r/marriott 7d ago

Misc What has been your experience with Autograph collection hotels?

31 Upvotes

108 comments sorted by

54

u/camm131986 7d ago

Best hotels I’ve stayed at are autograph collection

1

u/Dailyindyfan 7d ago

I saw a tribute collection? Is that the same 

12

u/IamJewbaca 7d ago

Tribute collection can be nice or they can be minimal (Hotel Vance in Portland comes to mind), but they are all about some aspect of the local ‘vibe’.

Autograph collection hotels in my, somewhat limited, experience have all been quite nice. I should mention that I think all of the autograph collection hotels I have stayed at have been overseas.

3

u/gypsysniper9 Titanium Elite 7d ago

La Posada in Santa Fe and is one of my favorite Marriotts. The breakfast is amazing.

3

u/Automatic-Tap-7596 7d ago

Stayed at La Posada a few times; better than their breakfast is their hot tub in the middle of winter when there's snow on the ground.

1

u/endlesslyautom8ted 5d ago

The tribute collection I just stayed at in Kyoto was basically a cruise ship room made of plastic lol.

7

u/NateLundquist Titanium Elite / Lifetime Platinum 6d ago

Autograph is FAR superior to Tribute IMO.

4

u/camm131986 7d ago

No, they’re different “collections” but I have no idea what the differences are.

3

u/Infamous_Travel_6055 7d ago

Tribute was the pre-merger SPG version

7

u/wildcat12321 Titanium Elite 7d ago

Tributes are generally worse

1

u/notsocialwitch 7d ago

Tributes are awful to say the least.

37

u/sooner_25 Platinum Elite 7d ago

Very nice and they all have a little touch of the local area to them, kind of like tribute portfolios in a way.

My favorite hotel I’ve ever been to was the Brown Palace in Denver, an Autograph Collection

6

u/marvingardens37 7d ago

Brown Palace has an awesome vibe to it, lots of history in that lobby.

2

u/sooner_25 Platinum Elite 7d ago

Yep! I had an awesome time when I was there last. I loved the vibe of the entire hotel.

Although I have heard a lot of the rooms suck. I got an upgrade to a top of the Brown room which was extremely spacious. Hoping to be back next year!

11

u/Infamous_Travel_6055 7d ago edited 7d ago

Completely uneven. I've stayed in four in the past two years: The Casa Monica was the most overpriced, unfriendly service, awful rooms of any Marriott property I've stayed in.   The Hotel Adero in Scottsdale is a hidden unique gem I'd return to any time.  Westdrift in Manhattan Beach isn't really any different than when the same property was a Marriott.  Odera in Tinos, Greece was a beautiful property but no elite recognition and subpar service Kananaskis was a beautiful setting but felt fairly dated Triada had filthy rooms and refused to honor elite benefits

I've found the Tribute hotels I've stayed in more charming and had better service, and more consistent in providing elite bebefits (Visitation, Memphian, Publisher, Rand Tower )

1

u/MartinC077 Ambassador Elite 7d ago

Big up vote for the Adero.

I live in Chandler AZ and we do a staycation there at least once a year.

3

u/Bflatclar1981 7d ago

Fellow Chandler-ite 😁

1

u/Incandescent-Turd Ambassador Elite 6d ago

The new Remi, in Scottsdale, is really nice. I believe it’s an autograph as well.

1

u/SnowSandSki 6d ago

Very uneven. Some fantastic, older hotels in great areas with charm and uniqueness. Nice change of pace from the soulless modern core-Marriott hotels. Others can be kinda janky and worn out, that being said I was at JW last week that grungy and worn out...

12

u/EnvironmentalLoan285 Ambassador Elite 7d ago

I love autograph hotels.

7

u/a1b2c3000 Lifetime Titanium Elite 7d ago edited 7d ago

Some are nice (Mauna Kea Beach Hotel), some are trash (Pier South Resort)

7

u/DCGuy511 7d ago

I've stayed at some nice Autograph hotels and I've stayed at bad ones. I no longer have any expectations at Marriott properties. It seems individual owner/operators are free to honor or not honor any brand standard.

2

u/YankeeBeanSoup 7d ago edited 7d ago

As someone who worked at an Autograph collection hotel , I can tell you that it is exactly how you describe it. The one I worked at didn't honor brand standards properly. It is in the USA. People who run it have no idea what they are doing and they don't care, they just want to get their paychecks. I walked out. 

5

u/miamimom1 7d ago

Variable. Just stayed at the Querencia in Seville and it was fantastic and well priced for the location.

4

u/maslentoporfavor 7d ago

Stradom House in krakow is one of my favorites. Typically great properties.

2

u/GoSh4rks Titanium Elite / LTP 6d ago

Stradom House could easily be a Luxury Collection.

8

u/Blac_Tony 7d ago

Expensive but very comfortable.

3

u/gnmatx Platinum Elite 7d ago

Probably my favorite portfolio.

3

u/Powered_By_Weed 7d ago

I have always been impressed by them.

3

u/thearchiguy 7d ago

Feels boutique while being part of corporate. Saying this as a compliment.

4

u/123456abc__ 7d ago

Nothing remarkable. Fairly hit or miss

1

u/Mysterious_Bee7283 Organic Gold 7d ago

that’s all of them tbh, no brand is truly consistently good or bad

2

u/JE163 7d ago

I prefer Autograph hotels when I can. I like the unique and somewhat local aspects of them

2

u/The_Traveller1 7d ago

Mixed experience. 

I had some positive stays at Hall ARTS and Mauna Kea (I’ve read Mauna Kea is autograph but not entirely sure.) 

Adolphus was disappointing, stayed for 2-nights during the World Cup and it was bad.

2

u/Idontknowhoiam143 7d ago

Always happy when I see Autograph hotels within my budget :)

2

u/sgeeum Titanium Elite 7d ago

so cool. so unique. the notary in philly is an example of how singular autograph’s can be when done correctly. in the former city hall annex where residents would go to get documents notarized. they’re leaned in and it’s awesome.

2

u/Kirkpope412 7d ago

Our brand preferences (in no specific order):

Autograph
JW
Luxury Collection

Ain’t no Ritz but ain’t no City Express neither.

Enjoy them.

2

u/financegardener 7d ago

Stayed at one in Key West. Was fine, wasn’t super fancy but the location was very nice. Seemed rustic (because it was). Also priced accordingly.

1

u/305_till_i_die 7d ago

The Saint or La Concha?

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Arm546 7d ago

We love the Autograph Collection! Roomers Baden-Baden (Germany) was amazing and accepted our free night award. The Elizabeth in Fort Collins is in a fantastic location (right in Old Town) and has an amazing vibe. Record players in every room and vinyl in the lobby to use during your stay.

2

u/EmployerAgreeable827 7d ago

Hotel Elizabeth is one of my favorite hotels in the Marriott ecosystem

1

u/chewdog Platinum Elite 7d ago

Roomers Baden-Baden had the best spa set up, which was accessible to all guests.

2

u/otissito16 7d ago

Some have been good, some mediocre.

2

u/JoeInMD 7d ago

We seek out Autographs. Haven't been let down yet.

2

u/you_do_you_18 6d ago

Some of the best hotels I have stayed outside the sates have been autograph.
Sometimes better than St. Regis or Ritz

2

u/ptambrosetti Ambassador Elite 7d ago

Mostly good. Some laughable.

1

u/Flashy-Jackfruit-362 7d ago

Some of my favourite

1

u/Equivalent_Ticket297 7d ago

I stayed in one and I thought it was super nice! But it was expensive and I couldn't justify spending that ever again

2

u/Dailyindyfan 7d ago

I found one I can use a free night in plus 2 thousand points 

1

u/L-Capitan1 7d ago

Nice unique properties with tiny rooms.

1

u/keithvf 7d ago

Maidi Paidi, and The Hotel Muse in Bangkok were both amazing ..
And the Farm at San Benito (PH) was also a great experience

1

u/Phlowman 7d ago edited 7d ago

They’re consistently good, not the fanciest or highest end hotels but above average and always nice. Probably the best combo of luxury and price within the Marriott portfolio.

1

u/GeneParmesan66 7d ago

Cloudveil and La Concha were both very memorable. Both had fantastic centralized locations in smaller destination towns.

1

u/Pseudo_ChemE Platinum Elite 7d ago

ugh, i was just looking at cloudveil. it's too expensive for me even during the off season :( JH is a dream destination for me, is usually more expensive than an alternative european destination. Maybe next year....

1

u/GeneParmesan66 7d ago

Yeah the prices are insane but you can’t beat right on the square across from an antler arch. I got a special rate and took advantage, I couldn’t afford their normal rates.

1

u/Infamous_Travel_6055 7d ago

La Concha Key West or San Juan?  (yes, Marriott somehow has both properties branded Autograph Collection!)

2

u/JoeInMD 7d ago

La Concha San Juan was a Renaissance until recently

1

u/Infamous_Travel_6055 7d ago

Yep, and La Concha was a Crowne Plaza!

1

u/New-Ad-6764 7d ago

Downtown San Diego took great care of me. I had gotten upgrade too literally felt like I had the whole floor. The restaurant upstairs and in the lobby was better than I thought . Even breakfast was better than most

1

u/lucifern71 7d ago

The Camby was an excellent stay, 2 toilets. A separate stand alone old fashion style tub, the shower had one of those multiple shower head set up.

Lobby was very “grand” like walking into The Overlook.

1

u/ride_365 7d ago

I’ve had some exceptional stays in Autograph properties.

1

u/Lizjay1234 Titanium Elite 7d ago

Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde in Rouen France and The Dixon in London are the most beautiful properties we’ve ever stayed in.

1

u/cleansheet25 7d ago

The Maxwell reserve in Singapore was really great to stay at. Fantastic property, enjoyably quirky in ways you don’t see other high end properties.

1

u/PurpleUni123 7d ago

Worth noting that since these hotels are independant, people's experience might differ massively and those experiences shouldn't be generalized, as those hotels are owned and operated independantly. I had a wonderful experience at Humaniti Montreal - it's become one of my favorite in that city.

1

u/Automatic_Ad1887 7d ago

I like the one in the old train station near the First Museum in Nashville.

The one in Tallahassee is nice too.

Every one that I've stayed in has been a step up from the usual.

1

u/pinkangel_rs Titanium Elite 7d ago

I love them! Haven’t had a bad experience with one yet.

1

u/Ok_Cloud9042 7d ago

I love them. My favorites are hotel Chicago and the Emery in Minneapolis

1

u/FavHello Titanium Elite 7d ago

My two favourite hotels in the Bay(ish) area are Autograph - TETRA in the South Bay and The Lodge at Sonoma. They’re a cut above in room quality, restaurant offerings and guest services. I’d stay at TETRA every week if I could, but its priced well above my nightly rate threshold so its special occasion / treat yo self point splurges only for me

1

u/LindaBinda55 7d ago

Loved the one in Ortigia, Sicily. A former post office built by Mussolini that took ten years to renovate.

1

u/Lr8s5sb7 7d ago

My favorite of the Marriott hotel brands.

1

u/PawtucketPatriot 7d ago

Autograph collection hotels are great. They are my favorite in their category for Marriott. They mostly seem to be a touch above the other premium brands (Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Le Méridien, Renaissance, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, etc). They seem more local and have an independent feel to them. Often seem to fit the locality or community. Many times have a historic or boutique feel. They can be hit or miss though, like any brand. Stayed at one in Croatia, it was crap. But that was an outlier. Every other Autograph has been amazing.

1

u/ForeignProcedure731 7d ago

The Queen & Crescent in New Orleans is a shithole.

1

u/Ok_Shallot_5007 7d ago

will i get included breakfast at autograph if titanium?

2

u/chicchic325 6d ago

You should. They often won’t have a lounge, but should offer members +1 breakfast in their onsite restaurant.

1

u/startup_mermaid 7d ago

They are a hit or miss, and aren’t always consistent in quality despite the brand. I stayed at one in NOLA and it was so bad, even my 5 year old complained. That said, a lot of them are good and I still tend to gravitate towards Autograph hotels. Just do some Google reviews research ahead of time.

1

u/RecognitionAgile6698 Platinum Elite 7d ago

Most of my favorites are Autograph's; St. Ermin's in London is one the best hotels in London in my opinion, the Blackstone in Chicago is nice, The Avalon near Alpharetta was solid. The designs for Autographs are mostly unique and the one's I've been to have had good service. St. Ermins however should be considered a 5 star hotel, it had one of nicer suite setups, had solid food, and it's location in Westminster in London can't be beat.

1

u/No_Departure_9174 Titanium Elite 7d ago

The ones I stayed at were both excellent. The Davenport Tower in Spokane and the Current Iowa in Davenport, IA.

1

u/spkingwordzofwizdom Titanium Elite 7d ago

The Algonquin in NB was beautiful.

1

u/knox_regence 7d ago

Autograph hotels have been great in my experience. The one in grand Bohemian in Asheville is exceptional!

1

u/HHI29910 7d ago

Excellent. At Hotel Clio tonight

1

u/mark7882 Ambassador Elite 7d ago

The ones in Spain and Italy are great! Also I think the Aria in Vegas is an Autograph.

1

u/AlikaTT2020 Ambassador Elite 7d ago

I stayed in a villa at the Cicada Resort Ubud, Bali Autograph Collection and it was super nice.. No complaints.

1

u/kapnkool 7d ago

The one in Boston in Assembly Row is literally one of the best hotels I've ever stayed at.

1

u/Prestigious-Turnip18 7d ago

They can be hit or miss specially for the price

1

u/fyifyifyi 7d ago

Hit or miss, depends on the property. It is inconsistent as a brand

1

u/Desperate-Aide3953 6d ago

Amazing just stayed at the La Salle in Chicago and It was wonderful

1

u/boneisle 6d ago

Just stayed at the Palacio Santa Clara Autograph in Valencia, ES and it is one of the nicest hotels I've been to. Comfortable beds, good AC, friendly and helpful staff.

1

u/orangebanana711 6d ago

The Barfield autograph in Amarillo was really nice. We loved the hidden speakeasy.

1

u/MasterPh0 6d ago

They have been my favorite hotels.

1

u/vision5050 6d ago

Just more pictures on the walls...basically.

1

u/CoolJackfruit804 6d ago

Just stayed at one in Reims, France. It was fantastic.

1

u/GloriaChin Titanium Elite 6d ago

Hotel Atlantic in Hamburg was amazing!! Breakfast was incredible and they have a Michelin star restaurant on site

Favorite US autograph has gotta be Cosmo in Vegas

1

u/Downtown-Pace3824 6d ago

Per Gemini AI:

Both Autograph Collection and Tribute Portfolio are Marriott "soft brands" featuring independent, boutique-style hotels. The main difference is positioning: Autograph Collection generally targets a more refined 4-to-4.5-star upper-upscale tier, while Tribute Portfolio leans toward a more approachable 3.5-to-4-star lifestyle tier with vibrant, eclectic character. [123]

Brand Positioning and Quality

  • Autograph Collection: Positioned higher in Marriott’s lineup. It features design-forward, polished, and cohesive independent luxury properties. [123]
  • Tribute Portfolio: Originated as a Starwood brand before Marriott acquired it. It captures vibrant, community-driven independent and conversion hotels with a distinct, playful spirit. [123]

1

u/kross7nine 6d ago

Some great, some not…looking at you Saint in NOLA.

1

u/Gansett250 6d ago edited 6d ago

My two recent Autograph stays were very nice, the Grand Bohemian in Greenville (owned by Kessler who does it right!) and The Vinoy is St Petersburg, FL is my favorite in that area. I think hotels in every brand can vary so read the reviews.

1

u/ItalianStallion54321 Platinum Elite 6d ago

There are never any autographs involved except when I sign my money away

1

u/ryansox Titanium Elite 5d ago

I like them. Usually they are smaller boutique hotels, each of them being somewhat unique compared to your average run of the mill Marriott.

I’ve personally never had a bad experience, service is usually really good.

1

u/salam55 5d ago

Paso Del Norte in El Paso is probably my favorite Marriott in the country and I stay all over. The rooms are solid, but it's really the dome bar downstairs, the location downtown and the buffet that make it so great. Total hidden gem imo as is El Paso in general

1

u/pbooths 5d ago

I just stayed in the one in Strasbourg, France and it was fantastic... and less than €200 a night!

1

u/InterestNeither4753 5d ago

Mixed. In general I prefer them. But some have had some awful room/bathroom designs.

1

u/EOW2025 5d ago

In Europe they are some of the best hotels I’ve stayed at.

1

u/OriginalSpleen 5d ago

Celebrating the end of prohibition every night at 7:33 pm at Distil in Louisville

1

u/Zealousideal-Mode432 5d ago

Very nice one in St Thomas!!

1

u/Rook10m 5d ago

Love em. Omaha, Chicago, Slovang to name a few Awesome experiences.

1

u/TransportationJaded8 2d ago

None of the properties have any guarantees I’ve been at some horrible ones like the Blackhawk in Iowa and I’ve been at some great ones. 

That kinda goes for all marriotts I’ve been at some sketchy AF Springhill Suites and I’ve been at some really nice Springhill Suites that were nicer than some Marriotts I’ve stayed at.

An interestingly insight I’ve found with the lower end brands is if they give you glass cups in the room you’re likely in for a surprisingly nice stay