Comfort Inn & Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor

“I broke away from my chain hotels in Baltimore”

I was heading to the APhA conference for work and originally considered booking at the host hotel or the Sheraton because I'm a loyal SPG member. Since a convention was happening, those rates were above $200 per night. I found a Home2 Suites for $175 and was okay with that. To be honest, though, it's Baltimore in winter: $175 is steep. Thanks to Travelzoo, I decided to try a boutique hotel in Baltimore. They had a weekend special for $79 for a one-bedroom king suite. As I usually do, I checked TripAdvisor for reviews of the Brookshire Suites. The hotel was ranked 20 out of 61 with 4.5 out of 5 stars from 312 reviews. I thought those were good odds and booked the deal. I took Amtrak into the city and always enjoy traveling by train. There's something about going from roughly downtown West Philadelphia to roughly downtown Midtown that you can't get from flying. I took a cab to 120 E Lombard. I was pleasantly surprised by this modern hotel located in central Baltimore. It was only a six-block walk from the host hotel for the convention and three blocks from the convention center. The Inner Harbor was just steps from the front door, and public transit options were plentiful within a five-block radius, though I chose to walk or use Uber that weekend instead of buses or the metro. The front desk clerk, whose name I didn't catch, was friendly and welcoming. She took my information and asked what brought me to town. While we chatted, she happily informed me that a room was available for my early check-in and quickly sent me on my way. The suite was enormous. I didn't measure, but I'd estimate the bedroom area was at least 250 square feet, with a king bed, TV, and chair. The carpet was charcoal gray, and the curtains and headboard matched in shade. An accent wall with similar wallpaper held a stylized black-and-white artwork with soft canary yellow. The other room had a desk, chair, TV, and sofa, carrying over design elements from the bedroom—this time with a yellow accent wall and another gray wallpaper wall. This continued into the small kitchen alcove with a fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. It was perfect for entertaining, great for group travel. The toiletries were Gilchrist & Soames, a brand I've always liked. However, the bathroom could have used a bit more attention. I noticed some cosmetic issues, but nothing that affected the room's function. The vents were slightly dented and there was some rust on the hinges—bathrooms do get steamy. Overall, these minor problems didn't detract from my stay. (If these issues had been at the host hotel and I was paying over $200, I'd be furious; it's all about perspective.) I learned from a friend who drove me back after catching up over drinks that opera singers from the Baltimore Opera stay at this hotel when they're in town. I think that's a good match between hotel and guests. Lastly, there's a well-stocked Royal Farms a block away for most snack cravings, but it recently started closing at midnight. Brookshire Suites charges a daily Destination Fee of $9.95. According to their website, it includes a continental breakfast buffet, 24-hour fitness center, local and domestic long-distance calls, and two complimentary bottles of water at check-in. I couldn't care less about phone calls. I think resort fees for gyms are ridiculous. The continental breakfast was standard: eggs, sausage one morning and bacon the other, bagels, croissants, yogurt, coffee, fruit, and juices; it was sufficient and satisfied me. It was served on the top floor, called the Cloud Level, with excellent views of the Inner Harbor. The water was a nice touch. They advertise WiFi as free and not part of this fee. Overall, I didn't mind paying an extra ten dollars a day for some comforts. I think a reasonable flat rate for amenities is reasonable. When I return to Baltimore, I will consider staying here again.

A visitor · Over a year ago

“awesome new management and renovation”

The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Great choice for anyone wanting to learn more about Baltimore and have an authentic Baltimore experience.

A guest · Over a year ago