Calgary Marriott Downtown Review: A Cheap Stay in the City

If you’re looking for a cheap stay in a big city, it’s worth taking a look at the Calgary Marriott Downtown, which offers good value if you find the right rate.

Disclaimer: This hotel stay was necessary as part of volunteering work I do related to the health care industry. While I did not pay for the room charges, the opinions contained in this post remain my own.

Booking the Calgary Marriott Downtown

Thanks to the group rate, this stay at the Calgary Marriott Downtown was only $199 CA per night. That’s cheap, especially for a hotel in the third-most populated city in Canada. But wouldn’t you know it that it’s not much of a discount off normal pricing? If you come here in the shoulder months or during winter, you could find rates below that mark. Come in the summer, and it’ll be more expensive, but if you’re flexible you can still find reasonable rates.

If you’re looking to use Marriott points, it’ll cost you generally between 30,000 and 50,000 points. If you have 35k or 40k free night certificates, this could be a decent use. But given the exchange rate, I might just pay cash.

One other thing–I used my Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs) to upgrade my stay. I had hoped to use them at other hotels up to this point (like stays at the St. Regis Bora Bora or the Davenport Hotel) but no luck there. I received confirmation into a two-room suite, which was a bit much since I’m here by myself and will be working all day. Sadly, I didn’t have too many more uses for them, so it’s a use-it-or-lose-it scenario.

Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points

If you’re looking to earn Marriott points quickly, you could look into picking up a Marriott credit card. Both Chase and American Express offer Marriott credit cards.

Full disclosure: in this section are refer-a-friend links where I may earn some points for referring. There is no requirement to use the below referral links to apply but note your offer may differ when going directly to the card issuer.

Chase offers the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card that gives a sign up bonus of three 50k free night certificates for spending $3,000 in the first three months for a $95 annual fee.

Or you can turn your eyes to American Express:

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy (not an affiliate link) offers 85,000 Marriott points for $5,000 spend in the first six months for a $250 annual fee.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (not an affiliate link) offers 100,000 Marriott points for $6,000 spend in the first six months. It also comes with instant Platinum status but with a higher annual fee ($650).

Since Amex credit cards are generally one-in-a-lifetime, it might be worth waiting for a better deal to come by.

Arrival and first impressions

I touched down at Calgary International Airport (YYC) to find no immigration lines and a beautiful Canada sign.

From there, it’s a 20-minute ride over to the Calgary Marriott Downtown. There ended up being a bit more traffic around the area due to construction on the street.

The lobby is a bit dated, but it’s not a bad place to wait if you’re waiting for someone. Different types of seating offer some variety, and the fireplace adds a nice touch.

I made my way over to the front desk, where the process went smoothly. I’d say the staff was friendly enough, but also just mostly going through the motions. Thanks to my Titanium Elite status, the agent offered the choice of a food & beverage credit or points. Given the property has a lounge, I ended up choosing the points. (Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite members get lounge access on eligible rates.)

Just a quick note: if you’re looking for a place to fill your water bottle, there’s a dispenser in the lobby.

The room

I made my way up to the 16th floor to my room for this trip (1608).

Living room

Since this is a two-room suite, the door opens into the living room. The space is fairly large, perfect if you’re looking to host others in your room. It’s admittedly a little much if I’m here by myself like I was on this trip. But the kids would have loved stretching out in this room.

In the corner is a wet bar, microwave, and mini-fridge. An underrated asset in a hotel is having a microwave for when you want to heat up some leftovers.

The couch is comfortable enough when you’re hanging out here. And the artwork on the walls adds a little to the ambience.

Next to the couch are two chairs that are good for lounging, but I’ll admit I didn’t have a need to use them.

And next to the chairs is the TV. Given how large the room is, the TV felt a little small. I found it a little strange that the furniture is arranged with the chairs facing away from the TV.

Bedroom

Over in the bedroom was a firm king-sized bed. Overall, I’d say the decor inside the room isn’t all that bad. While the common spaces felt dated, the rooms themselves seemed perhaps refreshed more recently. I want to say that I got good sleep on this bed, but there’s a big problem with the room. Not in terms of the bed, but rather with noise.

The hotel clearly knows this is a problem, as they give earplugs for guests to use. I didn’t use them–sleeping with earplugs in isn’t exactly comfortable–and I could easily hear partying well past 3AM. All the way up on the 16th floor, I would have thought street noise wouldn’t be that much of an issue. But I was wrong.

Across from the bed is a place to put luggage and a TV. This one is the same size as the living room TV, but it feels a little larger just because the bedroom is smaller.

Next to the bed is an interesting chaise. It looks like a standard couch but with some of the backing removed.

The view outside isn’t that notable. You’ll see some of Calgary, but you’re not high enough to see much of the skyline.

Bathroom

The bathroom connects to both the living room and the bedroom. I like the embedded lighting in the mirror, which tends to be softer than direct light sources.

The shower is functional. The door slides so you don’t need to get splashed with cold water just to turn it on. Coverage and water pressure could be better, but it’s not enough to truly complain about.

Toiletries are by thisworks, the typical Marriott brand. True to its name, it works, but it’s not something you’d want to take home and use daily.

Calgary Marriott Downtown M Club Lounge

The M Club Lounge is on the second floor next to all the conference rooms. It always strikes me as a bit odd when lounges are on the same floor as conference rooms. That typically means there won’t be much of a view from the lounge. But I guess if you just need to dip out of your meeting to go get something from the lounge that you could easily do that?

Those with access to this lounge include anyone booking a room with lounge access and Marriott Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elites. Lounge hours are as follows:

Breakfast service
- Mon – Fri: 6AM – 10AM
- Sat – Sun: 7AM – 11AM
Evening service (hors d’oeuvres)
- 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Dessert service
- 7:30PM – 11PM
Cocktail bar
- 5PM – 11PM

In addition, light snacks and refreshments are available 24 hours a day.

The lounge is rather simple. There are a couple of TVs (no sound) and a decent amount of seating. The space actually isn’t that large and the room doesn’t extend much beyond what’s seen in the photo below. It seems a bit odd that quite a bit of seating is for more than just one or two, but maybe they’re just expecting people to be social.

The view of the outside… isn’t of much. You’ll see tall buildings next to the lounge and a patio. There’s a door that in theory would connect you to the outside, but you can’t use it. Of course, since we’re on the second floor, we weren’t expecting much of a view. Would have been nice to go outside though!

Snacks that are available at all times of the day are right by the entrance. For those wondering, it’s just fruit and small containers of candy.

On the other side of the entrance are the coffee dispensers.

Just below the coffee is a minifridge holding soda and juice. It would be nice if there were more bottled water to bring back to the room.

Breakfast service

What will you find at breakfast? A few hot items and a small selection of pastries. Let’s take a closer look at the hot items.

The first container holds roasted potatoes with fine herbs and roasted vegetables. These potatoes were a little shriveled up, unfortunately.

Next up are the eggs: scrambled or huevos rancheros. I’ll admit I was a little scared off by the look of the huevos rancheros, so I stuck to the scrambled, which were fine. Eggs in a steam tray are never going to be as good as freshly cooked eggs, but at least these still had some fluff to them.

Lastly, you get your choice of meats between bacon and sausage. As what typically happens, the bacon wasn’t crispy.

Also over here are a few bagels and slices of toast. And you’ll also find oatmeal with toppings.

Across from this display is where you’ll find a fruit salad, cheese, croissants, muffins, and cereal.

We’ve been to some impressive Marriott lounges throughout Canada, including options in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The Calgary Marriott Downtown’s lounge is nowhere near as impressive.

Evening service

Let’s get this out of the way from the start. Some lounges have enough of a spread that it can substitute as a meal replacement for those looking for one. The spread here isn’t intended to replace your dinner. Frankly, that’s fine for me since there are good restaurants within walking distance (more on that below).

The options are pretty simple. On one end of the table, you have some crostini, pita, dip, and salad.

On the other end are gyoza and some puff pastry. I always like gyoza when it has the crispy bottom to contrast with the soft dumpling walls. These didn’t have either and were a little tough to chew at times.

The alcohol display is out on the island. It does cost money but I didn’t get the chance to ask staff how much.

Dessert service

Hope you’re not wanting something unique for dessert. When I stopped by to check out the spread, all I found were pre-packaged snacks and cakes that didn’t taste fresh.

I guess with most of the items still in their original packaging, it would be simple enough just to take it back up to your room.

Room service

One evening I decided to keep things simple and just order room service. Call it a habit the night I arrive at the hotel and I just want to catch up on work.

I ordered the One18 burger, which came with a lot of fries, a peach tart, and two beers (no, I didn’t drink them both that evening). The burger could have used a better bun, but the meat was juicy and it otherwise was a decent burger. The fries were also good, but you’ll want to open that container lid quickly so they don’t get soggy. I really didn’t need that peach tart–a habit of me wanting something sweet to cap the meal but the ice cream always melts by the time I get around to it.

Overall, it’s fine but it’s almost always better to just go out and eat if you want something better.

Fitness center

The fitness center entrance is on the third floor, but spans both the third and fourth floors. There is a decent variety of machines, but I didn’t take a picture of the inside out of respect for others’ privacy. You’ll find better views in here than what you would get in the M Club Lounge. Aside from the gym being split between two floors, it’s an average fitness center.

Exploring Calgary

I didn’t get much of a chance to explore the city of Calgary on this trip. However, I did get some time for a refreshing walk. So, let’s take a small stroll around town.

Prince’s Island Park

A few blocks away from the Calgary Marriott Downtown is Prince’s Island Park. As the name suggests, you’ll need to cross a bridge (albeit a small one) to get to the island.

Once there, you’ll find lots of walking paths and benches. Depending on the time of year you’re here, it can be fairly green. When I was here in late September, the colors didn’t yet turn, but they’re getting close.

And if you’re here with kids, you’ll find a large playground in this park.

Crescent Heights Lookout Point

While you’re here at Prince’s Island Park, head across the bridge going away from downtown and you’ll find a lot of wooden stairs. Just be warned there are a lot of stairs heading up to the top. Hope you’re wanting to get your steps in!

Once you’re up at the top, you’ll get a fantastic view of the Calgary skyline. No need to pay for any special views–this one is free.

Eau Claire Play Plaza

Across the street from Prince’s Island Park and next to the YMCA is the Eau Claire Play Plaza. This unique play structure offers some fun times for kids, including a log structure, some trampolines, and a large climbing wall. Combined, this is ultimately a tribute to the Bow River flowing through the city. This structure is brand new as of the end of September 2025. Awesome!

The Guild

I did get a chance for one dinner out in the city. The Guild is a short walk away from the Calgary Marriott Downtown. In fact, the hotel is right next to many cute stores and restaurants that line 8 Ave.

My evening started with a drink named the Rio Remedy. It’s a tasty drink that rum lovers will enjoy.

For dinner, I ordered the short rib (big surprise). It’s hard to mess up short rib, but I did think this particular short rib was delicious. It’s tender with a great combination of flavors. Just looking at the pictures makes me want to get another.

To accompany my dish, I also ordered some brussel sprouts. I definitely didn’t need it as the short rib on its own was very filling, but I wanted some vegetables. These were also quite delicious, with some good crispiness on the outside.

Recommendation: Yes on Calgary, but mixed for this hotel

If you’re thinking of a vacation in Calgary, I’d say it’s worth a visit. I didn’t get a chance to fully explore the city, but from my limited view, there is some outdoorsy things to do here. For some, it might just be an entryway to Banff, but there looks to be enough here on its own to warrant a short visit. Hopefully I get a chance to return and explore it further.

As for the Calgary Marriott Downtown hotel, I think it depends on what you’re looking for. If you don’t have status that grants access to the lounge, it’s good enough to meet your needs. On the other hand, if you’re looking to maximize using common spaces, including the lounge, this isn’t going to wow you. There’s a fair chance you walk away thinking of what could have been. I haven’t stayed in other Calgary hotels yet to recommend an alternative, but this is more to set proper expectations.

That said, if you get the right rate, we’ll overlook the issues and say it’s worth your time.

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