The location is exceptional. I don't think it's possible to get a better hotel view of the falls. Seriously. First, parking. The sign really did say $75 per day. When I asked if there were any discounts (senior, airline, etc) they said oh, yes but it would be $40 per day which was still pretty high but that was the only choice. When you walk in, the atmosphere will confuse you; it's well decorated but there is a smell as soon as the doors slide open that I can only describe as being akin to a backyard compost pile (earthy, smell of decaying plant/grass). After waiting in line for less than 5 minutes, I was asked to wait while they "checked the room" before giving me the keys. Forty-five minutes later, I had the keys. Evidently the room I had originally been assigned was given to someone else (that's okay - it happens) but it took them 45 minutes to find another room that they claimed would be a complimentary upgrade. It turned out to be exactly what I had booked in the first place.The rooms are kinda clean but I don't think they get a thorough cleaning but maybe twice a year. One of the beds was reeeally squeaky so we used the other with was good. The bathroom cleanliness was on the high side of average but the real unexpected aspect was the hot water. Usually, you don't get enough hot water or you have to wait a few minutes for it however this was different; there was nothing but hot water - from both spiggots or from the shower. Washing your hands, brushing your teeth, and especially showering were not pleasant at all. I complained the first and second mornings and nothing was done. No maintenance or anything. The third morning I offered the duty manager $100 for each minute he could stand in the shower stream (with a bathing suit) only because I had already learned that one would receive serious burns even before a minute would elapse. I reminded him that it was a liability issue and if someone's child fell in, the results would be horrible. So for that last night that we were staying, we again received "a complimentary room upgrade for the inconvenience." This room turned out to be at least 30% smaller with a window that was also 30% smaller but was also partially obscured by an exterior support structure of the building. To me, it wasn't an upgrade - it was definitely a downgrade but seeing as we were checking out in 10 hours, we just wanted to take a shower and sleep. Upon checking out, we waited another 45 minutes (they were pretty busy and doing their best). By the time we got to the desk we were already 20 minutes late leaving for the airport. So, we checked out, got our receipt and ran. While driving to the airport, we noticed a lot of billing discrepancies; no parking discount, a $124.14 charge for a Caesar Salad and a half cup of tuna poke that should have totaled about $40 (even that's pretty steep). I had ordered it at the restaurant and was going to bring it back to the room and they said, 'oh, that's okay, we'll just bring it up to you. Oh, by the way, there was another charge on the final bill of $40.14 that I think was the restaurant but it was coded as 'Lobby.' Overall, we were overcharged by $230 in erroneaous charges. Upon contacting them, no manager was available and there was zero documentation of any of the negative issues that we had. All I got was stonewalling. Therefore, I'll be contacting American Express about the fake charges and file a dispute. For your own financial safety - protect yourself from fraud and stay somewhere else!
If you choose to stay at the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel and Spa, you do so at your own risk.
