I use tripadvisor all the time when looking into a resort. I know the reviews can be harsh and people fuss over the most stupid things but all the reviews help me. I stayed at the Marriott last year in a studio unit for Presidents Day week. This year I was planning to do the same thing then I lucked into a 2 bedroom at the Hyatt next door. To be honest, I like the Marriott more. Hands down, the room at the Hyatt was much more plush and obviously much larger being that I had a full 2 bedroom verses the studio.
The thing is, I was hardly in the room for that to matter much and I truly missed the resort feel of the Marriott. Mountain Valley is a small resort but they have a kids room and great activities for the kids. Being that I had a 6 year old at the time, I really appreciated the kids room. Also, I was there in the dead of winter I loved being able to walk in my bathing suit through a heated garage (yes the floor is filled with dirt from the roads and the ceiling tiles are yellowed) but I never had to walk outside to get to the pool. When I stayed at the Hyatt, I had to walk through a maze of hallways and elevators and then walk outside to get to the Marriott pool. The Hyatt, Marriott and Resort Quest units all share the Marriott pool. When I was at the Hyatt, the Hyatt said they actually owned the pool but I find that hard to believe since the pool is attached to the Marriott.
Mountain Valley is definitely due for a remodel. Two years ago, I didn’t much care for the pull out sofa and the bathroom could have used updating but everything was clean. You know what I compare Mountain Valley to, Harbor Lake – the rooms that have not been updated yet at all. I heard Mountain Valley is getting an update but I think this is not until late this year or next year.
Can’t beat the location of Mountain Valley. Ski-in ski out and right at the edge of town where all the great stores and restaurants are. Very easy to walk across the street to a public park with a sledding hill. Very cool location of the Marriott.
I won’t argue that the Hyatt, Grand Timber Lodge and Grand Lodge at Peak 7 all offer better accommodations than the Marriott but there is just no beating the location of the Marriott and the pool is very large and in a pretty location. Nothing fancy about the pool, especially compared to the Grand Lodge pools but I like the large size of the Marriott pool.
There is a tugger named Doug who has some great pictures of the Marriott but I encourage you to look at all the pictures on tripadvisor and determine for yourself if the look of the resort is good enough for you because the pictures don’t lie – not when you have well over 100 pictures to look at from tripadvisor.
Have fun if you decide to go. Though it is a bit of a drive (hour and a half, maybe) I highly recommend going to Glenwood Springs for a day. I did this in February and was in awe over the natural hot spring pools in Glenwood HUGE -- MASSIVE – AMAZING. Swimming in what must have been acres of natural hot spring water was such a treat. Also, the drive through Glenwood Canyon was also pretty special.
-Jim
