Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa — Hotel in Stamford

Review: Life in the Stamford Mar-it Hotel Parking Garage – An Unconventional Residence

Living in a hotel parking garage is far from the typical dream of luxury accommodations, yet my five-year experience residing in the Stamford Mar-it Hotel’s parking garage offers a unique perspective on resilience, adaptability, and the unexpected comforts found in unconventional spaces.

Finding a Home in the Unlikeliest of Places

When circumstances led me to take up residence in the Stamford Mar-it Hotel parking garage, I was initially overwhelmed by the challenges. The stark, concrete environment seemed inhospitable, with its constant flow of cars and lack of traditional amenities. However, over time, I discovered ways to carve out a sense of home within this space.

Adaptability and Ingenuity

Living in the parking garage required a high degree of adaptability and ingenuity. I repurposed my vehicle into a functional living space, optimizing every inch to serve dual purposes. A comfortable sleeping area, a small kitchenette, and storage compartments were carefully crafted to make the most of limited space. The trunk became a makeshift pantry, while the backseat served as both a lounge and dining area.

Unexpected Community

One of the most surprising aspects of my stay was the sense of community that developed. Fellow long-term parkers and hotel staff became familiar faces, offering a semblance of camaraderie. Conversations with security personnel, maintenance workers, and other transient residents created a network of support and shared experiences. This sense of belonging made the parking garage feel less isolating and more like a small neighborhood.

Access to Hotel Amenities

Despite living in the parking garage, I found ways to benefit from the hotel’s amenities. The hotel’s gym, lobby restrooms, and even the occasional access to the pool area provided much-needed relief and a touch of normalcy. Establishing a rapport with hotel staff allowed for discreet access to these facilities, significantly enhancing the quality of life.

Resilience and Personal Growth

Living in such an unconventional setting fostered a resilience and resourcefulness that I might not have developed otherwise. I learned to navigate the challenges of extreme weather, maintain hygiene with limited resources, and find creative solutions to everyday problems. This experience also taught me the importance of gratitude and perspective, appreciating the small comforts and victories that each day brought.

Conclusion

My five-year tenure in the Stamford Mar-it Hotel parking garage was an unconventional chapter of my life that tested my limits and taught me invaluable lessons. While it was far from luxurious, this experience highlighted the importance of community, adaptability, and resilience. In the end, it wasn’t just a story of survival, but one of personal growth and the ability to find a sense of home in the most...

At first glance, and for most aspects, this is a regular US Marriott.

It's more than a bit tired, like most US Marriotts. It features boring food, like most US Marriotts. It overcharges for parking, like most US Marriotts.

Also, like almost all US Marriotts, it does not give any recognition whatsoever to Bonvoy Elite Members.

All of this is okay: with big chains we trade predictability for mediocrity.

But this hotel set a new low.

Because, after having filled out the laundry form I found in my room that clearly states: ‘Items received by 8:30am will be returned by 5:30pm. No service on Sundays or holidays’, I brought some laundry to the front desk, as I am used to do at any Marriott anywhere in the US and the world.

I was informed by the person at the reception that the laundry was not going to be picked up until the following day, as the service only operates some days of the week. This, of course, could not work for me, as I was checking out the day after.

As my trips always include multiple stops over a number of weeks, access to Same Day Valet Service in a key requirement for me. I certainly expect it from Marriott. And I pretend it when I find a laundry bag in my room with a form that promises it. Had I not found the bag and the form in my room and/or had I been informed at check in that the service was not available, I would have immediately cancelled my reservation and moved to another hotel. Because, as it happens, no laundry service means no clean clothes to wear.

Also, the way the front desk handled the situation was appalling.

First, they said that the fact that the laundry form states ‘Items received by 8:30am will be returned by 5:30pm. No service on Sundays or holidays’ is actually open to interpretation and does not necessarily mean that the service is provided during weekdays. This is the most absurd excuse I’ve ever heard, and I am not quite sure how they managed to say that with a straight face.

Then, they said there was nothing they could do other than giving me a token for the guest laundry, so that I could wash my clothes myself. Not an option for me as my working days are 12+ hours long and I need to dress formally.

In any half-decent hotel anywhere in the world the only acceptable response to this situation would have been for the front desk (supported by the management) to take charge of the issue and find an alternative way to deliver the client what he was promised. By finding an alternative laundry provider or in any other creative ways that is not up to the client to suggest.

Instead, I was left alone to solve a problem that was created by their faulty processes, misleading information and rude staff.

Of course I...

I have previously stayed in Marriott Stamford on a quarterly basis due to work commitments. Historically I have once stayed in the room next to the elevators in the past. Due to that specific experience, I learned that the room next to elevator will be very noisy and loud when the elevator is on. With that understanding and from this hotel experience alone, I have requested specifically not to be put in such rooms during my January one night stay (I moved to other hotels since then). on the night of arrival (late arrival on our part - two rooms booked total), we were put in the exact rooms I requested not to be put in. I understood we arrived late and were told quickly there are no other rooms to accommodate us. At that moment, I realized I was in for a LONG night. When I arrived into the room, there was this really loud noise consistently turning up every 5 mins. In addition, I noticed there is a hole in the door w/ a purposely placed vent opened to get the ventilation system to work for this specific room. So not only am I in a room next to the elevator, I am also in a room where light comes through from outside (even after all lights are off inside) , then I have a fan / heat that turns itself on and off every 5 mins. I am working against light, noise which for a while I thought it's coming from elevator. from 2 am to 4 am, I tried to ignore the loud noise and the light but wasn't successful. I have been calling the receptionist two times to see if anything can be done. I was told nothing, there are no rooms. No one ever suggested to help me take a look at the room and see how this can be fixed (the noise w/ the light). at 4 am, I had no choice but to turn off the heater completely despite it was less than 20 degree outside. I rather choose to be sleeping in the cold then sleeping through these loud noises. From 4 am and on, I was able to finally fall asleep. Then sharp at 6 am, there comes the elevator running next to my bed board and people start walking back and forth trying to leave the hotel to their next location. If there are no hole /vent in the door, I could have hear less human noise. In the end, I woke up again, and turn myself upside down to stay away from the bed board, and stay as far aaway from the elevator bank as possible. Needless to say: I had only 1.5 hours of sleep total. complained to receptionist in the morning shift and she was much nicer. she did give me 10K points for the room I stayed in but who will ever dare...