I booked this room thru Priceline for 70.00. I had a late flight coming in from LA and I had friends picking me up, so I figured I should book a hotel room and have them pick me up the next day, especially with all the reports you hear about summer delays and I live an hour from the HSV airport.

The hotel's airport shuttle picked me up promptly and it was complimentary, very short ride and was comfy.

I get to the hotel and I handed the front desk representative a credit card, she then advised me of my rate. I told her that my reservation was pre-paid for and so I don't think she really got it (according to her blank stare) and she sent me on my way.

I proceeded to my room. It was just general hotel room, nothing special.

After checking out the room I went to Otter's, the hotel's bar. It stunk somewhat, smelled of trash and beer, LOL. When I cleared up my tab the bartender goes "I guess you got the hint that I'm ready to leave," Whatever, that irritated me a bit, especially since I had been there for about ten minutes.

Ordered room service the next morning and it was awesome. I also had a very awesome room service attendant. She was great and very friendly.

I go to check out and my bill was ONLY 15.66 (since room was pre-paid for). I advised the representative that I just wanted to put it on my check card. She said that was fine, and I handed her the card, when she then handed me a receipt for 88.79. I told her that my room was pre-paid for, and she just had another one of those blank looks (what is it with this hotel and blank looks?), she had to get help, of course. I was handed another receipt for 15.66 which was for room service, and was told not to worry about anything else.

I get home and I'm getting everything in order, and my bank's website stated that Marriott had authorized my check card for over 200.00, for a 15.66 charge. It was authorized in three different amounts. That is why I checked in with a credit card, so that I would avoid crazy authorizations. I travel enough and know how it works. I do not like charging things, so I pay with debit when I leave. Never had a problem with anything else. I called the hotel and they said they would call my bank, which my bank says they hadn't. It's not a huge deal since I'm more than covered, but if I wasn't covered, then I'd be up a creek without a paddle.

Hotel would be great if they just had staff that had some sense, and would tell you what's up when there is a problem instead of just staring at you, lol.

I stayed at the Marriott for a seminar in June and it is not necessarily something I would prefer to repeat. After a rather lengthy flight, we arrived at the hotel at 4pm to be told our rooms were not "ready" (ie, cleaned) and we would have to wait. After approximately a half hour, we were finally given our key cards. I was rather dismayed to find that my room which I had to wait to be cleaned was not very....clean that is. I was called by the front desk shortly after check in & when I answered the phone, discovered that someone had spilled something on the nightstand & the phone was covered in it. The vacumming job left a little to be desired as well.
Rooms are fairly spacious but in an attempt to cram in a work desk AND an easy chair, you end up having to move furniture to get to the ancient (and extremely loud) a/c unit. The furniture also has to be moved to close the curtains, necessary as I was on the first floor. The bed was very comfortable and the room was quiet, which was a pleasant suprise as I was in an end room & next to the vending area.
Breakfast buffet was good, with lots of choices and not that expensive for a hotel of this type. Some of the items were a little "cool" for my tastes. Made to order items were good. Service was average at best (you shouldn't have to ask for a refill of a minute glass of tea. If you don't want to keep refilling the glasses, make them bigger.)
The front desk staff was accomodating, arranging a late check out & holding our bags for the afternoon. Then, service fell apart...
We had arranged when we arrived, for the hotel shuttle to take us to the airport the next day after the end of the seminar. A large number of people were milling in front of the building waiting for transport and many complained that they were never told they needed to make reservations. Not that it mattered much. The hotel only has one minivan that holds 6. and that afternoon there appeared to be a revolt amoung the staff and the 3pm shuttle (which arrived at 3:20) sat in the front driveway for 20 minutes while staff feuded about who was going to drive. There was a real question as to whether the van would be back by 4pm to pick us up. The hotel advised they had called cabs to get everyone to the airport on time. Never assume. We thought he hotel would pay since they advertise free transportation and it was not good planning to only have one 6 person minvan for 20 or 30 people. The cab arrived & we ended up paying the fare, just so we could get to the airport on time. The hotel has since promised us reimbursement, stating the cab driver was supposed to see them for payment, BUT there was a hotel employee hanging in the window of the cab who advised us we would have to pay. Apparently the management also has commumication problems along with poor planning skills.
I have the option of attending a different seminar next year in Birmingham, which I will probably do. Not only Marriott is losing my business, so is Huntsville.

Definitely not the flagship of the Marriott fleet. It would do the Intourist Hotels of the former Soviet Union proud. Very old and very much overdue for renovation. The rooms are clean and the beds are comfortable, but the ancient utilities will prevent a good night's sleep. The heating/AC is a 40-year old wall-mounted Trane with no wall thermostat. Not only is it very noisy, but the AC cycles on and off only after 5+ degree temperature changes. The room gets very cold, you pull up the covers, and then the room gets very warm and you wake up sweating under the comforter. Then, start over. The common areas are moderately clean, but not noticeably, and very worn. The carpet in the halls and stairs looked like it hadn't been vaccumed in a week. The biggest problem is security. The door to my room had a visible gap between the door and the jam on the latch side and I could open it by sticking the keycard (or a credit card) into the gap. The restaurants are a mixed bag: Porters Steakhouse, very good and way over-priced for rural Alabama. $32+ for a steak. Otters, very bad and very cheap. Greasy spoon truck stop food for $15. I declined to go into the pool since the water had a somewhat cloudy appearance and the pool bottom was dirty. Also, was afraid to walk bearfooted on the dirty tile poolside.
My biggest complaint was the room price. I only stayed here because I was on a last-minute business trip and everything else in Huntsville that charges by the night (instead of by 30-minute increments) was booked. $155/night when the prevelant rates in Huntsville for business class hotels is $75-95.

We travel 3 or 4 times per year and typically stay at 4 or 5 star hotels and always hit at least one 4 or 5 star restaurant. We stayed here a year ago when our son attended the Space Camp. Most recently we ended up staying during a short visit to the area. Both stays were very pleasant and exceeded our expectations. The staff is friendly and helpful, the pool area was clean and inviting, the rooms were immaculate and the beds so comfortable we didn't want to get up in the morning! This is an older hotel, however the rooms we stayed in had been updated, although a bit small, were really very nicely done. During this stay we ate at the nicest of their three restaurants for dinner ..... it was very expensive....and worth every penny.....friendly, knowlegdable wait staff and one of the best filet mignons I have ever had in my life! We will definitely stay here any time we are in the Huntsville area.