I am a Marriott guy. I used points this stay for one night prior to my sons football game. This is definitely a downtown hotel. Parking isn't easy. Unload your bags first into your room and then take your car around the block to park in the garage.

Rooms are beautiful. Comfortable. Went downstairs at 7am Saturday for a good breakfast to start this long day. Cold continental free breakfast. Free is always good, but not when you are expecting some eggs and bacon or a bowl of oatmeal. Very disappointing. Their new breakfast area is under renovation, but they failed to mention that. Waited 10 min for the coffee urn to how up for my first cup of Joe.

I won't stay here again.

My son was in CICU for over a week, he was to be transferred to the pediatric unit on either Friday or Saturday, so my husband and I went prepared to stay Friday. He was not transferred until Saturday, so we decided to stay at the Courtyard for convenience sake.

First, we were quoted the incorrect room rate of $84.99 for families of UAB patients, then charged, upon check out, $146. When confronted about the rate difference, the "lady" at the front desk became very rude along with the manager. I was charged $10 for parking, but no one offered to stamp the parking ticket. I had to return to the hotel and virtually beg.

Also, I was up all night listening to ambulace sirens.

It seems to me, they are just taking advantage of people in a desparate situation with out any sympathy or human decency.

I was in Birmingham to attend Davis Cup (U.S. v. Suisse).

It is only a block from the hotel to 20th Street where you can catch the DART trolley/bus, which at $0.25 is a real bargain. The blue line DART (aka bus 90) goes North and South from Five Points (restaurant & bar area in the UAB section) to the civic center, downtown area.

This is a standard Courtyard setup.

On the plus side, there are two free Internet computers in the lobby with printers. The connectivity is fast.

Also, there is a parking lot adjacent to the property which you can utilize at $8.00 a day with unlimited in and out privileges. The standard rate is $6.00 a day but without in-out privileges.

Breakfast is $12.95 for the buffet and is average. There is a McDonald's about three blocks away.

There are only a few places to eat in the vicinity, but the pleasant Five Points area is a reasonably short walk (15 minutes, one fairly large hill to traverse) or short DART ride (3 minutes).

Some of the comments about this hotel concerned sirens. This area has several hospitals so there are sirens. I had the fan on the whole time and didn't have any problems with outside noise and I am always very attuned to noise distractions so I was pleased to be able to sleep well each night.

A nice hotel. HOWEVER - Courtyard Marriott charges expensive room rates to families who have loved ones in UAB Hospital.

Courtyard Marriott claims it gives a discount, but this isn't true. I was charge the full rate - just like other families were who had sick family members in the hospital across the street. Several of us in the CICU waiting area were discussin this. It seems Courtyard preys on families who want to be near their loved ones when they are sick. Most of their business is from families who have sick family members at UAB Hospital. Instead of showing a little compassion, they disregard WHY we're there in the first place. Sure, we have to pay for a little convenience sometime, but would anyone really be staying at this hotel (who wasn't there for a hospital conferance) if it wasn't for having family in the hospital? It's eitiher stay there or several blocks away. A shame such a nice hotel chain like Marriott doesn't realize we're there because we HAVE to be - and we're there paying unexpected expenses. They could discount the rooms a bit more, but they'd rather keep the rates high. Shameful!!!

Other hotel chains have better amenities anyway. Our refrigerator didn't work. You could tell it hadn't worked for days. We called the front desk. They said it was a "cooler" and not a refrigerator. Then they rudely proceeded to state that we shouldn't expect the "comforts of home". Well, true. But don't put a refrigerator in the room if it's not working. They claimed it was working. So we put our bottled sodas in it before bed. They were hot just like they were off the shelf the next morning.

No microwave in the room. You have to go downstairs to the lobby to use a microwave.

Internet access is limited. Instead of just plugging your computer into a port in the room, you have to get an access code from the front desk. it only lasts for one session, and you have to keep going back downstairs to get a new code.

The thermostat in the room wasn't working like it should. It was hot in the room, but lowering the temp on the thermostat had no effect until about an hour later. THEN, the AC started putting out cooler air.

I guess this hotel is tolerable. Not exactly what I expected from an "upscale" hotel chain like Marriott. It served the purpose in allowing us to be closeby to a sick family member should we need to be at the hospital quickly in the event of an emergency. But I would NEVER stay there for pleasure - and I don't recommend anyone do that either. You don't always get what you pay for. In fact, you WON'T get what you pay for if you stay there.

Other hotel chains like Comfort Inn and Best Western are MUCH better as far as price and amenities. Unless you're in the same situation that we were whereby we needed to be close by for the sake of family in the hospital, I suggest you go some place else. It's not worth the money you'll pay!!!