Marriott Fairway Villas in NJ- Much better than it used to be!!

[icydog]

New management has made a world of difference. I go to the Fairways perhaps four times a year. I love it there. I did not like the former management team. The new manager seems more guest oriented. Case in point, we arrived on July 4th at around 10am. The room I requested was still occupied but we were offered the use of the pools etc until it was cleaned. We were surprised to get into our room at 11:30. Obviously the system has changed drastically.

In the past when I checked in early the policy was I had to wait to get into my villa until they got around to cleaning my room. Most times it was the crack of 4pm. The GM then was caustic and not at all friendly. She basically told me that her policy was to clean the rooms in order no matter if a guest was waiting for the room or not.

This new guy made sure our room was cleaned first because we were waiting for it. That's the way to handle owners.

Also, the rooms have been completely renovated. There was new bedding, new drapes, new paint color on the walls, new carpeting, new appliance (they were replaced last year) new art work, and all brand new furniture and TVs.

We had so much fun this time and can't wait to go back. I love the Fairways so much-- but mostly because it is close to home and is a first class resort.

 

[jont]

New management has made a world of difference. I go to the Fairways perhaps four times a year. I love it there. I did not like the former management team. The new manager seems more guest oriented. Case in point, we arrived on July 4th at around 10am. The room I requested was still occupied but we were offered the use of the pools etc until it was cleaned. We were surprised to get into our room at 11:30. Obviously the system has changed drastically.

In the past when I checked in early the policy was I had to wait to get into my villa until they got around to cleaning my room. Most times it was the crack of 4pm. The GM then was caustic and not at all friendly. She basically told me that her policy was to clean the rooms in order no matter if a guest was waiting for the room or not.

This new guy made sure our room was cleaned first because we were waiting for it. That's the way to handle owners.

Also, the rooms have been completely renovated. There was new bedding, new drapes, new paint color on the walls, new carpeting, new appliance (they were replaced last year) new art work, and all brand new furniture and TVs.

We had so much fun this time and can't wait to go back. I love the Fairways so much-- but mostly because it is close to home and is a first class resort.

That's wonderful news! I love to hear positive reviews about the resorts I own. It's been several years since I have stayed there so I haven't see the refurbished rooms but this is not the first time I have heard good comments about them. I own a gold week which I mostly use for trading but I try to visit several times a year using a day pass. Next time i'm there I will try to sneak a peek at a unit. And you're right, It is a great resort. Very underrated. My only wish is that they would have been able to build it on or closer to the beach. That would make it an awesome resort!

 

[Miss Marty]

Google Marriott Fairways Villas New Jersey youtube to view photo video

Yes, the units are beautiful! Both the
old and new staff have always treated
us great. Love Marriott Fairways Villas.

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

The refurbishment of the villas is nice. Probably the most important aspect was to expand the rug and padding more in the kitchen area, to decrease the audible walking of surrounding villas. The beds were horrible, in our opinion. Like a rock. Very different from many Marriott brand hotels beds. The GM/management likely has nothing to do with the refurbishment, other than making sure it happens and work progresses.

We also arrived on July 4th this year, and as I posted a week or so ago, we didn't have as nice a time at the resort as we had in the past. As for the mgmt, we only had a few interactions with the GM. Once at the Monday morning talk. Once when he lied to me about the waterfalls in the pool. And once when we asked him to have someone keep an eye on the pool because kids were jumping from the waterfall stones into the pool.

As for the waterfalls, I asked why they were not turned off, wondering if they were broken or something. He said that they have never been turned on during the summer, as they were only installed for the winter months, so they don't have to drain the pool. Not true. They were on last summer the entire time we were there. I mentioned that, and he told me I was wrong. I guess the pictures we have of it are not real either.

Other than the mgmt, we felt the kids staff was not as good as it was in previous years. There were a few girls that just had really bad attitudes. In previous years, our daughter loved the staff members. This year, she was kind of scared of a few of them, because of the way they acted.

We spent more that 50% of our time away from the resort this year, which was better, and shows us we don't want to go back next year. Probably the year after though.

 

[BocaBoy]

It is interesting to see two such widely divergent opinions on the same GM.

 

[jont]

It is interesting to see two such widely divergent opinions on the same GM.

Yes, this is very interesting. I know LUVourMarriotts has been a long time poster about this resort and probably has a very good perspective concerning all the changes there. I hope their last visit was some type of fluke regarding how they were treated by management and staff and not typical of how they now operate. Anyway, thanks to all for your input.

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

Yes, this is very interesting. I know LUVourMarriotts has been a long time poster about this resort and probably has a very good perspective concerning all the changes there. I hope their last visit was some type of fluke regarding how they were treated by management and staff and not typical of how they now operate. Anyway, thanks to all for your input.

Let me clarify one of my comments. The kids staff never yelled directly at my daughter, or was mean to her directly. But, she was involved in two activities where she saw the staff acting this way to other kids, so was not interested in participated anymore. I was also there at the activities and saw it. We showed up late to one of them, so didn't know if there was an earlier incident that caused the girl to act that way. Otherwise, I would have said something to her and to the front desk.

 

[Cindala]

Had a Great Time!

We stayed at the Marriott Fairway Villas last year and we were so impressed and had such a great time that we traded back in this year. Both trades were for the week of July 4th. (Looks like several Tuggers were there then as well.) We have nothing but nice things to say about the resort. The units were clean, everything was in working order, and management and staff were always helpful and friendly.

There are 3 main pools, the regular family pool with kiddy pool, the quieter mineral pool by the spa and the indoor pool. This year the resort added the Splash Zone at the regular family pool which my grandson enjoyed. There are sprinklers and water shooters along with a big bucket of water that falls like a huge waterfall every so often after it fills. We also recognized a lot of the same people from last year at the pool.

In the lobby we overheard several comments from guests about how the Fairway Villas have the best activities of any of the resorts they have stayed. We received a Resort Activities Guide upon arrival and there certainly were a lot of different things on the schedule. For example, Yoga and Aqua Fitness, trips to Cape May, Atlantic City and the wineries, watermelon eating contests, root beer floats and snow cones at the pool, family bingo and poolside trivia, a variety of craft projects for kids and adults, an Iron Chef competition, etc. There were also several dining activities in the evening such as Southern Style BBQ, Fairway Fiesta, Pasta Dinner, Family Pizza, and karaoke and live music as well.

Obviously not all activities or amenities will appeal to all guests, but we were pleasantly surprised by what the Fairway Villas had to offer. Everyone we encountered was helpful and pleasant, and we too were able to check into our room before 4pm both this year and last. Also, being from northern New Jersey, this was also a convenient location for us to travel.

 

[icydog]

I have to say I liked my stay much better this year than in previous years. My one issue was a staff member allowed a group of kids and adults to use the life preservers as floats. When my daughter objected she found that one member of the group of adults turned out to be a staff member. This was not cool. Other than that isolated incident everything else was excellent

 

[NYFLTRAVELER]

The room I requested was still occupied but we were offered the use of the pools etc until it was cleaned.

As an owner or guest you are entitled to use the pool so I am uncertain as to why you believe this was a gesture made by management....?

 

[icydog]

As an owner or guest you are entitled to use the pool so I am uncertain as to why you believe this was a gesture made by management....?

My point was they cleaned our room first rather than put it into the 4pm queue. We barely had time to tour the resort and gave lunch--before our room was ready. That was NEVER the case with the previous GM.