TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Horrible experience at this “resort” - Despite being a Platinum Elite member, I was disappointed to find that I wasn't offered any upgrades upon check-in. The room assigned to me was small and had a limited balcony space, which didn't meet my expectations. - The most significant issue I encountered during my stay was the chaotic and frustrating experience at the pool area. Despite the early opening time of 8 AM, guests had to queue as early as 7 AM just to secure a spot, and even then, most of the chairs were quickly claimed by others who left personal items to reserve them. As a Platinum Elite member, I sought assistance from the front desk to secure a spot by the pool for my daughter and me, but unfortunately, despite being promised a call from the pool manager, I never received one. - The pool seemed to be the primary attraction at this resort, yet the lack of an efficient system for guests to access and enjoy this amenity detracted significantly from the overall experience. This poor management of the pool area has not only left me dissatisfied with this particular resort but has also tainted my perception of Marriott resorts in general. Overall, while the Renaissance Esmeralda resort and spa may “appear” like a visually pleasing environment, the issues surrounding guest experience, particularly at the pool, undermine its appeal and may deter guests from returning or recommending the property to others.

Where to begin…first off, if you’re looking for quiet or relaxing- this is NOT your place. It’s Disney level stressful. Pool? Plan on being in line at 7:30am to claim a lounge chair. Food? Plan on being in line for an hour. Parking? Plan on your car being stuck 9/10 times in self parking. Room? While nice, they’re loud…as in, the family next door to us was pretty much part of our three day stay. There is yelling and running through the halls until late into the night. Again- it’s Disneyland level stress. And as expensive! $700/night- we should have gone to Disneyland instead! If you don’t have young kids- don’t stay here. If you’re looking for quiet- don’t stay here. If you want good food- don’t stay here. We travel a lot. Resorts are our thing. Florida, Scottsdale, San Diego, Vegas, Maine, we’ve been all over. This is by far the most screwed up place we’ve ever visited. An adult pool and a quiet section of the hotel would go a long way. Until then- save this place for families with very loud children. They’re the only ones who may enjoy it. Kudos to the overworked staff. Definitely not enough of them, and they were great, but there’s only so much one person can do when they’re doing the job of 20 people. I can’t wait to get home.

We've been visiting the Renaissance Esmeralda since 1995, initially for work and these days when we join our friend who's there each year attending a conference. As we live locally it's a nice treat, a "staycation" of sorts. Over the years the upgrades and changes they've made have been mostly positive. The only reason I scored them "Very Good" rather than "Excellent" is that they charge a $40 resort fee that covers things that should be included anyway or that one simply has no use for during a one-night stay and because self-parking is $25 per night. While we certainly can afford it, the issue I have is the principle. It's common knowledge that I both personally and professionally detest resort fees in general and to charge for overnight parking in an open lot is really offensive and obviously simply a way to make extra revenue. That out of the way, I otherwise recommend this property and really appreciated the way they recognize Elite members (Platinum and above), offering a choice of either 1,000 Bonvoy points or the continental side of the breakfast buffet (the minimum required by Marriott) and this time a great reception that was essentially an ad hoc club lounge. We were also upgraded to a junior suite in advance of our arrival which was great! All in all, a pleasant stay and we look forward to being back for one more visit next year before our friend's conference relocates to another local property after almost 35 years at the Esmeralda.

The resort was very pleasant but is certainly looking like it could use some upgrading to both the interior and exterior. The main Cava restaurant was looking tired. The food was good (a bit surprisingly) but the staff were not well trained in service. One waiter advised he would check with the chef as to what the “white stuff” on the plate was. Twice I was in the main reception hall and not one single staff member could be found. Eventually, someone appeared from a door behind reception and apologized for the delay. Not a big deal, but in one case it had ben several minutes of waiting. It was a nice stay, but definitely it could be made better.

Just returned from a 5 night stay. Had a king room with a pool view. The room was very clean and spacious. Had a balcony and great view of the pool. All staff I spoke to were friendly and helpful. Room was cleaned daily. Cava is a great restaurant and I had the buffet breakfast. I also used Cava for lunch and dinner some days. Also liked that it had a very well equipped gift shop which stocked amenities too. Coffee shop on site also very good. Had a treatment at the spa which was excellent and also top class facilities such as the whirlpool. steam room and shower facilities/amenities provided.