Indulge in Downtown Indy: Marriott's Unforgettable Stay Awaits!
Indulge in Downtown Indy: A Marriott Stay That's… Well, Let's Talk About It. (Honest Review)
Okay, so here's the deal. I just hauled myself out of the "Indulge in Downtown Indy" Marriott, and honestly? My brain is still spinning. It was… an experience. Not bad, not amazing, just… an experience. Buckle up, because this review isn't going to sugarcoat anything. Prepare for a rambling, slightly chaotic, and hopefully hilarious breakdown of my time there.
(Metadata Time! Gotta play the game, right?)
- Keywords: Indianapolis Hotels, Downtown Indy Hotels, Marriott Indianapolis, Accessible Hotels, Spa Hotels Indianapolis, Pool Hotels, Fitness Center Indianapolis, Free Wi-Fi Hotels, Pet-Friendly Hotels (Disclaimer: My stay was pet-free, but I'll mention it!), Restaurant Indianapolis, Business Travel Indianapolis, Family-Friendly Hotels Indianapolis
- SEO Focus: Long-tail keywords, detailed descriptions, user-centric language.
(Accessibility - Trying to be inclusive, but I'm no expert!)
Right, so the accessibility. I'm not disabled, so I can't fully speak to this, but I made a point of looking around. There's a lot of stuff listed on the website, and they seem to try. Elevators are a must-have (check!), and they've made an effort with ramps and stuff in public areas. The website also claims they have accessible rooms, which is good. But honestly, until someone with real-world needs confirms it, I have to give it a tentative "thumbs up, but verify."
(On-Site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges - Can't say for sure, but things look… promising?)
I saw a few dining options, including their restaurant. I'm not sure how accessible that specific restaurant is, but the public areas should be accessible. I'd call ahead and ask specific questions about maneuvering around tables, the bar, etc. Just my two cents, and someone with accessibility needs should confirm this independently.
(Wheelchair Accessible - See above – hopeful but needs verification from someone who actually uses a wheelchair.)
(Internet - Oh, the Internet.)
Free Wi-Fi is a godsend, and yes, it's in all the rooms! Woohoo! (and a "hooray" for free Wi-Fi in public areas too!) Thank goodness, because I needed to catch up on cat videos while I was there. Internet [LAN] is also an option (apparently, for the dinosaurs among us, and I may have used it for a nostalgia trip!) The internet services themselves were fine, nothing to write home about, but they worked.
(Things to Do & Ways to Relax - Let's delve into this, shall we?)
Okay, this is where things get interesting. This hotel clearly wants you to relax. They're pushing the "Indulge" thing hard. Let's break it down.
Spa & Sauna: Okay, the Spa. This is where it goes from "meh" to… well, let's just say I had a moment. They have a whole list of treatments. As someone who’s never had a body wrap (too claustrophobic!), I had to skip that! I DID, however, (and I’m telling you this for a reason) hit up their Sauna and Steamroom which were… adequate. Fine, not exactly the tropical paradise I was picturing, but they did the job after a long day. The pool with a view was nice.
Fitness Center & Gym/Fitness: (A confession, first.) I meant to use the fitness center. I really did! I packed my workout gear, I mentally prepared to become one with the treadmill… Then the pull of the room service menu was just too strong. So, no, I did not work out. I can, however, tell you that it looked decent through the window. And while the equipment itself was present, I'm not exactly sure I could muster a real assessment without actually hitting the gym.
Massage & Body Scrub: Again, I didn't indulge in these, but the menu looked enticing. I'm more of a "stuff my face with pizza" kind of relaxer, but hey, options are good, right?
Swimming Pool: The outdoor swimming pool was a decent-sized pool. Nothing overly impressive, but it offered a relaxing option with views (depending on its location relative to the building's position).
Foot Bath: Nope!
(Cleanliness and Safety - Pandemic-Era Reality!)
They're trying. Okay? They are trying. The hotel is full of signs about all the things they are doing to keep you safe. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Supposedly, yes. Hand sanitizer everywhere? Yep. They've removed shared stationary, which is a good move, really. Staff members (to their credit) wear masks and were trained in safety protocol. And that’s all I wanted, really.
There were some things, though…
- Room sanitization opt-out available? Didn't see that specifically, but there were options to decline daily housekeeping, which is similar.
- Rooms sanitized between stays? I hope so! They say as much…
- Safe dining setup? The restaurant had tables spaced apart. At least they were trying hard.
- Individually-wrapped food options? Yes, they appeared to offer this.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? They tried! The lobby was spacious.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services? They mentioned it.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - Where the Real Fun Begins!)
This is where the review gets… well, hungry.
Restaurants & Bars: They have a couple of restaurants. (No, I didn’t try all of them.) The main one, however, was open and serving up… well, food.
Breakfast [buffet]: They have a breakfast buffet. Yeah, I went. Look, I'm a sucker for a buffet. It's in my DNA. Was it the best buffet ever? No. But it was… breakfast. And they had, among other things, a Western breakfast and an Asian breakfast (not as good as actual Asian food, of course). I think there was even coffee/tea in the restaurant. A pretty decent spread. I’d say they had a good breakfast service.
Room service [24-hour]: This is where it gets REAL. I was starving one night and ordered room service. The menu was pretty decent. I had a burger, and fries. They got it mostly right! (essential condiments, and everything!)
Poolside bar: I don't recall seeing a poolside bar, but perhaps my mind was elsewhere.
Coffee shop: Yes, somewhere to get my caffeine fix! And sometimes, that is all you need.
Snack bar: Yes, there was one somewhere.
Everything else: Okay, they had A la carte in restaurant. I did not try. Also, they had Alternative meal arrangement. I did not try that either.
(Services and Conveniences - The Little Things!)
Daily housekeeping? Yes, thank goodness. I am lazy.
Concierge? Yep, helpful folks!
The Essential Staples: Cash withdrawal? Sure. Cashless payment? Of course, because it's the 21st century. Laundry service? Yep. Dry cleaning? Probably, but I didn't need it. Luggage storage? Yep. Elevator? (Already mentioned, yes.) (Also, they had an Ironing service).
The Weird Stuff:
- Shrine? Didn't see one, but hey, maybe I missed it.
- Smoking area? Yes. Gross.
- Invoice provided? They gave me one, yes.
- Convenience store? Yup, snacks and overpriced toothpaste. The essentials!
- Car park [on-site]? Yes. Car park [free of charge]? No but you can find free ones around.
- Currency exchange? Doubt it (and you won't need to.)
(For the Kids - Bringing the Brat Pack!)
- Babysitting service? They offered it.
- Family/child friendly? Seemed like it.
- Kids meal? Probably.
- Other Kid stuff? I didn't have kids with me, so I couldn't provide a thorough analysis of their appeal. From what I saw, they are family-friendly.
(Access - Security, and All That Jazz)
- CCTV in common areas and outside property? Yes.
- Front desk [24-hour]? Yes.
- Security [24-hour]? Yes.
- Fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, etc.? Hopefully, yes!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a whirlwind trip to Indianapolis, specifically, the… wait for it… Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Sounds glamorous, right? Hold your horses. My suitcase is barely unpacked from the last trip, so this is already off to a messy start. Here's what could happen over the next few days, assuming I don't lose my mind (or my room key) first.
Indianapolis Mishap & Marriott Musings: A Totally Unprofessional Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & (Mostly) Serene Orientation
- 1:00 PM - Arrival & Check-In Chaos: Okay, so the flight was… let's just say the pre-boarding line was a masterclass in passive-aggressive jostling. I swear, people will elbow their own grandmas for overhead bin space. Finally landed in Indy, cabbed it to the Marriott (honestly, the driver seemed like he’d rather be anywhere else – I feel ya, buddy), and checked in. Fingers crossed the room isn't right next to the ice machine. That's hotel room hell.
- 1:30 PM - Room Reconnaissance & Immediate Regret: Whew. Room is… acceptable. View of… something. Can’t quite tell what. Might be a parking lot. Already regretting not packing a decent pillow. Seriously, hotel pillows are the devil's fluffy offspring.
- 2:00 PM - A Quest for Caffeine & Mild Panic: Gotta fuel up. Found a Starbucks in the hotel lobby. The line? Long. The barista? Clearly seen better days. The coffee? Adequate. The mild panic bubbling beneath the surface from realizing I haven’t fully planned anything? Significant. This is where the real adventure begins.
- 2:30 PM - Canal Walk Stroll & Overenthusiastic Observations: Decided to tackle the Canal Walk. They said it's beautiful. They weren't lying, but I’m easily amused. The water is… well, water. The architecture? Kind of… there. I saw a duck. A lone, slightly judgmental duck. It judged my lack of preparedness with a sideways glance. "Get it together," it quacked, basically. Felt called out.
- 4:00 PM - The Art Museum: Lost and Found (and Mostly Just Lost): Tried to find the Indianapolis Museum of Art or Newfields because it seemed like a good idea. Directions were… questionable. After a semi-epic journey involving a wrong bus, a surly taxi driver, and a existential crisis brought on by a map, I finally arrived. The art? Some of it was… art. Some of it was just… stuff. But I spent like, an hour staring at one painting I think was supposed to be a cat, that looked like a misshapen potato. I’m a sophisticated art critic now.
- 6:00 PM – Dinner Disaster (or Deliciousness? We'll See): Found a highly-rated Italian place near the hotel. Reservations were apparently a must. Cue the "solo travel woes" vibe. Managed to snag a seat at the bar, and oh boy, did I eat. Pasta, sauce, garlic bread. All the carbs. All the deliciousness! Or maybe I just inhaled it because I was starving. Either way, no regrets.
- 8:00 PM – Hotel Room Debauchery (aka, Reading & Early Bedtime): Back in the room. Realized I left my book at home. Sigh. Watched some terrible TV. Considered ordering room service potato chips and cheese balls, but resisted. (For now.) The existential dread is slowly creeping back in. But, hey, at least I’m horizontal.
Day 2: Race Cars, Food Crazes & (Probably) More Existentialism
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast Battle: The hotel breakfast buffet. A true spectacle. The struggle over who will get the last mini-muffin is real. Managed to snag a lukewarm scrambled egg and a sad-looking piece of fruit. Fueling for the day!
- 10:00 AM - Indy 500 Fever (or, I Saw a Race Car): Okay, so I'm not a race car aficionado. But, hey, it's Indy, you have to do something with cars, right? Went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The cars are… shiny. Loud. Impressive. I felt very, VERY small standing next to a piece of metal that could go faster than my brain can process. The whole thing left me feeling strangely… contemplative. Like, "Wow, humans can do incredible things and they can crash at high speeds. Life, man.
- 1:00 PM - Lunchtime Lament (or, Triumph of the Stomach): Headed to the famed St. Elmo Steak House. Waited forever – because, of course I did. But! The shrimp cocktail. Oh. My. GOD. Seriously. Best shrimp cocktail EVER. My taste buds did a happy dance. It was a religious experience, and I'm not even Catholic. A bit pricey, but worth it for the shrimp. My stomach, however, will possibly be complaining later.
- 3:00 PM - Monument Circle Meltdown (or, Finding a View): The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center of the city is pretty awe-inspiring. Climbed to the top. Indy looks… flat. Lots of buildings. Not as exciting as the shrimp cocktail. More contemplation about the meaning of life.
- 4:30 PM - Coffee. Again: Needed another caffeine boost. Found a cute little coffee shop. Local coffee, the real deal. Felt like a local. Briefly.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner: Culinary Roulette: Decided to try a new place. Walked in without a reservation. "You're alone, so we can squeeze you in," they said. What a way to make a girl feel! The food? Good. Ambience? A little pretentious. My inner gremlin was itching for some more shrimp and carbs.
- 8:00 PM - Back to the Room – Netflix & the Ever-Present Question: Back at the hotel. What is that smell? Is it me? Is it the room? No. It's the mystery of life and the ever-present question of, "What am I doing with my life?" Answer: Probably watching terrible TV and eating snacks.
Day 3: Departure & Existential Resolution (Maybe)
- 9:00 AM - The Breakfast Tango: Back to the hotel breakfast. This time I knew the system. Took the last mini-muffin. No regrets.
- 10:00 AM - Last-Minute Souvenir Scramble: Realized I needed to get some gifts. Scrambled to the gift shop. Bought some generic touristy stuff. Panic buying at its finest.
- 11:00 AM - Headed to the airport: Checked out. Took a cab. This time the driver was nicer. Maybe I'm less annoying on the last day.
- 1:00 PM - Departure & The Aftermath: Flight home. Reflecting on life, the universe, and everything. Indy was… an experience. Would I go back? Maybe. Probably not next week. But the shrimp cocktail? Definitely worth another trip. Oh, and the existential stuff? Still working on that.
Post-Trip Thoughts:
This itinerary, as you can see, was not perfect. It involved a lot of eating, a lot of wandering, and a healthy dose of self-reflection (aka, existential angst). But hey, that's life, right? It's messy, unpredictable, and full of shrimp cocktails. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap and a serious re-evaluation of my life choices. Until next time, Indy!
Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel: Your Luxurious Gateway to the Gateway Arch!
Indulge in Downtown Indy: Marriott's Unforgettable Stay Awaits! (But Seriously, Will It?) - A Messy FAQ
(Because let's be real, "unforgettable" is a HIGH bar. I've forgotten what I had for breakfast...)
Okay, Okay, Okay. So What *Actually* Makes This Marriott "Special"? Is It Just... Downtown?
Alright, alright, let's get down to brass tacks. "Downtown" is the biggest selling point, right? You're smack-dab in the middle of everything. Walking distance to, like, a gazillion restaurants. And the *Circle*! Seriously, *THE* Circle. Okay, I'll grant you the location is pretty killer. Though I swear, I got turned around like a lost puppy trying to find the garage the first night. Pure chaos. Maybe I just needed more coffee. They do have a decent coffee bar, which is a plus, although the line was a little... intense on Saturday morning. I did manage to snag a croissant though. A GOOD croissant. So fine, location gets a thumbs up, assuming you survive the parking situation.
The Rooms. Are They... Clean? And Comfortable? Pray Tell.
Clean? Generally, yes. Comfortable? Sort of depends on your definition of "comfortable". The beds weren't, you know, sinking-into-a-cloud levels of amazingness. More like... solid, reliable, beds. Which, hey, is sometimes all you need after a day of walking around and pretending you know your way around.
And let's talk pillows. The pillow situation was a *disaster*. One was way too fluffy, and the other was basically a concrete brick. I ended up using my jacket as a pillow because sleep deprivation is *not* a joke. I should have called down for some extra ones, which they probably have, but I'm awkward and shy. So... lesson learned, I guess? Bring your own pillows if you're picky.
That "Unforgettable" Experience. What's *That* Supposed To Be? Is It Just Marketing Hype? Spill the Tea!
"Unforgettable"... Okay, okay, I'll confess. I was *expecting* fireworks. Maybe a singing concierge? Alas, not quite. But! ...There was this one thing. The concierge, bless her heart, recommended a tiny little Italian place down the street – **Literally**, like, around the corner and one block over – called "Luigi's." And you know what? It was *amazing*. Pasta cooked to perfection. The tiramisu? To die for. I'm not even a dessert person, normally. I ordered a SECOND plate. A second plate! I felt like a cartoon character who just ate the best thing in the world!
So, the "unforgettable" experience? Actually, it wasn't necessarily the hotel itself, but that *one* perfect dinner. It was the unexpected. The stumble upon something wonderful. That's what made it memorable. The hotel? It was a solid base camp for that adventure. And hey, *that's* worth something...right?
The Hotel's Amenities. The Pool? The Gym? Do Tell! (And Be Honest!)
The pool? I didn't even *see* the pool. I was too busy inhaling pasta. Honestly, I don't do pools. I'm a land-dweller. But the gym... Ah, the gym. It looked modern! And...empty. Which is a plus for us, who prefer to lift weights in peace and quiet, instead of trying to fight over machines with a bunch of show-offs. But what I really wanted, deep down inside, was a *hot tub*. A good, relaxing hot tub to melt all my stresses away. Alas, no hot tub. The lack of a hot tub was a minor tragedy, I'm not gonna lie.
Parking. The Dreaded Parking. Give Me Real Talk.
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room: PARKING. Downtown parking is never fun. You're either paying an arm and a leg, or you're circling the block like a vulture. This Marriott has its own garage, which is convenient. BUT! Be prepared to pay a hefty daily fee. And, like I said earlier, finding it at first was a bit of a puzzle. I wandered around, muttering under my breath, feeling like a lost tourist. After 10 minutes, I finally found it. So, get those GPS directions LOCKED AND LOADED. And maybe pack some extra patience and some cash. You'll need it.
Food/Dining Options *Inside* the Hotel. Any Good? Or Should I Just Abandon Ship?
They have a restaurant, sure. And a bar! Breakfast was... fine. Standard hotel breakfast fare. Eggs. Bacon. The usual. Honestly, I didn't spend a ton of time there, because, HELLO, Luigi's! I'm not judging, but I would recommend exploring the neighborhood. There are tons of restaurants to try. You are downtown, after all. Go forth and eat! Just... try not to go overboard on the tiramisu... your waistline, and your wallet, will thank you later. Okay, maybe not the wallet. That's another story.
What about the Staff? Are They, You Know, *Helpful* Or Just Going Through the Motions?
The staff... were generally nice, I think. Definitely not rude. They weren't overwhelmingly friendly or, you know, overly chatty. Perfectly… professional. The concierge, as I mentioned before, was the MVP. She was genuinely helpful and I think that’s what pushed the stay a bit more over the top. They definitely knew what they were doing, which, hey, is all you really need from a hotel staff, right? The rest is just gravy.
Would You Go Back? Seriously, Would You?
Hmm... Honestly? If the price was right, and if I could score a room on a quiet floor (because some of those party people were keeping me up!), and IF Luigi's was still open, then yeah. I'd go back. It's a solid hotel, a great location, and that pasta... that pasta haunts my dreams. But next time, I'M bringing my own pillows. And maybe earplugs.
So yeah, it's not *the* most unforgettable stay, but it certainly wasn't bad. Just...manage your expectations, pack your own pillows, and for goodness sake, go to Luigi's!
Post a Comment for "Indulge in Downtown Indy: Marriott's Unforgettable Stay Awaits!"