I stayed at the Residence Inn in Wilmington/ Newark from September 18-21 in 2003 (yes, I'm a year late with this review!). I originally reserved my room for the 19th, but was able to arrive earlier due to cancellations by NASCAR participants. Hurricane Isabel had come to town, which opened up several rooms at the Residence Inn.
Being at a hotel that is within striking distance of a hurricane is an unusual circumstance. When I arrived, the staff had to delay checking me in because they were all in meetings about how to handle emergencies "in the event of." I did NOT see this as an inconvenience at all, given the circumstances.
I originally reserved a Studio Suite, which suits 1-3 occupants. Apparently, the staff had dealt with some mighty cranky people before I arrived. When they apologized for delays which I found completely understandable, they upgraded my room to a penthouse suite for no extra charge! Travelers: Let this be a lesson to you. A smile and a good sense of humour will result in many rewards. Another hint: If you're traveling during huricane season, get yourself a hat or a shirt that has "Titanic Crew" embroidered on it. The RI staff was sure I had arrived to steer them clear of icebergs.
During my stay, I encountered housekeeping staff, groundskeepers and lobby staff. Each person I spoke to was pleasant and helpful. Even the fellow mowing the lawn had a friendly wave and helped with directions. I never felt that they were intruding on my privacy.
At one point there was a problem with the phone service and the night clerk was able to put a call through for me even when I couldn't dial it directly from my room. All this while they were boarding up the huge picture window in the gatehouse to prepare for Hurricane Isabel.
If a hotel staff can make you feel welcome and safe when a hurricane is approaching, imagine what they can do when the weather is fine!
From what I've been told, this particular hotel is somewhat different than other Residence Inns. The Marriot website for this location does not have (at this writing) photographs of the building or its environs, so you may be in for a bit of a shock when you arrive if you're not prepared. In fact, the home page of this location doesn't give you any indication of what you can REALLY expect when you arrive, but don't let that put you off, unless you have accessibility issues.
There are no interior hallways or elevators at this location, so be prepared to haul your suitcase(s) up two short flights of stairs if you're not on ground level. Additionally, rooms are in building "blocks," so don't bring your suitcase into the main building (Gatehouse) when you register. You'll need to drive your car to the correct building and unload from there. If you have trouble with this, be sure to contact the hotel directly to make appropriate arrangements.
Because of the building set up, I didn't notice any wheelchair accessible signage in my travels. Their website mentions only "Service animals allowed for persons with disabilities." I'm not sure what accommodations for wheelchairs are available, if any.
The penthouse suite I was given was really cool. I've lived in apartments that didn't have as much room as this hotel. For starters, the door to the suite, which opens to the outside world, has a dead bolt lock, a slide bolt and a viewer, so you can see who is outside your door. If you have an ounce of sense, you're not going to open the door to just anyone. The "porch" was well lit, so I felt completely safe. If I recall correctly, there is a sign on the inside of the door stating when housekeeping is likely to call with instructions to call the gatehouse to double check if you still are not sure.
Just inside the front door and to the right is the kitchen area. There is an island, with two stools. A basket of coffee, tea, sugar and powdered (yuck) creamer is waiting for your use.
The kitchen area has a full refrigerator, a microwave, a full stove and oven, a dishwasher and sink, coffee maker and full cabinets. Included are a nice selection of pots, pans, silverware, service for four and baking utensils - everything you'd need to cook a 3 course meal if you wanted to. Measuring cups, a toaster and can openers are here! They even make sure there are ice cubes in the freezer.
To the left of the front door is the living room area. There is a couch (which is a hideaway bed), an arm chair, a coffee table, an end table and a floor lamp. In this room, there is also a fireplace, a television set and a telephone. The TV is outfitted for a Web TV kind of internet access, which I didn't care for. I expect this has changed since last year and more "normal" high speed access is available.
Connected to, but separated from the living room by a curtain is another space. In this space, there is a table that can seat four for eating. There is also a desk with a lamp and a telephone. Additionally, there is a queen-sized Murphy's bed, which is a pull down wall bed. When you're done sleeping, the bed flips up and back into the wall. Great idea for this kind of room.
Off of this secondary room is a full sized bathroom that includes a toilet, shower/bath and sink with a vanity. The bathroom also has a hair dryer and the usual complement of soaps and shampoos. Outside the bathroom, there is a closet with mirrored doors.
As this was a penthouse, there is a second level to visit. Directly in line with the front door, just beyond the kitchen area, is a flight of 8 or 10 stairs. At the top of the stairs, you find yourself in another bedroom area. This is open to the bottom floor. You can look over the short wall and into the living area from the head of the upstairs bedroom. Here you'll find a queen-sized bed, a dresser with a television set on top, another closet with mirrored doors plus two night stands and another phone. The upper level has its own bathroom as well. The sink and vanity are outside of the toilet / shower room.
Every inch of the penthouse suite was immaculate. Windows in the secondary first floor area, as well as the upper level, could be opened to let in fresh air. You can be as alone as you like (which is what I like) and request that housekeeping NOT visit everyday or you can be involved in the group activities such as the Manager's Barbecue or free breakfast in the gatehouse.
If you stock your refrigerator, you won't have to deal with one heck of a jaunt to the gatehouse to replenish your coffee supplies in the middle of the night. It's not a quick trip down an elevator to the lobby! I happen to like this arrangement, so I loved this location.
I was traveling alone last year, so a penthouse suite was actually too large a space for a single person. But what a kick to choose from two bathrooms and two floors. My stay at the Residence Inn in Wilmington / Newark was terrific. I highly recommend this hotel for travelers who aren't afraid to carry their own luggage.
I hope this review was helpful, long-winded as it is.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
