The managers of each department of this place should be congratulated. Each employee, whether they were parking cars, folding towels or pouring coffee would verbally look me in the eyes and say 'hello sir.' Now you may not think it's such a big deal but to achieve the customer service consistency they have here is approaching Disney type excellence.

I also received an email from the customer service manager just checking to see if I need anything. It's amazing how many hotels I stay in and how many have my email and how few check on you mid stay. I thought it was a simple 5min gesture which goes along way to build loyalty.

Champions is good, it's overpriced but convenient.. I mean how much better is a $20 burger?? But the waitress had an exceptional attitude and treated us like respected friends of hers.

Overall this place is worth the extra $40 a night compared with nearby budget hotels and as I begin 2013 it sets a high standard for the rest of the hotels I'll be visiting around the world.

I have stayed at this hotel literally hundreds of times over the years, on my weekly trips to Silicon Valley. It is my top pick for SV stays (with the Hilton #2 and the Hyatt #3). It is old, some parts of it need updating, but it provides a consistent "Marriott experience," which for a business traveler has advantages.

Pro's over my #2 and #3 picks:

Better food. Parcel 104 is good enough for foodies, and the sports bar is good, quick and typically not crowded. Room service is, well, it's room service in a business hotel, but it's usually better than room service at the Hilton, and is more consistent than the other two.

Better Internet. More reliable WiFi, faster, fewer dropped connections. The Hilton's WiFi is very unreliable.

Better service. The few times I have needed non-standard help, e.g., a forgotten item or an emergency fax, the Marriott staff has shined vs. the other two. The on-site UPS store has come in handy a few times as well. Unfortunately, the Marriott recently downgraded the on-site store to a closet, so if you forget toothpaste you have an easier time buying at the Hyatt vs. the Marriott or Hilton (actually, at the Hyatt you wouldn't need to buy it, since it comes free in the room).

More upgrades. I am the top level in both the Marriott and Hilton frequent traveler programs; I almost always get a free upgrade at the Marriott and almost never do at the Hilton. If this sort of thing matters to you, the Marriott is better.

Con's vs. the other two:

Parking: it's the only one of the three that charges ($9 a day), and if it is raining you have no choice but to get wet walking to the hotel. The Hilton has much better parking (free, closer, especially if you park in the back), the Hyatt does not (if you don't get one of the few spots out front, you are stuck parking in the convention lot and then you have a long walk to get into the hotel).

Room: the Hyatt has the best rooms of the three, but the Marriott rooms are fine, other than the bathrooms, which are small and old, especially compared to the Hilton. The Hyatt also has small bathrooms, but there were upgraded substantially when the property changed, a few years ago, from a Westin to a Hyatt.

Bottom line: all three are good choices for a business traveler. With a family I would probably pick the Hilton (bigger rooms). For sports, the Hyatt now definitely wins, with the new Giants stadium being built in the hotel's back yard.

I stayed here for a conference in early December. The front desk was very helpful and would gladly give them a high rating. It happened to be my wife and I's anniversary and they upgraded us from a standard room and also gave a token anniversary card and chocolate strawberries. We stayed in the courtyard parlour suite and overall the sleep quality and the room was above average, though it wasn't very well sound proofed from noises from outside the room. I would say this is mainly a business hotel but has good access to malls and eateries within walking distance or using public transport.

My daughter was getting married and she needed a hotel that would accommodate all her guests coming from out-of-town as well as a room with an area that would accommodate her bridesmaids getting hair and makeup done. The hotel bent over backwards to give my daughter all the room, the leeway, little extras that made her day as stress-LESS as can be. COLLEEN helped my daughter make arrangements for the special accommodations and included a few extras that were simply outstanding and helped out so much. I could not be happier. Everybody from COLLEEN to the valets to the people in Starbucks, everything was exceptional. If you are in need of great accommodations, wonderful prices for a beautiful hotel, this is your place of choice.