The Le Meridien Charlotte offers quiet refinement on the edge of Charlotte’s Uptown neighborhood.
Location
Located on the edge of Charlotte’s city center Uptown neighborhood, the property is well-placed for business visitors to the city or those that want to explore Charlotte’s vibrant nightlife. The property has parking available for guests arriving by car.
Address: North Tower, 555 S McDowell St, Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: +1 704-372-9610
Learn all about Marriott Bonvoy
Lobby
The lobby is split over two floors with the lower comprising Reception, a seating area, and the restaurant, Evoke. The design was contemporary and relaxing for guests waiting to check-in or for visitors to the hotel.
Suite
Due to my Marriott Bonvoy Titanium elite status, I was upgraded to a suite at check-in. However, I would not consider this to be a true suite but rather a large room. While the room was expansive, the space was not separated by closed doors, walls or partitions and the bed was in full view of common areas.
While I appreciated the additional footprint of the room, the middle of the room was vacant and the TV was a significant distance from the bed without a couch or chair positioned to watch at a closer distance. With some minor design tweaks, the room could be easily modified to better utilize the floor plan.
For example, at the entrance, the ice bucket and drink tray are positioned because it is the only available shelf. A small wall partition near the foot of the bed with a shelf could separate living and personal space while providing an area to set up the coffee station and moving the TV closer to a usable location.
Bedroom
The bed was comfortable, as to be expected from a premium brand such as Le Meridien. Soft, shaded lights on the bedside tables made for a relaxing stay. Behind the bed, the wall is decorated with a tasteful outline of the city adds to the high-quality finish of the property.
On the bed, a welcome mat with helpful placards was available. Unfortunately, the placards had not been replaced in some time The pieces were stained and dirty. While this may seem like a minute detail to include, it is the first thing I saw when I approached the bed.
It made me wonder if cleaning staff wouldn’t bother to change out a piece of paper, did they change the sheets?
The desk was an exceptional luxury with a metal-rimmed glass surface and high-quality leather chair. A coffee machine utilized a substantial portion of the surface, but didn’t inhibit my ability to work. Drawing back the curtains revealed views of Uptown.
Bathroom
A lighted mirror, large-panel tiles, and a rain showerhead gave the impression of a refined property. Marble countertops and a basin at the vanity added to the style of the bathroom.
Excellent Malin & Goetz toiletries were available in single-use tubes as opposed to mass distribution models mounted in the shower. As part of Marriott’s commitment to environmental concerns, single-use containers will be phased out in the future.
Marriott Bonvoy’s Service and Benefits
Titanium or Ambassador Bonvoy elite members are treated to benefits like free breakfast, lounge/club access, late checkout, and the additional bonus points.
Holding one of the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that provide entry-level status or status acceleration also make those guests eligible for an upgrade to a suite or more advantageous room, much like the suite I received.
My meetings were too early to take advantage of the breakfast, but I won’t miss out next time.
For more information on the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, see this post.
Why Marriott Bonvoy credit cards may be the best choice.
Value
Le Meridien Charlotte provides a refined experience for business and leisure guests to Charlotte’s Uptown neighborhood. The hotel has a wide range of prices as low as $180/nt to $320/nt.
As a general rule, the average nightly price is closer to $225, a reasonable price though not tremendous value for the area.
For Marriott Bonvoy members, prices start at 25,000/nt for a standard room. This provides a value of 0.9¢/point, double Suites and Lobbies valuation of 0.45¢/point. Given that 25,000 points are worth about $112, Suites & Lobbies recommend Bonvoy members pay with points for their stay.
For those considering other Marriott properties in Charlotte, there are many options, but none that present a greater value for Bonvoy points.
What do you think? Have you stayed at the Le Meridien Charlotte? How was your experience?
