I hadn't stayed in a Marriott for a while because earlier experiences had been mediocre, so I was a little worried about booking here, especially given some of the prior reviews, but after a disappointing stay at the Prince George (see that review separately), we decided to give it a shot. The rooms appear to have been renovated fairly recently and have a very boutique-hotel look. Styleish lamps, drapes, etc. The rooms was good-sized, bed had feather pillows, and the bathroom was well-appointed (I really liked the high sink). Checkin/out was very efficient, you can print your boarding pass from a PC set up in the lobby, and roomservice breakfast was reasonably priced. Though it may lack a few of the amenities of a higher class hotel (no bathrobe, cream for the coffee, hand cream in the bathroom, etc.), I think it's an excellent choice and in a great location for Halifax. Since the the city doesn't really have a good 4-star hotel, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Marriott as about the best you can do in the city.

I loved this hotel right from the beginning and had an all-around great experience. Everyone who worked there was super friendly. I was very impressed with my room - everything looked new, it was very clean, and quite stylish. Comfortable bed with nice linens and a down comforter. A/C worked perfectly. Great TV. Nice carpeting. Nice photo prints on the walls. New bathroom with nice products. I had a harbour view which was nice. Went a couple of times to The Fife & Drum, the pub in the hotel, for ciders and meals, and the service was friendly and food decent. I loved the food court in Historic Properties next door. Walking distance to many things so the location was great. Had a lot of fun exploring Halifax and the Marriott was a great base from which to do it. Highly recommend this hotel.

OK hotel in a great location, walking distance to all main Halifax attractions.
Hotel has been newly renovated, so if you are sensitive to new carpet (very strong odour) you may want to look elsewhere.
Very pricy internet access which is not advertised on their website (15.95 for 24 hrs + tax)
Cover charge for Fife and Drum Pub Friday and Saturday nights.
Would not honour Hertz/Marriott free night promotion.

After conducting some business in neighboring New Brunswick, I decided to spend the weekend in Halifax before returning home. I had booked my reservation many days in advance of my visit on the Marriott site, and was looking forward to the trip.

The day that I was supposed to arrive at the hotel I just happened to check the reservation online and noticed it had been cancelled. I called Marriott's Gold Elite line and was told that the hotel had cancelled it and no reason was given. Hmmm...that was a little strange. The agent told me the "stay and play" package that I had originally booked (it included complimentary breakfast and parking each day) was no longer available. Would I be interested in the regular rack rate? After a few minutes of giving the Marriott Customer Service agent my thoughts on the situation in the most colorful terms I could muster, I was put on hold for a long time while he called the hotel directly. When he returned on the line I was told that the package and original rate would be honored.

I never got a straight answer on why it was cancelled originally. But, I was glad they decided (after some aggressive words on my part) to honor the original reservation.

Other than that nasty little scene before I arrived, my stay was pleasant and uneventful. The hotel is located near all points of interest in downtown Halifax. It is also connected by an elevated, covered "Pedway" (or "Skyway" as we say in Minneapolis) to the casino, shopping center, and other hotels in the vicinity. The casino was nice but small by American standards, and most of the table games do not open until after 12 noon. This ain't Vegas!

The third floor room I had was remodeled recently and had the new Marriott linens on the bed, which are exquisite. My room faced outwards toward the harbor with a lovely view. If you stay on the inside track of the U-shaped part of the hotel adjacent to the harbor you will not have much of a view from what I could tell. All the rooms on the inside track (at least on the third floor) looked out onto the elevated skylights above the main concourse to the restaurants. You couldn't see the harbor at all. The main part of the hotel faced the city. If you aren't willing to spring for the extra bucks to get a room with a view, you can always get a nice view of the entire harbor in the restaurants.

Room service was superb and on-time, and the restaurant was staffed with enough waiters (a novel concept, I admit) that were friendly and prompt. The spa is located on the second floor mezzanine, and it is full service. Like most Marriott spas it is posh but a bit overpriced. The elevator banks on my side of the hotel were terribly slow and I spent most of the time using the stairs. Prepare to grow old while waiting for one to arrive in the lobby.

The Fife and Drum lounge on the first floor was obviously the place to be since it was hopping the whole time I was there. Maybe St. Patrick's day had something to do with it. There was a small gift shop and convenience store located in the lobby that had a variety of useful items. There was also a Herz car rental desk onsite, but unless you are leaving downtown you won't need a car. There was an indoor pool that seemed to be the kid hangout spot, and it looked fairly large and clean.

I had a nice, relaxing stay and would recommend this hotel. Summer time would be the best time to visit. I bet this hotel stays full in the summer.

As a side note, I am always amazed and amused by some reviewers that denigrate the large hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, et al as "corporate", "soul-less", or "sterile." If you are looking for a boutique hotel with a unique lodging experience (good and bad) then you should look elsewhere.

People stay at these chain hotels because generally the quality, value, cleanliness, and service are the same at each location. That is what has made them successful. Why would people stay at a Marriott then complain that it is a "corporate concrete box"? What exactly were they expecting? This is the equivalent of people paying $35 to stay one night at the Roach Motel in the worst part of town and then complaining that it is a dump. Were they expecting Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton standards? Experienced travelers know that the first maxim of travel is that you get what you pay for.