JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa – Hotel Review
On our adventure in Tucson, we had the opportunity to hang out at the JW Marriott Star Pass Resort in the off season. It was early January and while the majority of the hotel’s amenities are best for the warm weather, we still had a great time. Here’s a quick review of what to expect at this awesome desert resort.
How We Booked
The hotel is a Category 5 hotel and so we used some left over Bonvoy points from the post SPG merger. The cash rate was around $270/night even in the off season, so the points seemed like the best option. Depending on the time of year, the rate will be either 30, 35, or 40,000 points a night.
Parking was easily found on the street (we didn’t want to pay) so we parked on to the street and walked into the hotel’s main lobby. We were quickly whisked off to the check in counter as soon as we arrived! The lobby is at least 2-3 stories tall and it is massive. They have a big restaurant down below and seating for at least a few dozen guests in the lobby.
We were told that due to our Titanium status we were given an upgrade to a suite. A really nice suite at that…
The Suite
The suite opens into a large seating area with a couch, table, extra seating, and 60 inch television.
The doors off to the bedroom are on the right hand side and provide a nice separation for having guests over. It should be noted that the sofa is NOT a sofa bed.
Pretty standard bedroom other than that…
… but the balcony is the best part. It overlooked the golf course and gorgeous Saguaro cacti dotting the landscape.
The bathroom was large with both a soaking tub AND walk in shower. Having the option to take either or bath or a shower was great. We made sure to take advantage of both.
Breakfast
It wasn’t great but it was free. Ben decided to upgrade himself for $9 to the hot buffet option. It was so underwhelming that I forgot to take pictures. You’ve had American Continental Breakfasts before, right? There you go.
Resort Fee
The resort fee is $29 and it’s not quite clear what it includes. The website doesn’t actually list anything other than “4 pool wristbands.” But, it will also include Fitness Classes, Yoga Classes, Bottled Water, and Internet Access. Basically, the same shit that you don’t really care about or want from any other hotel in the world. I hate resort fees.
In Need of Repair
I will say that the room was comfortable, the location was fantastic, and the breakfast was… not bad. But… the hotel itself was in need of repair. Just in the hallways alone, look at the state of each and every lampshade. For a hotel that charges a “resort fee†you would think that the resort would at least maintain the damn place.
When we mentioned the condition of the hotel, the front desk staff said that they would “inform housekeeping†which was their signal to me that they don’t give a shit and weren’t about to make any changes. I insisted on having the resort fee waived. I was not about to pay for a resort fee for a hotel that doesn’t care.
It took some working and a threat to dispute the charge on my card, but they did waive it in the end. Persistence pays off.
Final Thoughts
The hotel was great, but I’d like to go back when its warmer. Perhaps then we could actually experience the pool, golf course, spa, and outside areas. Nonetheless, for the area, it was a fantastic option. Feel free to dispute the resort fee, especially in case some of the options aren’t open for you when you arrive.
Don’t forget that since you get WiFi as a rewards member, you can get something else included. It’s a rule by Marriott, so make sure that you insist on getting something of equal value (perhaps a couple drinks?)
