Long Island Marriott: Your Dream NY Getaway Awaits!
Long Island Marriott: My Dream NY Getaway? Maybe…Let's Dive In!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to tell you everything about the Long Island Marriott. This isn't your polished, corporate brochure review. This is real – the good, the bad, and the "Did I really just see that?"
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- Title: Long Island Marriott Review: Honest Thoughts & My Crazy NY Getaway Experience
- Keywords: Long Island Marriott, NY Hotels, Uniondale, Accessibility, Spa, Pool, Dining, Hotel Review, New York Getaway, Family-friendly hotels, Long Island Hotels with Pool, Accessible Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Things to do Long Island
- Meta Description: Unfiltered review of the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, NY. Explore accessibility, amenities like the spa and pool, dining options, and whether it's worth the trip. Learn about my real-life experience!
First Impressions: The Parking Lot Blues (and the Elevator's Secret Life)
So, I pull up, excited for my "dream NY getaway" (that's what the Marriott website promised, anyway). First thing? Parking. They say "car park on-site," which is true, but it's like a concrete jungle. Finding a spot felt like a scavenger hunt. Thankfully, it's free parking, at least – otherwise, I'd have lost it right there.
The lobby? Standard Marriott. Polished, a bit… sterile. My immediate thought was: "Could use some personality." But hey, I'm not here to judge the wallpaper! (Yet.) The front desk was reasonably efficient, thanks to the "Contactless check-in/out" option, smooth enough. But the elevator? That thing had a mind of its own. Sometimes it rushed, sometimes it crawled, and sometimes it just… sat there, judging my life choices. More on that later.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Frankly
Okay, let's get serious. "Accessibility" is a big one for me. They tout "Facilities for disabled guests," and that's promising. The website mentions "Wheelchair accessible" – good. The actual experience? Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The ramps and elevators were there, which is a plus. But some hallways felt a bit narrow, and the signage could be better. More specific, like, are the rooms truly accessible? I didn't check, sadly.
The Room: Cleanliness AND (Maybe) Mystery
My room was… fine. "Cleanliness and safety" definitely seemed to be a priority. They mentioned "Room sanitization between stays," and the place felt clean. I appreciate the "Anti-viral cleaning products," especially these days. I even saw a "Smoke detector" and a "Fire extinguisher" (phew!). They listed "Non-smoking rooms" – excellent.
But… there was a faint, lingering scent. Not bad, but not… fresh. Like the ghost of a previous guest who really enjoyed their air freshener. Nothing major, just a tiny mystery.
The Amenities: Spa Day Dreams and Poolside Realities
Alright, the fun stuff! They've got a “Spa,” a “Sauna,” a “Steamroom,” a “Swimming pool” (Outdoor), a “Gym/fitness” center, and a “Body scrub” and “Body wrap”. That sounds lovely, right? (I envisioned myself slipping into a fluffy robe and being pampered.)
The spa? I didn't make it. Didn't get around to it! Life, work, and the siren song of room service got in the way. (Yes, a good "Room service [24-hour]" is a blessing.) But, I did see the pool. I went "Swimming pool [outdoor]", and it was… underwhelming. The pictures looked amazing, the reality was a bit… chlorine-y. It was functional and safe. It had a "Poolside bar" which was pretty cool.
Dining: The Buffet, the Bar, and the Quest for a Decent Coffee
The "Restaurants" situation was… interesting. They offer various "Dining, drinking, and snacking" options: "A la carte in restaurant," "Asian cuisine in restaurant," "Bar," "Breakfast [buffet]," "Coffee shop," "Happy hour," "International cuisine in restaurant," "Poolside bar," "Restaurants," "Snack bar," "Vegetarian restaurant," and "Western cuisine in restaurant."
The “Breakfast [buffet],” now that I experienced, was a real mixed bag. The "Buffet in restaurant" itself was a bit chaotic, a bit like a food-themed Hunger Games. The "Coffee/tea in restaurant," well, let's just say I'm a coffee snob. It wasn't the worst coffee I've ever had, but it definitely wasn't the best. I almost wished they’d offered "Coffee/tea in room".
I was really hungry after that, so I tried the "Snack bar". That was my saving grace, simple, affordable, and pretty good. I also took a look at the "Bar". My experience was a bit "Happy hour"-fueled, so I didn't remember it all. The food was good, but the bar's atmosphere was, again, kinda sterile. The "Bottle of water" was a savious.
Safety and Cleanliness: Did They Really Sanitize?
Here's the thing: I was feeling reassured by all the "Cleanliness and safety" measures. "Daily disinfection in common areas," "Staff trained in safety protocol," "Hand sanitizer" everywhere… they were trying. I appreciated it. They even had "Individually-wrapped food options," which made me feel safe during the buffet skirmish. "Sanitized kitchen and tableware items," all good. But, that lingering scent in the room… still a mystery.
Getting Around: The Train or the Taxi?
They offer "Airport transfer" and "Taxi service." I didn't use either (rental car life!), but I saw taxis lining up, so that's a good sign. Getting anywhere from the hotel, though… it felt a little bit isolated. Gotta drive, gotta take a taxi. Public transport, I imagine, is a bit of a trek.
For the Kids: Babysitting, Really?
"For the kids," they list "Babysitting service" and "Family/child friendly" – good to know for families. I didn't see any kids (thankfully – I needed my peace!), but it seemed like a decent option for families.
The Verdict: Dream NY Getaway? Maybe Not. But…
So, would I call this a "dream NY getaway"? Honestly? No. But it’s… fine. It's a solid, reliable, slightly-sterile hotel. If you need a place to stay near Uniondale, it's a good option. If you're looking for a soul-stirring, memory-making experience? Maybe look elsewhere.
The Upsides:
- Cleanliness is a priority (mostly).
- Convenient amenities (pool, gym, etc.)
- Front desk staff for the most part helpful.
- Free parking (a miracle!)
The Downsides:
- Atmosphere is a bit bland.
- The food and drink are uninspired.
- The elevator has its own agenda.
- Location is a bit isolated.
- Accessibility, while present, could be improved.
My Final Thought (and a little self-indulgence):
Look, I wasn't miserable. I slept, I ate, I got away from my life for a bit (even if just on Long Island). But I'm not sure the Long Island Marriott totally lived up to the "Dream NY Getaway" hype. I'd return, but I wouldn't rush back. But, hey, at least I have a story (and hopefully, a helpful review!) to tell.
P.S. If you see a weird smell in room 617, let me know. I'm dying to know what it was.
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Alright, buckle up buttercup, because you're about to get the unvarnished truth about my Long Island Marriott adventure. This ain't your glossy brochure, folks. This is real life, with all the spilled coffee and existential dread included.
Day 1: Arrival… and Panic (ish)
1:00 PM - Arrival at JFK, Transportation and the Great Taxi Heist: Okay, so I arrive at JFK. I was supposed to pre-book a car service, but, you know, life. Cue the frantic app-swiping, the sudden realization I’m directionally challenged, and the intense negotiation with a taxi driver who looked like he'd seen things. I swear, he tried to take me on a scenic tour of Queens – a scenic tour through a demolition derby. Ended up paying way more than expected, but hey, I'm alive. That’s a win, right?
2:30 PM - Check-in & Room Reveal…Or Is It a Prison Cell?: The Long Island Marriott. Exterior? Fine, I guess. Lobby? Standard hotel lobby, a beige blur. Check-in was surprisingly quick. Then… the room. Okay, it's clean. That’s the first positive. The view of the… parking lot? Not quite the “breathtaking panorama” the website promised. It's a wall of bricks, the prison style. I'm trying to find the positive, but it's hard. It's a reminder that the real world can be disappointing, kind of like my ex. I unpack, find a half-eaten bag of mystery chips in my bag (which I swear weren't mine. Maybe they were a souvenir?).
4:00 PM - The Quest for Caffeine and the Coffee Apocalypse: I need coffee. Badly. The in-room coffee maker looks like it pre-dates the internet. So, I venture downstairs to the "Starbucks" (loosely defined). The line. Oh, the humanity! It's like a pre-apocalyptic coffee queue. People are hangry, bags are dropped, babies are screaming. I finally get to the front, and I'm greeted with a grumpy barista who looks like she hasn't slept in a decade. I order a large latte. It arrives lukewarm, and tastes suspiciously like dishwater. My dreams of a caffeinated paradise are shattered. I drink it anyway. Gotta get back on my schedule.
7:00 PM - Dinner Fiasco: The hotel restaurant, "The Porch," is the only option nearby. I figured it would be convenient, but, ugh. I'm seated next to a table of what sounds like a family from the mob, but I'm not sure. The food? Mediocre. The service? Snail-paced. I almost walk out. Seriously. One of the waiters accidentally bumps into my chair, spills water on me, then just… stares. No apology. Nada. Dinner = Disaster.
Day 2: Diving Deep (and Surviving)
8:00 AM – Breakfast of Champions (and Regret): The buffet. Oh, the buffet. It's a glorious land of scrambled eggs of questionable origin, rubbery bacon, and pastries that look suspiciously like they pre-date the hotel itself. I fill a plate. I regret it. I also, consume at least four cups of lukewarm coffee. I feel a slow descent into the breakfast coma.
9:00 AM – The Long Island Exploration (Attempted): Okay, I figured I'd be adventurous. I was looking for some historical sites, maybe a beach, or a fancy antique shop, the hotel staff said "Go to the Huntington Library" I got in an uber and I was on my way, it seemed about a 40 mins drive.
9:40 am There's a detour, and one of the roads is closed! the driver takes a 40 mins detour and finally takes me to the Huntington Library, but the view is worth it!
12:00 PM – Lunch (and Redemption?): I had a light lunch at a cafe near the Huntington Library which had a great selection of soups and sandwiches with a great view from its back door. I took my time and enjoyed it.
1:30 PM - Back at the Marriott of Disappointment: After driving through Long Island, I returned to the hotel. I spent some time in the gym, the gym was small, but it was functional to run on the treadmill. I went to the pool afterward.
7:00 PM - Dinner and the Miracle of (Almost) Good Food: I decided to try another restaurant, and it was good, I wanted to eat something different and I was in the mood for Italian food. It was the best food I had so far in this trip.
Day 3: Departure and the Existential Dread:
8:00 AM – Buffet Rematch: I return to the scene of the crime. I attempt to eat something healthy, but the siren song of the sugary cereals and the fatty bacon is calling my name. I succumb.
9:00 AM – The Long Goodbye (to the Parking Lot View): I pack. I gather my things. I check out. I feel…nothing. Mostly, relief. But also, a tiny bit of sadness? Maybe it’s because the adventure is over, or because I've become oddly fond of the hotel's mediocrity. Or maybe I'm just hungry.
10:00 AM – Getting to JFK (Take Two, Electric Boogaloo): Praying to the travel gods for a non-demolition derby taxi experience. I end up with a driver who won't stop talking to me about his cats. He actually starts to seem like a decent person. It's a long drive, I zone out, thinking about all the things I need to do once I get back home, and the journey in the Long Island Marriott fades in my recollections.
(Final Assessment): The Long Island Marriott. It's… a hotel. An imperfect, slightly disappointing, utterly unremarkable hotel. But through the chaos, the mediocre food, and the parking-lot view, I survived. And, maybe, just maybe, that's what makes it a memorable experience. Or maybe it’s just because I'm still running on caffeine. Who knows. In the end, I'm glad I came. I think. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a real cup of coffee… and a therapist.
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Long Island Marriott: Your Dream NY Getaway? (Maybe. Let's be honest, folks...)
So, is the Long Island Marriott... actually *good*? I've seen conflicting reviews. Honestly, spill the tea!
Okay, let's get real. The "good" depends on your expectations, your tolerance for... well, *hotelness,* and the kind of day you're having. Going in expecting the Ritz? Buddy, you're in the wrong place. Expecting a clean, functional, and relatively convenient basecamp for exploring Long Island? Then, yeah, it's *usually* fine.
I've stayed there a few times. Once, I was on a business trip, and it was the perfect boring backdrop for endless spreadsheets. Another time, I was dragging my family there for a weekend getaway. THAT was a whole different ball game. Let's just say the kids’ enthusiasm didn’t quite match the pictures on the website. Remember that “free continental breakfast" that was actually just bagels and lukewarm coffee? Yeah. That.
Ultimately, it’s a solid, dependable hotel. Just don't expect miracles. It’s the beige minivan of hotels. Does it get you where you need to go? Yup. Is it thrilling? Nah. But sometimes, beige is *exactly* what you need.
What are the rooms like? Are they... clean? And what about the size? I need space!
Clean is a sliding scale, right? Generally, they're *clean enough*. I always do the weird little hotel room inspection – you know, the one where you check under the bed for rogue socks and questionable dust bunnies? My last stay? Surprisingly decent. No epic fails. But, I *did* find a stray crumb on the desk... a very lonely crumb. I have to wonder what that crumb had seen? Probably a lot of business people. Sad.
Size is another factor. Standard rooms are… standard. Not palatial. If you're traveling with a whole family, you can make it work, but you'll likely be maneuvering around luggage like a competitive slalom skier. Upgrade if you can! The suites are a bit more spacious – worth it if you value personal space and the ability to avoid stepping on tiny plastic toys for an entire weekend (speaking from... experience). But hey, at least you've got space for those *two* suitcases you packed, just in case!
Location, location, location! Is it actually convenient for, like, anything? Like getting to the city?
Okay, the location is… *decent*. It's near the airport, which is great if you're flying in and out. (Though, that also means you get those lovely airplane noises.) But the city? Eh. It’s not *right there*. Expect a drive, or a train ride, or a drive *and* a train ride *and* maybe a small airplane if you really want to get somewhere quickly.
The upside? It’s in a relatively easy-to-navigate area of Long Island. You can get to beaches, shopping, and other, more exciting Long Island destinations without a *massive* headache. Think of it as a launching pad, not a central hub. You have to choose your quests wisely. And make sure to budget *significant* commute time into your calculations. I swear, I once spent more time in the back of a taxi to NYC from the Long Island Marriott than I spent actually *in* NYC!
The food! The most important question! What's the deal with the restaurants? Is there *actual* good food?
Alright, let's not get our hopes up too high. The on-site restaurants are... serviceable. They exist. They feed you. You won’t necessarily write home about them, but you probably won't starve. That’s a win, right?
The options vary. There's typically a more casual restaurant, and a slightly fancier one. I’ve had a perfectly edible burger at the casual spot. But... and this is a big but... I will never forget the overpriced, bland pasta dish I ordered at the "fancier" place on a particularly stressful trip. It's burned into my memory! It was like they'd taken the most flavorless ingredients they could find and assembled them with extreme apathy. It was a culinary experience in… non-experience. It was actually... impressive. How do you make pasta *that* boring? I’m still marveling at it.
My advice? Scope out local restaurants if you can. Use the hotel as a jumping-off point. Long Island has some amazing food, you just have to venture beyond the Marriott's immediate vicinity. And maybe pack a few snacks, just in case.
Pool! Gym! Amenities! What's the fun stuff?
They have a pool. It's… a pool. Indoor, I believe. I haven’t actually *used* the pool at the Marriott. See, my family is always… *busy*. We're always rushing from attraction to attraction, fueled by lukewarm coffee and vague promises of "fun." We briefly considered the pool once, but the lure of the next... *whatever-we-were-doing-that-day*... was too strong.
The gym... yeah, it's there. I've walked past it. Looked clean through the glass. I'm a runner and I can tell you now: running around a hotel is boring, so it's a pass for me. A gym is a gym. Use it or don’t. (I didn’t.)
Other amenities? Standard stuff. Wi-Fi (usually works, sometimes you need to reset your device three times). Business center (because, you know, business). Parking (which can be a bit of a hassle, but hey, it's Long Island). Look, it's not a resort. It's a hotel. A functional hotel, but still a hotel.
Okay, so... overall, would you recommend the Long Island Marriott? Or, are you secretly judging me for even considering it?
Look, I'm not *judging* you. I've *been* there. I've stayed there multiple times! The Long Island Marriott is perfectly fine for what it is. It won't win any awards, it's not an *experience*. It's a very generic hotel that gets the job done.
Here's my take: If you need a convenient, reliable place to stay, and you're not expecting luxury, it's a solid choice. If you're on a budget, or if you need to be near the airport, then it might be perfect. I'd stay again. But I'm not expecting a transformative, life-altering vacation. Just a place to sleep, shower, and charge my phone so I can get on with my Long Island adventures. And after all, isn’t that all you need?
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