My wife and I stayed at the Element by Marriott San Jose Airport on September 27th, and what a…read morewonderful experience!
From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Ryan (or Brian--sorry if I got your name wrong!), who was extremely friendly and welcoming. Once you walk into the lobby, you can immediately tell this is an impressive hotel.
When we entered our room, I couldn't help but notice that it reminded me of a miniature Residence Inn! They managed to take everything you love about a Residence Inn and condense it into a smaller, beautifully designed space. The layout is excellent, and the room has just about everything you need for a comfortable stay: a refrigerator, microwave, sink, utensils, bowls, and even a stovetop. Very nice!!
And let's not forget the entertainment! YouTube, Netflix, and HGTV were all available on the TV. Cool stuff!
Now, a few things that could use some improvement.
With so much thought clearly put into the room's design, I wish they had given a little more attention to the shower.
First, the shower itself is beautiful, but once you start using soap, the floor becomes EXTREMELY slippery! Unfortunately, there were no shower mats available. In my opinion, this is an accident--and potentially a lawsuit--waiting to happen. Management really needs to address this before someone gets seriously hurt. So please, be careful when showering!
Second, the showerhead has practically NO WATER PRESSURE! It's one of those mist-style showerheads that gently sprays water instead of giving you a good, strong rinse. If you have long hair, you might want to clear your schedule because it's going to take a while to get all that shampoo out! LOL! Seriously, a showerhead with better water pressure would make a huge difference.
Another small observation for my fellow travelers: Although there are USB charging ports on both sides of the bed, there aren't any conveniently located near the desk or built into the desk lamp. For those of us who travel with laptops and other devices, that would have been a nice touch.
Now, let's talk about BREAKFAST!
Before our stay, I read a review complaining that the hotel didn't offer any hot breakfast items. Well, that certainly wasn't our experience!
They actually have a LIVE COOKING STATION, and I think the hotel should do a much better job promoting this feature! It's a wonderful touch that sets their breakfast apart from the typical hotel breakfast experience.
And let me tell you, MARIA WAS ROCKING IT!!
Maria was preparing these delicious little homemade quesadillas filled with eggs, cheese, and bacon bits. Absolutely wonderful! Not only was the food delicious, but Maria was such a friendly and delightful person. She really made breakfast special.
Management, if you're reading this, you should definitely advertise that live cooking station more prominently. It's a great selling point, and Maria deserves some recognition for the wonderful job she's doing!
And here's another tip: If they have the banana bread, GRAB A FEW! Those little treats are AWESOME!
One other thing I really appreciated was that the pastries were individually wrapped. Let's face it, not everyone practices the best hygiene around shared food. Having everything individually wrapped was a thoughtful and sanitary solution. Great job!
And finally, the jacuzzi!
I have to laugh because this might have been the smallest jacuzzi I've ever seen! LOL! But you know what? It did the job! The water was nice and hot, and on a cool San Jose evening, it felt absolutely wonderful.
Overall, this is a beautiful hotel with a lot going for it. The rooms are thoughtfully designed, the staff is welcoming, and the breakfast was a pleasant surprise. Address the slippery shower floor, improve that showerhead's water pressure, add a little USB convenience near the desk, and you've got yourself an even better experience.
My rating? 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Unfortunately, Yelp doesn't allow half-star ratings when writing a review, because that's exactly what I would give this hotel. It's not quite perfect, but it's pretty darn close!
Would my wife and I stay here again? ABSOLUTELY!
The next time we're in San Jose, the Element by Marriott San Jose Airport will definitely be on our list.
And one last thing...
ROCK ON, MARIA!! YOU MADE OUR MORNING!