Review: Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan

That Marriott is gross!! SPG is better 🙂

BTW there is a new Starwood Hotel coming to Yerevan soon!!!

The Alexander, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Yerevan Opening April 1, 2018

I stayed at the Marriott in Armenia in November, and enjoyed it a lot - especially since the bartender gave me good samples of Ararat brandy to taste 😉 Location is great indeed - and Armenian food is very good (how I miss khoravats!!)

While the style is truly very old, nothing is worn or actually looking old. The tissue box is sparkling, the protruding edges of drawers are pristine, and no scuff marks are visible around luggage storage. The whole style is not to my liking, but too many times I paid 200+ for hotels that were "modern", yet the furniture was beat up and bathroom was aging. Ashtray and recycling of toiletries is definitely yuck.

One funny thing I noticed: the description for the GYM literally has "Fitnes Centr" written in Cyrillic. Somehow I doubt that is actual translation to Armenian, likely some Marriott corporate translation department.

Good review

I wonder if the hotel gets a lot of customers redeeming points. In fact, it is moving up in category from four to five this year.

I stayed there in October 2016 and while the room was also old, the lounge had plenty options of food and the views were simply gorgeous. After sunset you could have drinks and hot food looking to the Republic Square and the fountain shows.

It's "retro"! Actually like that older-'80s-feel for such a location. Who wants a modern "W" style room when you're in such a classic, exotic place?

Wish OMAAT would give, say, 3-4 "cannot miss" sightseeing tips for each of the cities visited. I will visit Armenia this year and although I have all the guidebooks, etc., it would be best if we could have "the three main sightseeing things you cannot miss if you come here (i.e. for Paris, the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Notre Dame) so you can say you've 'done' the town (at least at its bare minimum".

Looks pretty decent, other than the room (which looks tidy overall). Good value!

@Marija it's an actual translation to Russian (at least there seems to be nothing wrong with it). Why they used Russian instead of Armenian is another question, though.

@Scooter That's a great idea.. but I think in many cases they just fly in, review the hotel and fly out 1-2 days later. Barely time to try out enough different sights to make up a short-list of what's worth it.

@Ivan
“Fitnes” is hardly translation as far as Russian goes, it is just borrowed English word. “Sportzal” is likely closer to being actual useful translation, unless one wants to sound “western”.
As of why is Russian still dominant... likely a left over from USSR past? For target audience, possibly more useful than English, depending on visitor demographics in this hotel.

So we dont like it when we get a suite upgrade, but when we get a suite upgrade, we feel that our preferences should be asked. Poor hotel staff just cant win. I feel the receptionists pain.

@Marija
This is Russian. Modern Russian. Фитнес центр is the expression used by Russians in Russia when they mean a "gym" in an upscale hotel or a similar setting. It was correctly used in Yerevan, so that Russian-speaking hotel guests would know what's behind the door.
@Ivan
The permanent sign in Armenian is above the screen.

That omelet does indeed look like it was made with "the big love."

I hope that's not like the Chinese "massage" big love though.

Looks like the circa 2003 Marriott decor that a handful of tired US properties shave, but at least the room and its furnishings look well-maintained and not dilapidated. I get the decor may not be Ben's style -- and I agree that the furnishings look a little old -- but a classic style shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. I also wish Ben would confirm things with the hotel instead of making assumptions. All reports indicate this is a temporary lounge. Why didn't Ben ask and confirm? If this was around Armenian Christmas then that's also probably why the hotel and its restaurant were empty. Ben's flight reviews are much, much better than his hotel reviews.

For what it's worth, that wasn't just "Armenian" Christmas. A whole swath of Orthodox Christians also use the old (unrevised) Julian calendar.

@Marija yup, @grrizzly is totally correct. Basically every more or less modern gym in Russia is called "Фитнес-центр" these days, "спортзал" is much less common.
@grrizzly whoops, didn't notice the Armenian sign, thanks

@grrizzly still, there's something weird in their language choices. For example, no info on working hours in Armenian or Russian.

I’ve stayed here and it’s a good review. It’s an iconic building in the city, and the location cant be beat. Lots of restaurants nearby and a GREAT mueseum across the square. When I stayed there on points a few years back, it was very confusing concept for the guy who checked us in, we had to sort it out next day. But location, location, etc. Good review.