My family checked into the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort for a conference and stayed for a hurricane. The property was a mix of highs and lows.
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Location
Positioned on the famous Collier Boulevard on Marco Island, this beachfront resort is walkable to shops and restaurants, offers parking, hundreds of rooms, and a handful of restaurants all fairly convenient. It was easy to get to, about 45 minutes from Fort Myers International Airport (RSW) and we frequented venues both on-site and across the street.
Address: 400 S Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: + 123-939-42511
Property
The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort has a classic late 90s feel befitting the brand. Dark wood accents are featured throughout and give the hotel a sturdy, but sometimes dark feel for a beachfront resort. There are a number of shops and cafes in the hotel from an arcade to sushi, a steakhouse, and even a coffee shop. A more contemporary Mediterranean restaurant offers an upscale menu.
The pool complex is between the two towers, the southern tower is home to meeting space and a convention center. Catering to both adults and families, the pool includes a zero entry pool, small waterslide, a waterfall and grotto, and is attended by staff offering a reasonable menu for guests.
As mentioned, we were there during a hurricane which thankfully mostly missed the property aside from some high tide and furious winds. The property did a phenomenal job with our kids (and any others that showed up) using the on-site Build-A-Bear store to make them custom stuffed animals as well as hosting activities and movies.
The arcade-type restaurant offered games for both adults and children though they were rather expensive by both resort and arcade standards.
Where the property excelled was in the remodeled areas and some of the service. That said, a FedEx location on-site charged a substantial receiving fee given that we had something delivered from Amazon to the property. It was an annoyance both that I couldn’t get it to my room nor from the concierge but had to go to the FedEx office in the basement of the convention center during opening hours and still pay to receive my package.
Some of the boutiques on the property are operated by individual owners renting the space. One particular operator almost seemed annoyed that most guests would stop by and look at her jewelry but not purchase, hardly a surprise to me, but all the same was off-putting. We didn’t stop, just witnessed some interactions.
Benefits
My family was staying on a preferred rate with the conference I was attending so some of my experiences may differ from other guests at the Gold, Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador levels. While breakfast would have been included for those elites (I believe at Maia) it was also hosted by the conference and we made use of that.
Our early check-in and late check-out benefits were honored and rather than a keycard guests receive a bracelet, blue for standard rooms, pink for suites. We had booked into a junior suite with an adjoining room for the children. The hotel recognized our status and ensured ours would be a west-facing oceanfront suite with a view of the Gulf of Mexico.
Junior Suite
The Junior Suite had plenty of space and was on an end-cap. While it received plenty of sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, it still felt dark and heavy, and maybe a bit dated. It reminded me of some of the properties we had stayed at in Southeast Asia and some of the carved wood artwork on the walls reflected it.
Bedroom
During some of the afternoon hours, the sun would overcome the darkness of the room, but as it was west facing we got the benefit of sunsets and not sunrises. The couch felt really, really old and had stains that made it a disappointment and something to be avoided rather than utilized. The TVs in the room allowed for us to use our Netflix account which was helpful for the kids after a day at the beach.
Due to the hurricane, the balcony furniture had to be moved inside and occupied most of this space for a few days, though it’s entirely understandable given the circumstances. The balcony wrapped around the room, both doors were locked of course in preparation for the storm.
A very large walk-in closet area led to the bathroom suite. Storage included a mini-bar and small fridge as well as drawers for clothes.
One of the wardrobes utilized the left side for a furnace or air conditioning unit. I would have expected that door to have been closed to guests and seemed like a simple example of how some of the details were missed in an otherwise excellent suite.
As we were there for a formal event where both of us were expected to dress for meetings and evening dinners, we ran out of hangers, again, a little bit of an oversight for a Junior Suite.
Additional drawers and storage helped.
Even at high tide, the resort was a considerable distance from the water and while others have access to the stretch of sand, it still felt like a private beach for the resort only.
Bathroom
The bathroom was large, the shower especially expansive. Toiletries were attached to the wall but were a premium Aromatherapy and in large bottles.
Both a rain shower head and sprayer were equipped in the shower. However, the sprayer would not stay up unless pushed all the way against the wall, which makes is mostly unusable. There was also a clump of black hair on the wall that overstayed its welcome and several services from housekeeping. We weren’t in the room when it was serviced to advise the staff.
I was pleased to see the bathroom suite included a separate water closet.
Value
Lead-in room rates start in the low $500s and can climb to the mid-600s during peak season in the winter. There is a mandatory resort fee of $55 and this seems a little steep, especially since most of the benefits are offset by higher rates for a premium resort on a beach. Redemptions start at about 70,000 points though rates fluctuate, a good value for Marriott Bonvoy holder considering using cash.
What do you think?
Nice review Kyle but let’s be honest, Collier Blvd isn’t exactly “famous”. I personally love the area but ask 100 people on the street outside SW Florida where Collier Blvd is and you’ll be lucky to get 3. And that’s probably being generous.
Looks Cheapy with the machinery next to the wardrobe , and the neon lighted arcade restaurant , and large television with cushions on floor . Sort of a Cheapy Las Vegas type junky dump . For $ 500 or $ 600 , plus resort fee ? For junky dump ?
What could be the “clump of black hair on the wall” in the shower ?
Did the “clump of back hair on the wall” survive the Required Disinfectant ?
Perhaps the housekeeping manager could be notified ?
Golds don’t get free breakfast. It would actually be interesting to know what the breakfast benefit is for Platinum+ because this seems like the kind of hotel that would be stingy to elites since it’s a resort factory.
Who is the idiot that designed the hotel? Because nobody in their right mind would put CARPET in the room (or suite) of a beach resort hotel. Setting aside that, there’s basically nothing upscale or luxurious about the in-room decor/design. It could be an airport hotel in Des Moines.
This hotel is at least 50 years old. I have been visiting it for the past 40 years. First there was only one tower. Then the second tower was built. Then a few years ago (2015?) the Marriott was rebranded as a JW, and the rates went way up to reflect that it was a JW. I have not been back since the rebranding. My favorite rooms were the ‘cabana suites’, which were 1 bedroom suites on the southern end of the property. I’m not sure if these cabana suites still exist.
What do I think? I think, “meh”.
Suite literally looks like a larger square-footage version of Courtyard’s early 2000s concept. Even has the same wood tones. So you pay a ridiculous premium for the “JW” in front of the Marriott name plus the warm fuzzy feeling of being in the “luxury lifestyle” segment? Hard pass.
Lifetime Marriott Platinum
I considered this resort for an upcoming trip, but its just not competitive. I was able to get a 2BR condo rental with beach access, pool, tennis court, and most importantly a full kitchen at a drastically better price. I really like the JW brand and have stated at some really good ones, this one isn’t at that level from what I can tell.
A nicer property is the Marriott Crystal Shores just down the street. It’s a Marriott Vacation Club property. I stayed at a lovely 2 bedroom 2 bathroom ocean view suite when this property first opened up (and were still under construction). I would stay here again.
But little to bo Bonvoy elite benefits at a Vacation Club property.