Review of Courtyard by Marriott in Wichita, Kansas

If you have ever traveled to Wichita, Kansas then you know there are many places to stay. Recently on a business trip I had the privilege to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott in Old Town. You take exit 6B off I-135 and turn left on 2nd street. It's a few blocks down the street and located on the right. This isn't the only Marriott in town, but this is a very nice place to stay. Why stay here? Well, this isn't your usual hotel with the nice front yard and spacious side yard, etc. As a matter of fact I was taken aback when I pulled up to the front of this building. The building itself is almost on the street. I've been to a few hotels and I have yet to see one that is so close to the street. Valet parking is almost a must. This is an added cost, but it was covered in my trip so I enjoyed it. I didn't take a close look at my surroundings when I pulled in due to the fact I was on a one way street and there were no side lanes to pull out of traffic. The hotel has a covered circle drive but it will only hold so many cars. It was almost full when I managed to pull in. I wasn't too impressed by the building itself but once I went through those doors, I was impressed.

The inside is beautiful. I know it's just a hotel, but I've been to some hotels that weren't as impressive as this one. The colors were relaxing and the atmosphere wasn't like a hotel at all. There were open rooms on the side for people to sit in to visit, a computer room, exercise room and pool/whirlpool. They even have a coffee shop open until 8 p.m. on weeknights and 7 p.m. on weekends. The atmosphere in the coffee shop was nice and peaceful, you could visit or take a book and read it. There needs to be more bookstores that take the hint and combine those ingrediants and they would draw a crowd. The coffee shop also sold sandwiches and desserts along with coffees, teas and mochas. The meeting rooms are spacious and well equipped.

The guest rooms are super nice. (The view from the window in my room wasn't the best but the room itself made up for the view outside.) The bed was actually comfortable and my room was spotless. The sink in the bathroom was surrounded by dark gray marbled stone. That's not something I see everyday in a hotel. It was actually a room you could stay in and do your computer work and not feel like you were being punished. They do have free internet hookups in the rooms so if you're on a business trip you can take your laptop and work to your hearts content.

You don't have to spend all your time in the hotel if you don't wish to. This hotel is close to the Mosley Street Melodrama, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Museum of World Treasures, Warren Old Town Theatre, The Spice Merchant and several other spots. Some if not most of these are within walking distance. So if you're planning a trip to Wichita you might find time to visit the Courtyard by Marriott Wichita at Old Town.