TownePlace Suites by Marriott Birmingham South

Negatives: My recent stay at the hotel was generally satisfactory, but there were aspects that necessitated a more nuanced evaluation, particularly regarding the room booking and description accuracy. Upon booking, I opted for a King Studio with Sofa Bed, swayed by the images displayed on the website （see the pictures posted on Booking.com), which promised a spacious and well-appointed studio. However, upon arrival and accessing my assigned room (Room 303), it became apparent that the reality starkly contrasted with my expectations. The room provided was markedly smaller and lacked the 'studio' feel, aligning more closely with a standard room configuration (as shown in the figure I attached). Seeking clarification, I approached the reception with my concern, presenting the images that influenced my booking decision. While the receptionist acknowledged the discrepancy between the website's portrayal and the actual room assigned, the explanation offered was that the images on the website were "misleading." According to her, Room 303 qualifies as a "studio" within their categorization, despite the clear differences in size and layout from what was advertised. This experience has led me to question the reliability of the imagery used for room advertising, a tool I've depended on for years with minimal issues, especially through platforms like Booking.com. The term "misleading" used in the explanation provided was particularly perplexing, as it suggests a known disparity between advertised and actual offerings, which is not a practice I've frequently encountered in my extensive use of Booking.com. Moreover, the hotel's high overall rating of 9.2 contributed to my decision to book a stay. Reflecting on my experience, I find it challenging to reconcile this rating with the aspects of service and accommodation that fell short of expectations, specifically in the realm of transparent and accurate room representation.

Negatives: The staff was in the back room on their phone with no one at the front counter, and the breakfast had much to be desired. The room didn't look at all like the pictures on the site.

Negatives: Check in from the booking .com was a big to do when we got there.

Negatives: Mattress could be better and needs more lighting in the room

Negatives: There was nothing I didn't like about it