A group of us gathered at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Florence, Kentucky last weekend to celebrate the life of one of our beloved relatives (my aunt) who had a full life of family, friends, and good food for 93 years. The TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Florence, Kentucky hits high marks for hospitality, affordability and family-friendly amenities for a family gathering. This hotel is perfect for a large group of travelers of multiple ages. We ranged from 4-year-olds to mid-80s.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott: The Latest Family Gathering
Our extended family has made the hotel rounds in Northern Kentucky over the years celebrating various occasions. We’ve gathered at the Embassy Suites and the Hampton Inn and Suites in Newport, Kentucky among others. Both were hotel hits. Each Newport location was perfect for heading over the bridge to Cincinnati and taking in Newport’s offerings. Like those hotels, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Airport South also hit the high marks for hospitality, cleanliness, aesthetics, affordability and family-friendly amenities.
Hotel Amenities are Crowd Pleasers
My extended family knows how to enjoy a hotel. First, we take over the hospitality room. If traveling with a group, ask about the hospitality room. With enough promised room bookings, the hospitality room, if the hotel has one is often free. This allows for board games, puzzles, food and drinks to keep a crowd happy. Plus, the large wall-mounted flat screen TV kept the sports enthusiasts happy.
Like with any large family gathering with young kids and teens, a large enough indoor pool is a must. The TownePlace Suites pool delivered with plenty of seating and towels. Its location down the hall from the hospitality room made going between the two locations convenient. The spacious community area that doubles as breakfast seating and hangout spots also turned into places to play and visit. The workout room, (with adult supervision) also provided a bit of fun. Elliptical machines, treadmills, yoga mats, exercise balls and weights are all in great condition here.
Because our visit in this holiday season, merry and bright decorations added a festive flair. Throw pillows and tasteful decorations festooned the tables and couches adding an ambiance of cheer. Of course, the lobby Christmas tree did its part to add to the holiday scene.
The lobby kiosk of beverages from Gatorade to soda and seltzer water offered some thirst-quenching options. I also noticed microwavable meals along with several snack foods.
Guest Rooms at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott
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Our two-queen room was a perfect place to land for two nights. Along with being quite spacious for us and our stuff, there is a sleek Scandinavian inspired sleekness to the design. Furniture is contemporary with white and grey as the general color palate. I found this restful. The desk chairs are a blend between office furniture and one you’d find in living room. The desk is a large table size. Any room with more than two people staying in it needs a comfortable armchair. The room delivered on that as well.
There are a few room details that are standouts. One is the closet. It’s large enough that the dresser is inside. But, instead of drawers, there are sliding metal baskets. This means one isn’t forgetting items left in a closed drawer. The closet also has a built-in light that turns on and off when the doors open and close. This is where the iron and ironing board are, plus plenty of hooks and space to keep belongings.
Rooms in Florence, KY
Rooms are also equipped with a two-burner countertop stove, an apartment size refrigerator, small sink, coffeemaker and kitchenware. Glasses, plates and silverware are enough for four people. For our family gatherings, these large refrigerators come in handy for cheese and meat trays, dips and leftover White Castle hamburgers and Skyline chili, the food of our childhood memories.
The bathroom has a roomy walk-in shower, a large mirror rimmed with a light, fluffy towels and plenty of fluffy towels. Conditioner, shampoo and body wash are the wall mounted type.
Bedding and pillows made for a very comfortable sleep. The only room detail that was a bit odd was the TV placement. It’s on the side wall as one heads from the kitchen area to the bathroom. This spot means watch out to not hit it.
Other TownePlace Suites Details
Both of our morning breakfasts were good, although the standard complimentary hot breakfast fare. Still, bacon was crispy and the eggs were fluffy. The bread and cereal options are good. There are two kinds of Belgian waffle makers. One makes one large waffles. The other makes four small ones. Toppings for oatmeal include slivered almonds, raisins, dried bananas and more. Coffee and tea are served 24/7.
For those needing an airport shuttle to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the free shuttle makes several trips to the airport. Just tell the reception desk to book you a shuttle. A few of my relatives used this service. I also noticed guests with dogs. There is a surcharge for this.
Although there is not a restaurant on-site, this is a convenient location for finding food and plenty to buy. Target is right next door. I went there three times.
My cousin arranged a group rate for us of $129 including taxes but check out the TownePlace Suites website for current rates or head to Hotels.com or your favorite hotel booking site to check for other deals. Rooms also include king bed suites.
Post and photos by Jamie Rhein
