Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa

I was here for a conference and the convention spaces were nice, well lit and very accommodating. No room seemed too overcrowded. The tent room was the only small negative but on a HOT day is well welcome...the AC vents blow at head height when sitting down and if you don't want your hair to move, sit somewhere else, it was like sitting a windstorm! The rooms are typical hotel rooms, nothing fancy. The elevators are a little tricky because it seemed that some of them dont go to every floor.. I wouldn't pick this hotel for me to stay in with the many others downtown close to more attractions, but for a conference, this hotel will do. I did eat at the bar one day for lunch, and t did take some time to get food out and paid for, but when you have 75-100 people break for lunch at the same time, that is expected...but you would expect the hotel to be staffed better for those occasions. Read less

Gracious and hardworking front desk and wait staff; cozy rooms; great location in Lexington near I75. Very cold indoor pool. I saw multiple other hotel guest families with kids try to get in then give up after a few minutes. It’s a lovely pool otherwise, with a generous sized warm whirlpool we enjoyed. Took three phone calls to try to get connecting rooms -after making reservation, then the morning and afternoon of the event—and were only able to get rooms next to one another after great effort on the part of the staff. Have stayed here previously for a couple’s overnight and loved the spa and the grounds with the magnificent mansion, with proximity to the Legacy Trail for walking and cycling. Read less

I got a little nervous before this trip reading some of the other more recent reviews, but was overall satisfied with my stay at the Griffin Gate Marriott. I'll agree with some of the reviewers--it is an older building that could use a little updating, especially outside. And I absolutely think it's ridiculous that they charge a resort fee...having a swimming pool doesn't make a hotel a resort. The daily resort fee was especially frustrating because I was there with a group for a conference and we were in session all day and had no time to take advantage of the amenities anyways. Here were my primary take-a-ways from a five day/four night stay at the hotel: The good: We found the hotel restaurant to be really good--the food was very good and the staff were friendly. The conference food was also decent, as were the conference facilities. My hotel room was clean and updated for the most part. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful--we often stopped at the front desk to ask for dinner recommendations, etc. The bad: While my room was clean and updated, the toilet didn't flush properly and my bed was hard as rocks, but as I wasn't in the room much, and mattresses are so subjective, I won't complain about that. I found it odd that I had a balcony with a lovely view, but it was locked such that I couldn't open the door. Everyone I spoke with who had balconies said the same. I stayed a Friday through Tuesday at the hotel. My room overlooked a huge tent...which unfortunately had private events booked in it with DJs until midnight on both Friday and Saturday night. I found this incredibly frustrating--no sleep for me on those nights. They did offer to switch my room, but as I was already unpacked and settled, I declined. I cannot imagine why they would put outdoor entertainment spaces right below guest rooms. What if I'd had children that couldn't stay up until midnight? I could hear every word the DJs said, as if the party was right in my room. SO FRUSTRATING. I was also disappointed, as I always am, when a hotel doesn't offer recycling. I feel guilty every single time I throw out an aluminum can or plastic water bottle. Finally, while it was really nice to have a Starbucks in the lobby, each morning before the conference started for the day, there was a line out the door of people wanting their coffee and not once did I see more than one employee working in there. I can't imagine why they couldn't staff it better, at least first thing in the morning when people especially want their coffee! Like I said, a mix of good and bad. A lot of what seemed like avoidable frustrations. I suppose I would stay here again, but I would make absolute certain to ask for a room far away from the outdoor entertainment space! Read less