We just returned from a ski and stay at the Marriott. We were amazed at the deal that we had - for app. $230 we were getting lift passes, breakfasts and accommodation per night for three of us. If you just drove up to ski Whiteface for just one day, it would cost app. $210 in lift tickets to buy at regular price. An amazing deal.
My one dissatisfaction would have to be the scattered quality of the service. As a Marriott Rewards member, I was able to request an early check-in. When I made this request, they even put in the request a little earlier than I needed just to make sure the room would be ready. But no luck, they were not ready for us until the regular time. The next day when we returned from skiing, it was 4:30-5:00pm and our room had not been serviced yet. Our beds were not made, etc. We went to the pool and when we returned it was done - we advised the manager that this was their chance to clean our room if they did not want us IN the room at the time. The next morning, we showed up at breakfast. There was a line-up, but many empty tables. They were really have problems clearing and setting up tables swiftly to accommodate the guests who were clearly running out of patience with their lack of organization. So service is not where this hotel will get its marks, they were quite hit and miss.
However, fortunately, there were other elements that brought its marks up. Our room was very comfortable. We took two queen beds, very cozy with plush duvets. The room was well-equipped with a fridge, coffee, wine bucket, good quality hair dryer, lots of towels, good tv that came with a listing of local stations - very handy for my son to home in on the cartoon network. We were on the second floor, and we never heard any noise. We used the pool area. The pool itself is not what I would call large, but good for families, particularly as it is not very deep. Two whirlpools, quite lovely when you are coming in from a long day of skiing. However, they should learn not to service them around 5pm when guests are returning from the ski hill (only one was operating when we returned on our second day - and it was very popular...)
The breakfast itself was very good. I love oatmeal with raisins and nuts, and they had exactly that, along with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, and an omelet station.
There is a very nice lounge area just off the breakfast area where you can sit by the fireplace, read a book, have a drink at the bar, take a free hot drink from the coffee station, read a complimentary newspaper, watch tv, play chess or checkers (there is even a baby grand piano on hand). Beside the reception desk there is a little convenience spot called the Market, where you can buy anything from razors to a sandwich, and have it charged to the room. The lounge area has a menu of quite satisfactory dishes that would do for supper, although they tend to tell people it is 'bar' food, but we were quite happy with it one evening for our dinner, since we did not feel like going out.
Other things to note: a good ski locker room with lock provided, and an iron for those who need to tend to their cross country skis (ask for a rag at the front desk to wipe off your skis at the end of the day, they gladly obliged); a small but nice exercise room with tv, faces onto the pool area; an area with computers and I believe internet access (I did not try it myself). It is an attractive, well laid out building, free outdoor parking. Too bad they have issues with their service, but I was impressed enough with the comfort of the rooms, the good food, the facilities, and the amazing deal, that despite the erratic service, I will still give it four stars. And by the way, if you are driving, I would not consider this far from town. No, you are not in the middle of the town center, but it suited us just fine.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
