Hi,
I travel to Nashville every week for work. Nashville is a very very hotel-poor city. Meaning they do not currently have enough hotel infrastructure to support the tourism/demand.
The city has totally taken off in the last couple of years, with a ton of industry in the area, a thriving music/recording industry, and a central (enough) airport coupled with enough to do to convince a great deal of tourists to choose Nashville for small vacations.
When I began travelling to Nashville, I had a very hard time getting reservations at Marriotts. Within two months I had stayed at 3 different hotels. I eventually finagled someone into reserving me rooms for the rest of the year, and even though the downtown Renaissance is 25 minutes away from my client, I chose it as the best.
It is a great hotel - great location within walking distance of a ton of things to do. The Omni is probably the only hotel that is nicer, and while the Omni has a better location, it's impossible to drive in and out of because of one way streets bordered by water, and "honky tonk row" aka a heavily foot-trodden street that "blockades" you in to the Omni area.
I also have stayed at the Marriott Vanderbilt. Other than Vanderbilt, it's really not near anything within walking distance. However if you are going to an event or something at Vanderbilt, make sure you get a room that backs against the stadium because the view is AMAZING. You could actually watch a football game from the concierge lounge and it would be a pretty decent view.
Ok, so back to the Renaissance Nashville. Staff is amazing, gym is one of the better hotel gyms I've been to; with two benches, free-weights up to 50, and a cable tower. 8? treadmills, a bunch of ellipticals, and some other equipment that I don't care about. Staff is always on top of towel service. Water machine instead of water bottles which is annoying, but whatever - just bring one with you. There is a pool next to the gym, and while it's not an outdoor pool, it does have a deck that extends outside (I think - I never go out there, I just see what I see from the gym).
Rooms are fair/nice. Always ask for an x00, x34, or x16 room - there are 25 floors and the lounge is on the 24th. I like low floors because I hate elevators, and the lowest they have is the 5th.
Concierge lounge has really great staff; if you're coming to town I can introduce you or at least pass on their names to you and I'll tell them to look out for you.
Valet is really quick, though the kids are literally running across the street to the library to park your car....where you can park your car yourself for 10/day, while valet is $35.04. But whatever - I like the points on my Marriott card so I valet and order room service.
Room service is decent. I've never been wowed at any hotel to be honest. But then again I only travel for work and never internationally - so take that with a grain of salt.
All in all if you are going to Nashville, let me know! I doubt my project will go on for years, but I've been to most of the "touted" restaurants, and have done some heavy sightseeing as well. I can make recommendations.
Best,
--SS
I travel to Nashville every week for work. Nashville is a very very hotel-poor city. Meaning they do not currently have enough hotel infrastructure to support the tourism/demand.
The city has totally taken off in the last couple of years, with a ton of industry in the area, a thriving music/recording industry, and a central (enough) airport coupled with enough to do to convince a great deal of tourists to choose Nashville for small vacations.
When I began travelling to Nashville, I had a very hard time getting reservations at Marriotts. Within two months I had stayed at 3 different hotels. I eventually finagled someone into reserving me rooms for the rest of the year, and even though the downtown Renaissance is 25 minutes away from my client, I chose it as the best.
It is a great hotel - great location within walking distance of a ton of things to do. The Omni is probably the only hotel that is nicer, and while the Omni has a better location, it's impossible to drive in and out of because of one way streets bordered by water, and "honky tonk row" aka a heavily foot-trodden street that "blockades" you in to the Omni area.
I also have stayed at the Marriott Vanderbilt. Other than Vanderbilt, it's really not near anything within walking distance. However if you are going to an event or something at Vanderbilt, make sure you get a room that backs against the stadium because the view is AMAZING. You could actually watch a football game from the concierge lounge and it would be a pretty decent view.
Ok, so back to the Renaissance Nashville. Staff is amazing, gym is one of the better hotel gyms I've been to; with two benches, free-weights up to 50, and a cable tower. 8? treadmills, a bunch of ellipticals, and some other equipment that I don't care about. Staff is always on top of towel service. Water machine instead of water bottles which is annoying, but whatever - just bring one with you. There is a pool next to the gym, and while it's not an outdoor pool, it does have a deck that extends outside (I think - I never go out there, I just see what I see from the gym).
Rooms are fair/nice. Always ask for an x00, x34, or x16 room - there are 25 floors and the lounge is on the 24th. I like low floors because I hate elevators, and the lowest they have is the 5th.
Concierge lounge has really great staff; if you're coming to town I can introduce you or at least pass on their names to you and I'll tell them to look out for you.
Valet is really quick, though the kids are literally running across the street to the library to park your car....where you can park your car yourself for 10/day, while valet is $35.04. But whatever - I like the points on my Marriott card so I valet and order room service.
Room service is decent. I've never been wowed at any hotel to be honest. But then again I only travel for work and never internationally - so take that with a grain of salt.
All in all if you are going to Nashville, let me know! I doubt my project will go on for years, but I've been to most of the "touted" restaurants, and have done some heavy sightseeing as well. I can make recommendations.
Best,
--SS