Hotel is being updated. Stilll easy to get through lobby, safely partitioned where construction being completed and quiet in rooms. Breakfast buffet priced reasonable for made to order omelette, fruit, pastries or any item you want! Good location to Walnut Creek downtown, Bart, or Highway access. Must pay for Internet in room.

We have stayed at this fine hotel for two Christmas holidays in a row. The staff, from housekeeping to front desk to breakfast crew, are excellent. The hotel is centrally located off of the interstate and near the Bart. You can park beneath the hotel. The lobby/bar area are undergoing renovation, but the rooms are quiet. I am hoping that the renovation does not mean that the hotel will be sold to a non-Marriott chain.

I have stayed at this property 3 times over the past few years and am always very satisfied. Rates are reasonable and free parking is a plus. Access to Bay area freeways is close and easy.

My husband and I stayed here recently while on a 3-day house-hunting trip around the area. We priceline'd this hotel for $80/night (60% savings in theory) and it was worth just that. Definitely NOT an "upscale plus" stay as Priceline categorized it.

PROS: VERY conveniently located to the freeway. Really easy to go anywhere from Walnut Creek. Rooms were upgraded recently, so modern feel was comfortable. They were also very quiet. Bath & Body Works soaps are a bonus. Free self-parking garage was nice and secure. Fitness center was great. Walking distance to quaint Walnut Creek, but be careful if walking at night. Kind of sketchy.

CONS: #1 - The hotel is under construction (staff said from Dec 2011 through Mar 2012) which means the lobby, lounge and restaurant are not nice places to be, especially during work hours. This is a huge downside if you want to access the hotel's only free wi-fi. Unhappily paid $5 for 24 hours of in-room wi-fi.

#2 - I hope they update the rooms and building infrastructure, too. The paint was chipping all over our bathroom, and the tile was super stained.

#3 - The pool was open, but decrepit. Didn't feel very "heated." And was really small. The hot tub, which was more like a round dip pool - probably 3 feet wide - was closed. Both in disrepair. Also both are located towards the freeway side of the building. Not conducive to relaxation.

#4 - As a frequent Priceliner, I've never been treated like a second class citizen at a hotel. But I was here. At "our rate," we were not able to enjoy the complimentary breakfast or cocktail hour/hors d'oeuvres. Really shocked with that standard and the poor service it bespeaks.

Overall, a great stay for a business traveler I'm sure, but not so much for a romantic getaway. And I'm pretty sure I'm shredding my Marriott's rewards card. The chain is really going downhill on every level and hasn't impressed me in a while.