurants and pizza or burger joints right outside the front door (you don’t need your car at this location). Right down the street are lots more cool shops and a nice museum (still in walking distance). The center of Delray is right up the street. Perfect location.
The girl who checked me in was very accommodating and friendly. The lobby is beautiful. There is limited garage parking (free), and if the garage is full, there is another free hotel parking lot right across the street (very close). There’s free wi-​fi in the hotel — it worked really well.
The hotel has a huge pool area that is beautiful; my room overlooked it — as do most of the balconies. (There are a couple balconies that do not face the ocean — and a few rooms with no balcony. If you want that view, be sure to request that room.) The pool is right off the breakfast area, so you can get your breakfast buffet and sit out by the pool.
My room was very clean. The bed had crisp, clean sheets, but the bed was just okay, it was firm and cushy but I have had better beds. The bathroom was wonderful; it was spotlessly clean and had a nice marble floor and the shower is all marble tile — really pretty. The sink/​vanity is outside the toilet/​tub area.
The breakfast in the morning was one of the best ever. There were a lot of people in there (this hotel is huge), but the food was quickly replenished and I never saw that they ran out of anything. The people running the breakfast area are super-​efficient in putting out more food and keeping the tables cleaned off. It was excellent. Full buffet of eggs, all kinds of meats, breads, juice, cereals, coffee, waffles, croissants, yogurt, etc. Really 5-​star breakfast!
Now on to the bad. This hotel, I think, is insanely overpriced. I would imagine that’s because of the proximity to the ocean and the time of year I was here (February, where everywhere else is under snow and here it was 85!). But, still, it was way too expensive. I used my Marriott points and had to use 25,000 (again, too many). I am used to using 10,000 or at most 15,000 points. But, I wanted to stay here and was glad I did.
The room layout is not functional. It is much, much smaller than most Residence Inns. There’s a full kitchen, including a stove top, and it is fully equipped with dishes, utensils, pots and pans. But, the living space was just so small (my room was a studio; other rooms may be bigger). There was only 1 queen bed, then in a little alcove there was a small pull-​out couch and a cabinet with the TV. The TV was at a terrible angle. You could pull it out a little, but it wasn’t angled to watch from the bed, and it was way too close to the small couch to watch from there — just very strange and small. There’s also a small dining table. I would NOT recommend this type of room for more than 2 people. It would definitely be cramped for a family with 2 kids. There are king rooms, but I was told the ones they had available did not have a balcony; I wanted that balcony.
The balcony was very small but had an amazing view (see my photos). There was a cool breeze off of the ocean, which is wonderful in Florida. It’s nice to sit out on the balcony at night and look at the city lights and dark ocean (there is a table and 2 chairs out there). It also overlooked the pool. It was a private balcony, but just so small and very close to another balcony. More than 2 people wouldn’t be comfortable on that balcony.
Oh, one more thing that was mildly annoying; housekeeping started beating on the door by 9am! What’s up with that? My friend was sleeping and housekeeping came in the room. Then, housekeeping came again at 10am; she wasn’t thrilled that I was still in the room. I was checking out later on, so she should have waited until check-​out time to come and clean the room. It wasn’t a big deal for me, but 9am is a tad early.
For location, cleanliness, and the usual Marriott good service, this hotel is definitely a 5-​star. But, for the hefty price-​tag and the rooms (just too small for Residence Inn and the layout is wrong), it is a 3-​star. So, that’s why I gave it an overall 4-​star.
I know, I know, I yab WAY too much in my descriptions — I just try and be thorough!

Convenient, but needs a face lift. It is close to both the beach and the restaurants on Atlantic Ave. The staff seems nice and tries hard to please. Both Internet and parking are free. The food — breakfast daily and dinner sometimes — is fair. The ac works, and there is tepid to warm water for showers.
That said, the place needs a facelift. It looks and feels tired. They are having elevator trouble — one has been inop the entire time. Also, they appear to let pets on all floors. No way this should be allowed. We have been subject to howling dogs the entire visit. A new Hyatt opened two days ago. I will try that next time.

The hotel has some pros & cons.
Pros: It has free breakfast every morning… very nice touch. The pool area was really nice & it is close to the beach. Also, close to downtown Delay (shops & restaurants)
Cons: Not the cleanest hotel. The furniture has spots & stains all over them. Had to find a housekeeper on my second day stay. I probably will not stay there again.

Noisy, walls are thin. Staff needs hospitality training. Get the picture

The employees were super nice and helpful and the location was great. There are a lot of unique shops and restaurants around and you can easily walk to the beach (only a couple blocks away). However, I thought the room could’ve been better. There wasn’t a cover on the duvet, just two sheets on either side of it. Since it wouldn’t stay covered, and there were some stains on it, I took it off the bed. The water in the toilet and bathtub was yellow, which might have been common the area, but it kept me from drinking it. The room was pretty loud with noise from other rooms, maintenance people, and the air conditioning made a banging noise whenever it turned on. There is a gym and a pool, but half the equipment in the gym was out of order.

The complimentary breakfast is amazing and also serve pre-​dinner snacks on the weekdays! They have a free computer and printer in the lobby, which comes in handy for printing boarding passes! The rooms have a full service kitchen and balcony. You can not go wrong here.