Why Did I Want the REAL Marriott?

Had a nice weekend in St. Louis and returned "home" to Desloge early this PM.

Our stay in the Marriott West was not what I remembered Marriotts to be. We had to be moved to another room because of A/C problems. The new room had similar difficulties. The maintenance man admitted the hotel was old! I read on one of the reviews that cockroaches might be found - we saw none. However, the first night was uncomfortable - the bed had a thick duvet and we couldn't keep the room cold enough for that added insulation. There were no other blankets available in the room.

The next day we checked out and moved the Courtyard by Marriott a few blocks away. What a difference. The room rate was only $63 and everything was better. Better bed! Better A/C! A nice quiet courtyard to drink our wine, eat cheese, and enjoy the free cookies the hotel provided. We will go back to this hotel again.

On our first night in St. Louis, we opted for one of the old Italian places we used to frequent - Del Pietro's on the Hill. We have fond memories of wintertime dinners while watching gently falling snow through the large picture window. Boy, has it changed. We called to see if we needed a reservation for Friday - we were told it'd probably be ok without one. We arrived at 5:30pm and there was only one other car in the parking lot. Oh, Oh.

We were seated upstairs (in the past the lower level was always crowded and quite a few folk on the second level, as well. This time only one other couple shared the upstairs room with us and three couples were in the lower level. NO ONE was in the bar! The room with the large picture window was now a store room (or something). With no customers, the experience was not the same. The food was still good, but the current generation must eat elsewhere. We decided to try a newer place the next night.

The next day found us eating at Mimi's for breakfast and dinner at the Elephant Bar and Grill. A happening place at the West County shopping center. Very good food. Then a little more wine in the Courtyard.

Did some shopping - Donna purchased a couple of tops and I bought shoes, jeans and shorts.

A nice weekend break. We anticipate our next "vacation" in about three weeks.