For the following cease on the journey with my mother and father, we spent two nights on the 248-room Marriott Heidelberg. We had been all enthusiastic about visiting Heidelberg — I had by no means been earlier than, whereas my mother and father hadn’t been in a few years.
For these not acquainted, Heidelberg is an enthralling and historic metropolis not removed from Frankfurt, with an attractive previous city, and an idyllic setting on the Neckar River. We had an incredible time right here, and are comfortable we visited.
All that being mentioned, this was positively the least thrilling of the inns we stayed at on this journey. After I first wrote about plans for this journey, a number of readers (helpfully) suggested in opposition to staying on the Marriott Heidelberg. I had tried to rearrange our journey to chop out this resort and keep elsewhere, however simply couldn’t shuffle issues round to make all of it work in a cost-effective approach, so we adopted by on this keep.
Truthfully, in the long run we truly had a optimistic expertise, and that’s in all probability because of going into this with low expectations. Whereas the resort is a bit outdated, is positioned outdoors town heart, and can be utilized by tour teams, there are redeeming qualities, like a membership lounge with nice views, a tasty breakfast, pleasant service, and total good worth.
There are higher inns in Heidelberg, however with the precise expectations I’d gladly keep right here once more. Let’s get into the assessment…
Reserving the Marriott Heidelberg
I booked our rooms on the Marriott Heidelberg with money. The speed was €159 per evening per room, however the resort had a promotion providing 50% off a second room, as a part of a household charge, so for one room I paid simply ~€80 per evening. For a busy weekend in August, I assumed that was a superbly cheap charge, particularly given the resort charge inflation we presently see across the globe.
As some extent of comparability, if redeeming factors, the resort would have price 34,000 Bonvoy factors per evening. I worth Bonvoy factors at 0.7 cents every, that means an award keep would have price the equal of ~$238. So I paid money, as a result of I’d relatively redeem factors for doubtlessly larger worth redemptions.
Marriott Heidelberg location & parking
On the plus aspect, the Marriott Heidelberg is positioned proper on the Neckar River, so it has a reasonably setting. Nonetheless, the placement isn’t central for what guests are sometimes seeking to do. The resort is about 1.5-2 miles from the previous city and different fashionable vacationer websites.
If I had been touring alone, I’d nearly welcome that distance, since I get pleasure from a stroll like that, and it ought to take round 30-40 minutes. Nonetheless, since I used to be touring with my mother and father, we as a substitute drove into city with the automobile we rented.
There are a number of parking garages within the previous city. I wouldn’t say that discovering parking there was inconceivable, but it surely additionally took a little bit of effort, and every parking storage solely had just a few empty spots at a time.
For what it’s price, the resort has a parking storage, and costs €25 per day for parking. Whereas there’s a gate within the parking storage, it was open all through our keep, so parking is utilizing an honor system. You simply inform the entrance desk agent that you just used the storage, and so they’ll cost your room.
In the event you’re coming from Frankfurt, you possibly can count on that the drive will take round 45-75 minutes, relying on whether or not you’re going to town or airport. A prepare will take an analogous period of time.
Marriott Heidelberg foyer & check-in
Upon arrival, we had been greeted by a pleasant bellman, and pointed towards reception. The resort’s foyer has loads of seating areas, and feels fairly outdated.
I discovered it cute how the foyer had some jars of sweet, in addition to complimentary espresso within the morning.
The foyer additionally bought very busy over some hours, as this resort is used for tour teams. So generally the foyer would appear to be the beneath…
Anyway, reception was positioned contained in the foyer and to the precise. We had been rapidly helped, and the entrance desk associates had been very pleasant. They thanked me for being a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member. Whereas elite advantages technically solely apply for one room, they upgraded all three of our rooms to membership rooms, which was beneficiant.
It’s fascinating how inconsistent inns are on that entrance. Whereas inns don’t have to supply elite advantages for a couple of room, I’m pleasantly shocked by how usually it occurs.
With keys in hand, we headed as much as the fourth ground, the place our three rooms had been positioned (all subsequent to at least one one other).
Marriott Heidelberg government room
It appears that evidently the Marriott Heidelberg has began a renovation, and thus far solely the fourth (prime) ground has been renovated. For instance, beneath is what the hallway appeared like on the third ground…
In the meantime beneath is what the hallway appeared like on the fourth ground. I discover it to be a little bit of an odd renovation, as a result of the design already doesn’t look very fashionable, it simply appears much less outdated than the remainder of the resort.
I used to be assigned room 434, a king government room.
The room was snug and functionally designed. The room had an entryway with the lavatory to the left and a closet to the precise.
The room then had a king dimension mattress, a protracted desk with a desk (that had a rolling chair) and a TV, after which a cute nook by the window with a espresso desk.
This nook had a stunning view of the Neckar River.
Again close to the doorway was a espresso machine and kettle, plus a mini-fridge with out something in it.
The toilet was fairly fundamental, and had a sink, a rest room, and a bathe and tub combo.
Toiletries had been in reusable wall-mounted containers, and had been from thisworks.
Wi-Fi within the room was quick and free, and housekeeping was supplied every day.
Marriott Heidelberg government lounge
The Marriott Heidelberg government lounge is positioned on the third ground. As a membership visitor:
- You may get pleasure from complimentary breakfast within the restaurant from 6:30AM till 11AM
- The lounge is open every day from 6:30AM (7AM on weekends) till 10:30PM
- The lounge has the night comfortable hour from 5:30PM till 8PM, and dessert from 7:30PM till 9:30PM
On the within, the lounge had perhaps a dozen tables, together with eating tables seating two to 4 folks every, plus high-top seating.
Nonetheless, what I actually liked concerning the lounge was the massive outside terrace, with beautiful views.
Truthfully, what a deal with this was! Given my mother’s restricted mobility (although she was a trooper this journey — I couldn’t imagine how a lot she pushed herself), we’d normally go into city as soon as every day for an extended interval, and within the evenings we’d sit right here for just a few hours having fun with the views and exquisite climate, and having a few glasses of wine.
So far as the lounge’s food and drinks choice goes, all through the day visitors may assist themselves to espresso, tea, gentle drinks, and water. There have been additionally jars with half a dozen totally different snacks, starting from sweet to nuts.
The night comfortable hour unfold was modest, and adjusted barely each night.
The alcohol choice was restricted, and included one purple wine, one white wine, and one beer, with no liquor. Given how the area is thought for wine and beer, it will be good if the choice had been a bit extra in depth, however hey, I wasn’t about to complain, given the deal we bought.
The meals choice included veggies, chips, a number of varieties of bread, just a few small bites (onion pie, fruit bread with cream cheese, and so on.), cheese, soup, and two different sizzling dishes.
Then the dessert choice rotated, and one night included cheesecake.
Truthfully, our favourite facet of the lounge was the views and outside seating. The attendant working within the lounge was additionally pleasant, which may make a giant distinction.
Marriott Heidelberg Grill 16 breakfast
Grill 16 is the Marriott Heidelberg’s restaurant, and it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Given Heidelberg’s superb meals, we by no means had lunch or dinner right here, however we did get pleasure from breakfast every morning. Breakfast is served from 6:30AM till 11AM, and consists of a buffet.
The restaurant has each indoor and outside seating. It was fairly empty once we had breakfast early, however later within the morning bought so full that they needed to seat folks at tables within the foyer.
I assumed the buffet was glorious, each when it comes to high quality and selection. Breakfast choices included every kind of recent bread, pastries, and pretzels, veggies, chilly cuts, cheese, recent fruit, yogurt, waffles, pancakes, hardboiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and every kind of sausage, bacon, breakfast potatoes, and so on.
On prime of that, you can have made to order eggs, so I had a veggie omelet one morning, which was fairly good.
So far as drinks go, there have been bottles of water, juice, smoothies, espresso machines, and tea.
The employees had been additionally comfortable to serve espresso, and personally I most well-liked the filter espresso to the self-serve machine espresso.
Marriott Heidelberg pool, fitness center, and spa
The Marriott Heidelberg has a pool, fitness center, and spa, additionally on the bottom ground, close to reception.
The fitness center is sort of first rate, and has quite a lot of cardio tools in a single room, a collection of weights in one other room, after which a 3rd room for yoga.
The resort additionally has a pool, although that’s not one thing I used throughout our keep.
Subsequent to the pool is a locker room, in addition to a sauna.
The Marriott Heidelberg additionally has a makeshift spa, because it’s principally only a reception desk and a few small spa rooms within the fitness center.
I discovered the pricing to be fairly cheap, and if we had extra time, I might’ve booked us some appointments.
Impressions of Heidelberg
This was my first time visiting Heidelberg, so what did I feel? Let me begin by saying that we visited over a weekend in August, so I’m positive town was about as busy because it will get. We might’ve ideally visited over a weekday, however that didn’t work out when it comes to our itinerary.
Even with the crowds, all of us discovered Heidelberg to be charming, and liked our time right here. The town’s setting on the river is beautiful, as you possibly can see…
And the previous city of Heidelberg can be picturesque, with so many lovely historic buildings, cafes, and eating places.
I’d completely advocate a go to to Heidelberg, and it’s an awesome, straightforward journey from Frankfurt. Do I would like to instantly return there? No. However I’m comfortable to have seen it, and I’d gladly return some variety of years down the street.
Backside line
The Marriott Heidelberg is a big resort that’s a bit outdated, not within the heart of city, and largely caters to tour teams. Nonetheless, we loved our keep, because of having the precise expectations. The resort’s membership stage rooms are renovated, the resort has an government lounge with an attractive terrace, and the employees on the resort had been all pleasant. Given what we paid, I’d take into account that to be good worth.
Subsequent time I go to Heidelberg I’d like to take a look at Heidelberg Suites, which is a effectively regarded boutique resort nearer to the previous city. For our dates it wasn’t out there, and if it had been out there, I think about it will have been much more costly. For our functions the Marriott did the trick, although.
What do you make of the Marriott Heidelberg?