Hotels - Gene Travels

Recent Hotel Stay Reviews

Hotels

Hotel Dena – Pasadena, California

I have a project in Pasadena that will last a couple of years, and as I’ve been checking in on it, I’ve been exploring different hotels in the area. For this three-night visit, I stayed at The Hotel Dena, part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio. The hotel is connected to the Pasadena Convention Center, located in the heart of a city block. At five stories tall, it doesn’t offer much in the way of views. Previously a Sheraton property, it has been rebranded under the Tribute Portfolio, a fitting choice given its eclectic and boutique-like vibe. The common areas are modest in size but

genetravels December 27, 2024 No Comments

Hotels

Hotel Hopping In Miami

5 nights, 4 hotels – 4 GREAT upgrades I spent the past week in Miami and did something I don’t usually like to do – and hotel hopped it for 5 nights. I have a large project here and will be back quite a bit. The rates in Miami and South Beach are low right now, so I decided to try a couple new hotels – although it ended up just being 1 new Marriott property. The 5 nights across hotels was also an opportunity to see what upgrades each property might offer. I will say I wasn’t disappointed in my rooms or

genetravels July 1, 2024 No Comments

Events

Marriott NY JFK Airport Grand Opening Party

We weren’t expecting to be invited to the hotels Grand Opening Party last night, but we were 😊. We booked a night at the hotel because we had an early, 12 hour non-stop flight to Oah’u Hawai’i. The Marriott New York JFK Airport and the Residence Inn by Marriott New York JFK Airport are new hotels that share a common lot close to John F. Kennedy Airport in Queen’s NY. Originally scheduled to open in 2020, the Residence Inn opened in Nov 2023, and the Marriott opening earlier this year. We stayed at the Residence Inn last December and we stayed at

genetravels May 16, 2024 No Comments

Hotels

Springhill Suites – Grand Forks, ND

I spent 3 nights at the Springhill Suites, Grand Forks ND this week. Marriott options in Grand Forks are limited to the Springhill Suites and a Fairfield Inn. I stayed at this Springhill Suites 6 years ago and it’s exactly as I remembered. I booked a King room on a AAA rate for this stay, as it was the best rate. I consistently find AAA has the best rates – AAA is well worth the $75 annual fee for the Marriott savings alone. The room was typical Springhill with the split bathroom – not like the newer/remodeled hotels that have a typical

genetravels March 1, 2024 No Comments

Hotels

Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ – Presidential Suite

We stayed 2 nights at the Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ last week. This review is for the 2nd night. We stayed here after attending the Marriott Bonvoy 5th Anniversary Party that was held at the hotel. The hotel is next to Marriott International Headquarters – the properties share a courtyard between the buildings, named after former CEO Arne M. Sorenson. I found a very good AAA rate for both nights, and the best one was the 2nd night, a Friday night for $129. The AAA rates were for a standard King room, and we were upgraded both nights. The 1st

genetravels February 25, 2024 No Comments

Hotels

Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ – 1 Bedroom King Suite

We stayed 2 nights at the Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ last week. This review is for the 1st night. We stayed here after attending the Marriott Bonvoy 5th Anniversary Party that was held at the hotel. The hotel is next to Marriott International Headquarters – the properties share a courtyard between the buildings, named after former CEO Arne M. Sorenson. I found a very good AAA rate for the 2 nights – Thursday for $179 and Friday for $129. Prior to check in, I saw in the Bonvoy app that we were upgraded to a 1 room King, corner suite.

genetravels February 25, 2024 No Comments

Hotels

Bethesda Marriott – Feb 2024

We spent 1 night at the Bethesda Marriott in Bethesda, MD this week. We traveled to Bethesda this week both for work and to attend the Marriott Bonvoy 5th Anniversary Celebration at Marriott HQ. I found a low, 29,000 point redemption for a King room which was all we needed for a single night, and the hotel was only 5 minutes from Marriott Downtown HQ where the event was being held and where we would spend the next 2 nights. This was our first visit to this hotel. We chose it over the Courtyard Bethesda that was 23,000 points for the same

genetravels February 25, 2024 No Comments

Hotels

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

Today we checked in to the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa and see that we’ve been upgraded to Signature View Casita. I spent months checking rates earlier this year, and scored a 94,000 point.2 night stay in a base King Casita. This is another great, pre-arrival upgrade. It’s our 1st time staying here, we’ll be here for 2 nights before we head back to the cold of the northeast. No pool suites were available as a complimentary upgrade, but our room is so close to the Jackrabbit pool, that it hardly matters. Our room is a fantastic upgrade, well appointed inside and plenty

genetravels November 6, 2023 No Comments

renaissance glendale AZ suite living room

Hotels

Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa

We traveled to the Phoenix area this week for the NASCAR Championship weekend and staying in Glendale again for the first 5 nights – changing it up this year and staying at the https://www.facebook.com/renaissanceglendale instead of the nearby Residence Inn. While the RI (and many hotels) are close to the Westgate Entertainment District, the only Marriott properties “on the grounds” are the Renaissance and ALoft. We like this area as it’s close to the race track, has many hotel choices, and plenty of food and entertainment options in Westgate for the time we’ll spend there. It will be nice to be

genetravels November 1, 2023 No Comments

Marriott Hotel Owing Mills Maryland Living Room Suite Upgrade

Hotels

Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre Hotel

I returned to the Marriott Owing Mills for the 1st time since getting back to Ambassador status this year. I’ve stayed at this property a lot the last 2 years as both Ambassador, then Titanium and now as Ambassador again. The property is well run with a very good staff, and I always have a good stay here. I stayed here 3 times this year as Titanium and always received the room I booked – no complaints, just an observation. Staying here again this week, with 2 back to back reservations. I checked in last last night, not asking for any upgrades and was

genetravels October 23, 2023 No Comments

Miami Skyline at Night September 2023 Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay

Hotels

Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay

Back at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay for a 12 night stay. Once again I was able to find a special member rate within the budget – I’ll also be meeting with a sales rep this week to work out a corporate rate. Juanny, my new contact here, set us up with a great room (my wife decided to join in this trip) on the 31st floor with a balcony, view of the bay, cruise ports and downtown Brickell. This is a fantastic room upgrade from the room I booked. No it’s not the Jr. Suite I had a couple weeks ago, but

genetravels September 17, 2023 No Comments

Hotels

Batimore Marriott Waterfront

Staying at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront for a couple nights this week. This is my first stay here, I’m pleased I was able to find a city view King room rate within the project budget. I arrived late last night, as I make the drive from CT to Maryland for this project – it’s just easier than flying. I’ve read other good reviews about the property for Ambassador members – this is my last stay as Titanium, I’ll hit the spend threshold Monday night at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay Check in went great at the front desk, the FDA

genetravels September 7, 2023 No Comments

Hotels

Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay

Staying 5 nights at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay this week. I come to Miami quite a bit for work, and usually stay at the Miami Airport Marriott as pricing fits the budget. Sometimes I can find a hotel in South Beach for the right price, but not usually this time of year. I have also searched this hotel in the past, but it’s usually out of my work budget price. This week I found a great member, special rate for a King, Biscayne Bay view room, 5,000 extra points per night, free self parking and 2 welcome drinks at the bar. Mon-Thurs

genetravels August 14, 2023 No Comments

Hotels

Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport BWI

We had some unexpected stays this past weekend/early part of the week – due to a mechanical breakdown of our brand new, 19 day old VW Tiguan — as a result, we spent 5 nights at 2 properties at BWI airport. After spending 2 nights at the BWI Marriott, we moved over to the Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport BWI for what was to be 2 nights, but ended up being 3 nights. I booked a standard King room, the same day using a AAA rate, for an avg nightly rate of $138. My wife and I arrived early, around 1:30pm. While there

genetravels August 11, 2023 No Comments

Hotel Stay Reviews

Recent Hotel Stay Reviews

Hotel Dena – Pasadena, California

Hotel Hopping In Miami

Marriott NY JFK Airport Grand Opening Party

Springhill Suites – Grand Forks, ND

Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ – Presidential Suite

Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ – 1 Bedroom King Suite

Bethesda Marriott – Feb 2024

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa

Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre Hotel

Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay

Batimore Marriott Waterfront

Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay

Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport BWI

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Hotel Dena – Pasadena, California

Hotel Hopping In Miami

Marriott NY JFK Airport Grand Opening Party

2024 Ford Mustang GT – National Car Rental JFK

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