Overview: London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq.

In October, I had the pleasure of visiting the UK with my good pal Dan, who had determined to tag alongside to see a little bit of London and visited considered one of our mutual pal who resides in Bristol.

Following a refreshing flight on British Airways’s signature Membership World enterprise class, it was time to go concerning the city. I’d already determined that the place we should always keep was within the swanky Mayfair district on the centre of London, which isn’t for the faint of pockets.

The London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. match our wants for centrality in London, accessible because it was by foot, transit, and taxi alike. The keep itself was fairly first rate, save for a really terrible check-in expertise.

London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. – Reserving

Reserving was made through the Marriott app, which is my most well-liked methodology of reserving as a result of it crashes lower than the desktop web site does. Costs for my dates have been listed at about £329 ($525 CAD) for the one night time I booked.

I didn’t really feel like paying that a lot, however managed to search out availability for a redemption of 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors. I additionally utilized a Suite Night time Award to provide myself the most effective likelihood of getting a bigger room, as London resorts are sometimes fairly cramped as a result of metropolis’s restricted house.

Whereas my redemption was a hair underneath the goal worth of 1 cent per level from our Factors Valuations, it did the trick of getting us a room in downtown London for $0, which was adequate. Happily, my Suite Night time Award additionally cleared, and so I knew 5 days previous to check-in that the room was going to be a One Bed room Suite.

If you happen to’re heading to the London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. and plan on paying money in your keep, remember to get in contact with a journey advisor with entry to Marriott Luminous. You’ll pay the identical as the most effective out there refundable charge, however you’ll take pleasure in a set of advantages, corresponding to free breakfast, a room improve, and extra. 

London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. – Location

The lodge, as its identify would counsel, is situated proper subsequent to Grosvenor Sq. in Mayfair. This neighbourhood is a hub of the enterprise and diplomatic communities of London, and comes with the worth tags to match.

Mayfair can be dwelling to many historic buildings, corresponding to the previous headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander Common Dwight D. Eisenhower, and each an official embassy and consulate of Brazil, which tickled the flowery of my Brazilian journey companion Dan to no finish. 

The sprawling Hyde Park is simply down the road from the lodge, providing a beautiful inexperienced house in the course of the bustling metropolis.

Royal lovers can bask within the opulence of Buckingham Palace and its environs, which is inside strolling distance of the lodge.

Accessing the London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. is simple, because the closest Tube station is Bond Avenue.

From London Heathrow, you’ll want round 45 minutes both by transit or by automobile, relying on site visitors. 

London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. – Test-in

Dan and I arrived on the lodge following an exhausting in a single day flight from Rio de Janeiro. Whereas British Airways’s service was impeccable, there was nothing the pilots might do to alleviate the heavy turbulence we skilled crossing the equator.

So once we arrived, we have been in lower than stellar moods. Happily, we have been capable of take the Heathrow Specific to Paddington Station, and from there, an inexpensive cab fare to the lodge.

The constructing’s pink brick classical design gave a very good first impression, however because the saying goes, don’t choose a ebook by its cowl. This was the place issues began falling aside.

After we arrived round 3pm, we have been knowledgeable by the entrance desk that they couldn’t assure rooms could be prepared previous to 3pm, and requested us to attend. I additionally was informed they’d chosen giving me 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors for my welcome amenity.

I wasn’t considering clearly, however ought to have stood my floor underneath Marriott’s elite ensures, as lodge workers making unilateral selections for elite members defeats your entire objective of turning into Titanium. Nevertheless, it was an extended flight, I used to be hangry, and didn’t need to lose my mood so early into this leg of the journey.

So, no drawback, off my pal and I went for a post-flight gorge down the road on the Mayfair Chippy. I admit it’s touristy to instantly scarf fish and chips as a primary act in London, however we’d barely slept and have been adjusting to the time zone shock.

Upon our return round 45 minutes later, the room nonetheless wasn’t prepared. I used to be aggravated, however needed to take photos of the entrance desk.

This was after I was requested politely to not take photos of the entrance desk as workers have been at work. I revered the choice, however wasn’t sure if this was an actual coverage or simply as a result of they suspected I could be grouchy.

Regardless, Dan and I sat down for an additional half-hour and chatted.

At 4pm, the room nonetheless wasn’t prepared. This wasn’t good, so we went to the lounge to calm down (the lounge, by the way in which, was glorious, however extra on that later).

After we returned at 4:30pm, the room nonetheless wasn’t prepared. I acquired a whole lot of apologies from the workers, however not a lot in the way in which of a prepared  One Bed room Suite. Lastly, at 5pm, the room was prepared, and we entered through the tired-looking elevators.

By this time limit I used to be too drained to argue, nevertheless it actually caught out like a sore thumb simply how dangerous the check-in course of was. I didn’t need it to dampen my temper of the room, although, which was fairly good and spacious by London requirements, if maybe a bit worn down.

London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. – One Bed room Suite

Give credit score the place credit score’s due: regardless of the poor check-in expertise, the workers gave us good help in getting our luggage to the room, and the room itself was fairly good and totally stocked with a one of many nicest array of free facilities than I’ve seen at most resorts. 

The placing blue and white color scheme distracted a bit of from the chipped plaster and worn edges one might see; nonetheless, given the age of the lodge and its excessive utilization, this may be forgiven. There was additionally a spacious closet within the entry corridor with some bathrobes, in addition to a buffet and minibar with complimentary bottled water and goodies.

The principle residing space was monumental by London requirements, boasting a desk, a eating desk with chairs, a lounging couch space, a bar high, and a tv. I do know this sounds regular by North American requirements, nevertheless it was the most important lodge room I’ve ever been in in Europe!

Sadly, the tv couldn’t stream through smartphones, nevertheless it did have an English TV license so the BBC was out there. The sofa, then again, folded out into a big and cozy mattress.

As for the precise bed room, the king mattress was in a big room of its personal, although I wasn’t certain if it was a North American king or truly extra of a queen mattress. Both means, it was delicate and comfy and I collapsed into it instantly after snapping the pictures on this evaluate.

It additionally featured a nice view overlooking Mayfair.

The toilet was by far the nicest a part of the suite, because it featured an all-white marble inside, beneficiant walk-in bathe, numerous premium facilities, and many house. The stream charge of the water was additionally good, which I’d been a bit involved about because the lodge is on the older aspect, however I’m completely happy to report that we had no points.

As soon as once more, let’s give credit score the place it’s due: the facilities have been a number of the nicest I’ve ever seen, and beneficiant in parts, too. Given the decrease price-point of this Marriott to different luxurious properties in downtown London, it was refreshing to be supplied with these accoutrements.

London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. – Govt Lounge

For sure, the most effective a part of the lodge was my expertise on the Govt Lounge. Whereas the check-in course of was needlessly delayed, the lounge nearly made up for it each on the night time that I arrived and the morning after throughout breakfast. 

The night I attended, there was all-you-can-enjoy self-poured beer, in addition to plentiful packets of chips (or “crisps” as they are saying throughout the pond), and many house to take a seat down and calm down.

Following the lengthy flight, entrance desk points, and simply common frustration, all of those felt like they have been despatched straight from heaven. Despite the fact that the Govt Lounge is within the basement, don’t let that dissuade you!

I used to be knowledgeable the lounge was open every single day, with breakfast from 7am–10:30am, and snacks and drinks within the night from 4:30–8pm. Higher but, non-alcoholic drinks and small snacks have been out there all day every single day.

The breakfast was truly one of many higher ones I skilled throughout the journey, and for my cash it could have even beat out the extra up-market JW Marriott London Grosvenor Home simply down the road. It consisted each of each kind of fruit and pastry one can think about, in addition to a full English breakfast setup full with tomatoes and baked beans for decent meals.

This could be verboten on this aspect of the pond, however I believe I’ve been changed into a convert of English-style, non-stringy bacon. The salt and fats contents are pure greasy delight!

General, the lounge was a totally contrasting expertise to check-in, and the workers who labored within the lounge have been a lot friendlier.

London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. – Eating

The lodge is dwelling to each The Baggage Room, a speakeasy-style bar, in addition to Fortunate Cat, a Gordon Ramsay-backed restaurant.

Personally, I had neither the vitality nor the financial inclination towards both, however thought it was price mentioning for the fullness of this evaluate.

I really like Kitchen Nightmares as a lot as anybody else, however in a metropolis as sprawling as London, there’s multiple movie star chef whose eating places one can patronize in spite of everything.

Conclusion

By way of the pure laborious product, I discovered the London Marriott Resort Grosvenor Sq. to be passable.

Whereas the room was a bit of bit worn, and the elevators and stairwells confirmed their age, there was nothing fallacious with the rooms in any means. Plus, the precise facilities supplied and the scale greater than made up for any wear-and-tear.

Nevertheless, my frustration has to have include the check-in course of. Not having a room out there for a buyer, even whether it is an improve, on the allotted time isn’t acceptable, least of all when charging over $500 (CAD) an evening. Furthermore, elite advantages shouldn’t be chosen for Bonvoy members earlier than they even arrive.

The lesson I discovered from that is that it’s OK to battle in your personal advantages occasionally. All this being stated, the total English breakfast actually hit the spot.