In the far western corner of Texas, bordering both the state of New Mexico and the Mexican city of Juarez, El Paso is in the midst of a downtown construction boom. Several older buildings are being renovated, and new hotels are in the works. The El Paso Courtyard Downtown/Convention Center, a Marriott property, opened in 2018 in a recently constructed tower, a short walk from the El Paso Convention Center.
Here’s the scoop:
Facilities and Services
The El Paso Courtyard Downtown/Convention Center has all the facilities and amenities that you’d expect in a standard business hotel, including complimentary Wi-Fi that works well throughout the property, a 24-hour fitness center, and a guest laundry.
An especially nice feature is the outdoor pool, on the 5th floor terrace. While the pool isn’t large, the views from the deck extend across the city. All you need is time away from your work obligations to enjoy the pool area!
In the lobby, The Bistro serves coffee and breakfast in the morning, and a limited menu of light meals, as well as beer, wine, and cocktails, in the evening.
While I had no complaints about the standard Starbucks coffee drinks during my recent stay, I wasn’t excited about the “farm stand breakfast bowl,” a greasy-tasting heap of broccolini, potatoes, and kale, with eggs and cheese on top. I’d stick with the simpler dishes instead, although an even better breakfast option would be to walk to The Coffee Box, a cool colorful cafe in a shipping container, a few blocks from the hotel.
The lobby itself is a large, well-light room, with counter seating near The Bistro as well as lots of lounge spaces for conversation, casual meetings, or a session with your laptop.
Guest Rooms and Amenities
The business-friendly design continues in the 151 guest rooms, with outlets and reading lamps conveniently located next to the bed and by the desk and a curved sofa with a side table that can be used to hold your computer.
Beds have simple white linens, and the rest of the room is styled in neutral beiges; only the wall murals behind the beds, which depict nature scenes, add a burst of color. Sleeping options include one king or two queen beds. There are also one-bedroom suites with a king bed and a separate living room that has a sleep sofa.
Rooms come with flat-screen TVs and one-cup coffeemakers, as well as mini-fridges and microwaves, which are hidden inside unusual triangle-shaped closets.
What’s Nearby?
The Courtyard property is within easy walking distance of El Paso’s Convention Center, the historic Plaza Theatre, and Southwest University Park, the stadium where El Paso’s minor league baseball team plays. You can also walk from the hotel to the El Paso Museum of History and to the El Paso Museum of Art, the city’s contemporary art gallery. Downtown El Paso has an emerging street art scene as well.
And if you need to cross into Mexico, for business or an evening out, you can walk or catch a cab to the border and cross the bridge into the city of Juarez.
Rates
Rates at the El Paso Courtyard Downtown/Convention Center vary depending on the season and the day of the week, but typically range from $100-185 per night for a double room. You can look for deals at Travelocity or other online booking sites.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Hotel lobby photo courtesy of the El Paso Courtyard Downtown/Convention Center. Other photos © Carolyn B. Heller. I paid a discounted convention rate for my stay while attending a conference in El Paso.
