Element by Marriott Santa Clara

Everything, was good. But breakfast could have more options

NA

The location

Paying for parking I don’t understand why we get charged for parking

Room was big and spacious. Very clean and staff was friendly

Nothing

This hotel was a little confusing for us. It has some fantastic qualities — the location is excellent if you’re visiting Levi's Stadium, the property itself is lovely, the rooms are very spacious, and overall the hotel was clean and well maintained. On arrival, we were greeted by the General Manager, who was absolutely wonderful. He went out of his way to make our children feel special by giving them soccer stickers, which was such a thoughtful gesture considering we had travelled specifically for the soccer. The hotel had also decorated beautifully with soccer-themed displays, which made us feel very welcomed and excited for the FIFA World Cup experience. The front desk staff were OK, and the pool area was perfectly adequate. Our room was very clean and spacious. We booked a room with a fold-out sofa bed and had noted that our children would be staying with us; however, the sofa bed was not prepared on arrival. I called for additional bedding, which was delivered, but it was only enough for one child. When I followed up and requested another pillow, the housekeeping staff member appeared unhappy with the request, which unfortunately made us feel less welcome. Overall, this hotel has a lot of potential. The location, cleanliness, spacious rooms, and the effort made by the General Manager were all positives. However, the service consistency, breakfast experience, and staff engagement really impacted our stay. One night was enough for us, but with improvements in these areas — especially creating a warmer and more welcoming environment — this could be a much better experience for future guests.

The biggest disappointment was the breakfast experience. For a Marriott International branded hotel, we felt the breakfast offering was well below the standard we expected. Being served on paper plates with plastic cutlery felt very underwhelming. The food quality was also disappointing. The atmosphere around breakfast was another area that could be improved. The staff appeared disengaged, standing around and watching guests rather than creating a welcoming dining experience. It felt uncomfortable, and we found ourselves wanting to leave rather than enjoy the morning.