I’ve been spending a lot of time in Baltimore the last year, and usually stay at the Marriott in Owing Mills. It’s a really nice, new property, but I’ve been wanting to try some other options in the greater area.
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I’ve read good things about the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel in this and other groups, but can’t usually find a rate that’s in the budget. Last week I was able to find a Tue/Wed/Thu night rate and decided to book it.
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I asked MaureenTravels if she wanted to join me, she agreed – so we headed out in our new VW Tiguan for a 3 night work stay. I booked a regular King room and was upgraded to a king room on the 12th/Lounge floor. This is a BIG hotel, plan on doing a LOT of walking if you’re not near the elevator 
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Our room was nice, well sized and had a little view towards one side of the harbor entrance/greenspace. We did find the clothes drawer/storage space to be a little lacking in the room for 2 people, especially given how much empty space there is, but otherwise a good room, with a comfortable bed.
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We did use the lounge for breakfast and some evening snacks during our stay. Ms. Millie is a HOOT and runs a good lounge. We didn’t eat at the in-hotel restaurant – the menu was really limited, and besides there are plenty of other walkable options nearby.
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We left the hotel around 3pm, grabbed some lunch and headed back towards CT. About 30 miles from Baltimore we had a mechanical breakdown on our 19 day old, car with 1,086 miles on it – while we were on the highway. Yeah that wasn’t really fun and led to our car being towed back to Baltimore and us having to get an Uber off the highway — the tow driver could not allow us to ride in the cab!!
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3 hours after our breakdown, as night was approaching, we finally got an Uber to pick us up on the highway and he headed over towards BWI so we had Hotel and rental car options.
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