My husband and I try to stay at this hotel every time we visit our daughter who attends the U of A. The hotel is clean, very recently renovated and offers a good value in a good location. I know that this hotel does not include breakfast, but has a bistro with many breakfast, lunch and dinner options, and does not have room service...but this is because all Marriott Courtyards operate this way. If you want room service and a full service restaurant, then you need to stay at either a JW Marriott or a Marriott hotel.

Marriott has many brands, of which Courtyard is one. Courtyard is more for the business traveler (sorry, can't explain the silly Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob key cards) or if you're just looking for a comfortable and contemporary place to stay that isn't overrun with young children.

I also wouldn't say we were "encouraged" to eat at their bistro; we were simply informed of it by the front desk when we checked in. I did use it on a couple of occasions to get hot chocolate (which happens to be Starbucks). They also have a small grocery/sundries area. Every room has a fridge. But if you want a very reasonably priced breakfast option (also works for lunch), I highly recommend The Good Egg, located a 2-minute walk across the parking lot in a very nice strip mall. There are also many dinner option restaurants within walking distance (BJ's, Sauce, Pei Wei, On the Border, Macaroni Grill) or others that are a short drive away (you need to have a car to really get around in Tucson).

While the Courtyard is not exactly a resort (and it's not meant to be), this one does have a lovely pool and courtyard area. It's actually quite peaceful. There is also a small gym with two treadmills, a recumbant bike, an elliptical machine and free weights (there is also a water cooler). Nothing fancy, but it's free and gets the job done. Oh, and there is a hot tub located under an overhang just outside the gym.

As many parents visiting their college student children do, we do our daughter's laundry at the hotel. There are laundry facilities on each floor. No need to buy detergent (just push the button to dispense), but of course you do have to pay for the use of the washing machine and dryer.

I do apologize for this late review, but I was a bit disturbed by one of the more recent ones, which is why I addressed the Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob key cards, the lack of room service and that Marriott is made up of several brands of hotel which offer different levels of service and accommodation.

I also just booked this Courtyard again for an upcoming stay in May. And I got a very good rate b/c as a travel agent, I was able to explore a number of options. And the best option was booking a contracted rate through a company called Travel Bound. Only travel agents can access this company as consumers cannot book directly with them. But for a 2-night stay at the end of May, I am paying a total of $160. That's $80/night including tax. That's a good deal.

Hope this review clarifies some misconceptions about this hotel.