Courtyard by Marriott Wilkes-Barre Arena — Hotel in Wilkes-Barre Township

Staying in the area of Wilkes-Barre can be a real challenge, the hotels in the area are hit hard by Interstate Rte. 81 by tired travelers seeking respite and coming off the road after a long day of travel. So tourism isn't exactly the mainstay of business for these hotels that do exist here. ||The Marriott Courtyard property actually became our 2nd hotel by default, our first choice hotel was dirty and had spots all over the bed pillows and "the mattress" and throughout the whole hotel. We could not get a room at TMC until the next day/night. I was horrified by the hotel our first night back in W-B, I am a native, born and raised here now a Floridian where tourism is taken very seriously and is our #1 industry. I called TMC and spoke to a young man named "Michael" I told him my plight and my mission to get out of our hotel into TMC that night. He listened patiently and sympathetically to me after multiple phone calls assisted us in getting a room for the remainder of our stay. (TMC was booked solid our first night). Thank you to this gentleman who worked the reception desk of the hotel Friday evening! He and the next day/evening desk clerk encouraged us to see the room prior to check in, we did and confirmed our stay. This hotel is accommodating, courteous, and yes, clean. It is simply appointed and comfortable, all one needs and hopes for after a weary day of travel. The rooms are comfortable with spacious bathrooms and large wall mount adjustable TV's. Our first night TMC ended up being the night of time changeover, so we gained an hour on our trip, well now that's a plus!||GOOD MORNING WILKES-BARRE:||So, I awoke after a true good night's sleep and quickly got dressed to go down to the lobby as I usually do to grab a coffee for my husband and I when we travel. Not quite fully awakened or knowing the actual time, I walked into the lobby/restaurant area to discover, it was still only partially lightened. There was only one young woman in the whole lobby she was arranging seating at the restaurant tables. She looked over at me as I approached the snack/coffee bar and said "I'm not open yet". I said "oh, what time do you open?" She replied "7:00 A.M.". I asked "What time is it?" She replied" 6:48 A.M." I responded by saying well " what time will the coffee be ready?" Thinking I would go back to my room and come back down. She replied "The coffee is made." I responded " Oh, No problem, I'll wait so I walked over the the lounge area in the lobby and sat quietly waiting patiently to get my first cup of coffee. The coffee snack bar was in my full view. I watched for the next 12-15 minutes as this young lady and another young lady talked about whatever, put the TV on at the snack bar, fidgeted about, put the lights on, I think you get my drift here. At whatever time it was (I did not put my watch on or have my phone with me) the young lady looked at me and said "I'm open now". Are you kidding me, this was a SNL skit. So going by the call to order, I arose from my chair, walked over to the snack counter and proceeded to give her my Starbucks coffee order. I left the lobby after paying $12.00+ for three coffees.||Whatever happened to "Good Morning, when the client guest walks into the lobby? Did this young woman own this restaurant, since she referred to it as hers'? Did she have any inkling of an idea that I was "the sole purpose of her being in that hotel/restaurant and that her greeting and customer relations or should I say, the lack thereof, was the sole income generator to the hotels and her livelihood? Wow, Marriott Bonvoy what? Listen, everyone has a bad day, or hates their job but this was a bit of a stretch for that conduct as a hall pass. Sorry. I've worked my whole life, and I've done my share of undesirable duties if you will in the course and scope of my job, but I never displaced it onto another person. My motto into my growing old age is this, if you've been given the gift of another day on this earth, make it a good, one, do you very best. Raising my children, I always told them, whatever you do in your life and your careers, whatever it is, do it well. Give it your best. I would say this woman needs to be behind the scenes in this hotel and not out with the hotel guests. ||Don't let this be a deal breaker for you not to stay at this hotel, it is fine and probably one of the only maintained hotel properties in the area. Just beware when you tip toe into the lobby, don't look for the customary "Good Morning" and wait inline for your coffee before 7:00+ A.M. ||The...

Previously stayed and really enjoyed it. But my most recent stay was anything but good. It's like I had gone to an entirely different hotel with an entirely different staff.

First, I arrived at 4 pm, even though I had done the online check in. I was told my room wasn't ready, and that I would have to wait another 35 minutes. Meanwhile, a housekeeping sort poked her head from behind and yelled that she had been very busy all day, and I should just wait for the room to be ready.

I learned that there was another King suite available (I had booked a King Suite), but I was told that was reserved by someone else so I could not be offered that room even though that party wasn't there yet. I mean, why not? Well, maybe they were special.

I was told they could let me wait in the lobby for the 35 minutes, or I could take a different (smaller) room. I opted for the smaller room, after having driven 6 hours already. They said that would knock off $20 off the rate. OMG, no kidding! Not like they were doing me any favours.

So I went to the room, and found that the light above the desk didn't work. Called downstairs. "Perfect," the lady said, and told me that would go on the to-do list. I asked when someone could come fix it. Oh no, the maintenance person won't come in till Monday, so tough! ANd no, they don't have any desk lamps they could put in the room for me.

There were two coffee packets at the inroom coffee maker. Guess what, both were decafs. Nice.

Then of course I found a previous guest's dental floss right by the desk. And finger prints on the TV screen. All in all, quite a lovely experience.

Will I be back? When hell freezes over. (The above is based on my stay on July 20). Recently renovated. Spacious room. Nice toiletries. Location is great, right off I-81, with restaurants and shops nearby. Service is nice and friendly. The fitness facilities are fine, with two treadmills, weights, etc., all looking out a large window onto the backyard area with flowers etc. The fridge in the room is really tiny, so don't expect to store much in there. Coffeemaker is one of those proprietary single serve jobs. Not Keurig, so don't expect to find pods in supermarkets. Only one pod of regular and one of decaf. So if you, like me, are one of those heavy coffee drinkers, be forewarned and bring your own. No free coffee in the lobby either. Got put in a room right by the elevator, so dinging noise all night. But can't be helped, as the room I booked are located right next to elevator for some reason. Furnishing is nice. But one corner by the couch is really dark and could an additional light. Even a table lamp would be good (see picture). Other than that, a very nice hotel in a good location. Will...

My husband and I stayed here in July of this year and were excited as it appeared to be very nice and clean and we hadn't stayed there before. We got a one bedroom suite. First thing I was greeted by at the door was a sow bug... Okay, no big deal. Then found two ants and a spider. Okay... Furniture was worn and outdated. Shower looked as if it needed to be cleaned. Fine, nothing too crazy. That is, until we decided to go to bed. My husband laid down, and as I pulled back the blanket, saw something tiny... Springtails. Husband quickly got out of bed. Found one on bathroom counter and put a glass over it so staff would know what they were dealing with and could get an exterminator. C Called front desk and night shift woman was extremely nice and apologetic. Gave us a new room and told us to take our time moving.our stuff as I wanted to be sure I didn't take any creatures with me. My husband went to the new room to shower while I finished packing. A woman whom I assume to be thr head housekeeper knocked on the door and told me I had 5 minutes to get out as we had two rooms. I explained the situation but she did not seem to care. I don't understand what the rush was, as they hopefully weren't renting the room out before getting an exterminator, although I doubt it. I called my husband and as he headed to the old room to help me bring the luggage upstairs. In the meantime the head housekeeper went to the new room and checked us out of it. She then came to the old room and kicked us off the property saying we had two rooms and that she was going to charge us for both. We left and sure enough we were charged for two rooms, even though we were told we could keep the other until checkout to get our things in order and not bring any pests with us. We shouldn't have been charged for any rooms let alone two. My husband put in numerous claims for them to just be closed by the same woman who kicked us out. Not only did we have bugs in our bed, got no sleep, etc., but were charged twice (almost $500). So much for being a gold elite member, seems to mean a whole...