I've just spent a few days in Yerevan, and spent two of those nights staying at the Marriott Yerevan. This is supposedly one of the best hotels in the city, if not the best (the Kardashians stayed here when they visited in 2015, and there's no one who appreciates classy and understated elegance more than…
Continue reading: A Deserted Marriott Club Lounge That’s In The Back Of A Deserted Italian Restaurant
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Did they close the real club lounge with the view over the square?
When I was there, the lounge was really cool: http://youhavebeenupgraded.boardingarea.com/2017/04/review-marriott-armenia-yerevan/
BTW the Hyatt Place is not really an alternative.
1) This actually isn't unusual. OK. Walking through the restaurant to access the lounge is somewhat unusual, though you do the same to access the M Club lounges at the Marriott Buffalo (about two years old) and the just-renovated Marriott in Pontiac/Auburn Hills/Bloomfield Hills (Detroit suburbs). The M Club lounges -- M Club lounges are replacing the old concierge lounges at Marriott hotels -- are almost always attached to the hotel restaurant or lobby bar.
2) You didn't post additional pictures of the decor so I can't fully comment, but I think you fail to make the distinction between outdated and a classic decor. Yes, clearly, the decor is the older Marriott style -- it looks like the interior design from circa 2000-2006 -- BUT everything looks clean and well-maintained in the pictures you posted. I doubt you would call Buckingham Palace or the White House "outdated" because they have a classic decor.
3) It would be interesting to know whether is this a property managed by Marriott International or whether it is a franchised property. I say that because while a majority of North America properties are franchised, most international properties are actually managed by Marriott International, which probably explains why, on average, international properties are better and typically offer more amenities.
One more thing ... the hotel must be partially renovated because the room pictures on the hotel website are different from what you posted.
I stayed at the hotel in the summer of 2016 and had a drastically different experience. There is an annex, connected to the main building, with much more modern rooms. I was told it has opened a month before my visit. Plus, like Theyhbu, I accessed the club lounge on the top most level with a beautiful view of the square.
They must be renovating the lounge or something. It used to be on the second floor overlooking the square with a balcony. Very pretty views. I've stayed there twice and it is very dated but great location.
I stayed there summer of 2017 and the 2nd floor lounge was open. Good food selection and great views of the nightly water show from the balcony tables. I seem to remember that breakfast on weekends, I think, was in the restaurant area instead of the lounge.
@ Ben -- Your room looks like the suite we just checked into at IC FRA. I know you used to stay here back in the day. Well, NOTHING has changed here, except they have (better) wifi now. RA treatment is still excellent, but I have to wonder when this hotel was last renovated (if ever). Fanta Orange from the free minibar, anyone? 🙂
Again my experience was totally different but this was about 8 years ago.
The lounge was lovely and the staff were some of the best I've every had in Marriott and I'm including Asia. They went out of their way to talk to us about the city and made numerous excellent suggestions regarding restaurants.
Sound like they closed that lounge. Too bad.
@ Gene -- Ah, good memories at that hotel, but it's badly in need of a renovation at this point.
Interesting that it seems they used to have a different lounge.
@ Jay Simonsen -- Well perhaps the only benefit is that breakfast is now in the restaurant every day.