Renaissance Grand & Suites Hotel050

The Renaissance Grand & Suites Hotel consists of a couple buildings; the Grand Tower on the south side of Washington, and the Suites on the north side of the street. This 23-floor hotel is right in the thick of things in downtown St. Louis, with attractions such as the Gateway Arch, the Gateway Arch Riverfront, Busch Stadium (where the St. Louis Cardinals play), the Historic Old Courthouse, and a visitor center all within walking distance. The hotel is very clean and elegantly adorned, and the rooms are spacious and well appointed. We found the staff - especially the concierge staff and even the parking garage attendants - to be incredibly helpful. Be sure to drop by the concierge desk for museum and dining suggestions, and pick up some brochures and maps while there.

Room amenities include coffee makers, irons and ironing boards, cable television, hair dryers, free local calls, and even a shoe shine service. Cribs and roll-away beds are available by request. Guest with valuables can stow them in safety deposit boxes at the front desk. In-room and meeting room wireless internet service is offered for an hourly or daily fee.

The Grand Tower offers an indoor pool, a hot tub, and a workout room on the third floor. Plenty of pool and workout towels are provided. We found the pool to be clean and quite nice, and were impressed with the large size of the hot tub.

Room service is available, but guests should definitely venture out of their rooms and down to one of the hotel's on-site restaurants. In-house dining choices include the Capri Restaurant (a casual spot to grab a nice breakfast, lunch, or dinner), An American Place (a formal dining place that's open for dinner only), and the Washington Avenue Bistro (the lobby restaurant, open for lunch and dinner).

Elite Status members of the Marriott Rewards program enjoy access to the hotel's Club Lounge, located on the 18th floor of the Grand Tower. The lounge hosts complimentary continental breakfasts on weekday mornings, hors d'ouerves in the early evenings Sunday through Thursday, and complimentary desserts Sunday through Thursday nights. Information about the Marriott Rewards program can be found on the hotel's website.