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| The Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards |
This hotel is perfectly situated in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, MD; a block from Camden Yards, a pleasant 5 minute walk to the waterfront, across the street from the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower and only 20 minutes from the airport. This hotel is best suited for a business traveler or a tourist more interested in exploring the city than the hotel's amenities. Since I was both of these things on this solo trip, the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards was a great fit for me.
The Hotel
The lobby and common areas of this hotel are modern and comfortable. Catering to business travelers the amenities are limited; there is no pool, spa or free breakfast. There is a fitness center (which I didn't use) and a business center in the lobby. There is also a restaurant and self-serve beer and wine bar.
I stayed at this property because I was attending a conference being held there. When I arrived at 8am for a morning of pre-conference activities I was pleasantly surprised that conference guests were able to check-in. We've been blessed with early check-ins in our recent travel, but 8am is almost unheard of. This was a wonderful way to start my time at the hotel!
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| Comfortable, spacious 8th floor room with 2 queen beds |
The room was perfectly acceptable. The furnishings were modern but worn. The bed and pillows were very comfortable. The room and bathroom were clean. We don't stay in downtown areas too often so I loved the city view.
My room was on the 8th floor, right by the elevator and ice machine. While the location was convenient, it was a bit on the noisy side. Now I know why my husband always requests a room away from the elevator. Lesson learned, I'll always listen to my travel agent from now on!
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| Poe & Stormy - one strong drink! |
The hotel lobby is home to The Yard, a loft-inspired bar and restaurant serving seafood and classic American fare. I only had time to stop in for a drink, but while I was at the bar I overheard other patrons raving about their appetizers. The portions looked generous and I can tell you that my one drink was tasty and plenty strong! They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner along with a full bar.
The lobby also has a self-serve beer and wine bar. I'm not exactly sure how this worked, but it looked like something fun to try if I ever go back with my husband. The wooden bar top was gorgeous!
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| The self-serve bar |
While I've never been to a national conference before, I have been to other conferences at hotels in my local area. In terms of venue this was heads and tails above anything I've ever experienced. The conference space itself was comfortable and updated. The hotel provided a very professional AV technician who made sure that all the presentations ran smoothly with no technical issues what so ever.
The hotel provided breakfast each morning and lunch one afternoon. The breakfast included scrambled eggs, home-style potatoes, sausage, bacon, and continental options. Everything was excellent and plentiful. I was expecting a typical conference lunch with a salad, a soup and a chicken entree but I was pleasantly surprised with the make your own fajitas bar. They had all the fixings, steak, chicken, pork, fish, a chicken tortilla soup and a dessert station. Everyone was very pleased with this meal.
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| Can't wait to take my family back to the Inner Harbor! |
I wasn't sure what to expect before my trip, but the Inner Harbor is one cool little area! I went down to the waterfront around lunch time on a Friday afternoon and found food trucks in a park just across the street. The vibe was festive for both those on their lunch break and the smattering of tourists wandering around. Along the waterfront itself there are a variety of attractions and shopping, ranging from a Ripley's Believe It or Not to several military ships that can be toured. There are also many waterfront restaurants, including great local fare and national chains such as Uno's, Hooter's and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Another area I visited was Camden Yards, which was just a block from my hotel. I walked through a couple hours before an Oriole's game and loved the excitement bubbling everywhere. There were vendors firing up grills and outdoor bars playing music and serving beer. Just past the excitement were quiet streets lined with trees and row houses - it was delightful.
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| Outside of Camden Yards before a game on a nice fall day! |
Being in Baltimore for just a weekend and being busy with the conference I didn't get to explore as much as I would have liked, but I've already told my husband that we have to go back soon to see more!
Summary
Baltimore is a great long weekend destination and if you are planning on being out of the hotel more than in it, the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards is a great option. With clean, comfortable rooms, a modern lobby, a great location and professional staff you really can't go wrong with this hotel!
As always, we're happy to help you plan your own Baltimore trip!
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