Hotel Review: Copenhagen Marriott Hotel
For quite some time, I've had a longing to visit Copenhagen, Denmark. After canceling my flight twice due to COVID-19, I finally pulled the trigger and made my way to Copenhagen. Although I am keen on exploring different hotel brands, my loyalty is among the strongest with Marriott, partly due to its extensive footprint. There were a few interesting Marriott properties in Copenhagen, albeit the lodging options during the Christmas season tend to come with a hefty price tag. Out of the available choices, the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel stood out as an affordable option. Interestingly, it holds the distinction of being the inaugural Marriott hotel in Scandinavia, having opened its doors in 2001. In addition, it is Denmark’s largest five-star property, and I was curious how the Danish interpreted and translated the conservative Marriott brand. Here is my review of the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel:
Copenhagen Marriott Hotel is located at Kalvebod Brygge 5, 1560 København, Denmark.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card does come with a hefty $650 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status
$25 monthly dining credit—$300 total in a year
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
An 85,000-point Free Night Award
Access to Priority Pass lounges
25 Elite Night Credits for chasing Marriott Bonvoy status
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have, in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
If you are looking for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card with a low annual fee, consider the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first six months from account opening. On top of that, you can earn additional 50,000 bonus points by staying six eligible paid nights at Marriott Bonvoy hotels through January 31, 2024—totaling 125,000 bonus points. I personally value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents each, making the 125,000 points offer worth $1,000. The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns 6X points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases every year on dining, grocery stores, and gas stations, and 2X points on all other purchases.
Be aware that 15 elite night credits from the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card can’t be combined with 15 elite night credits from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.
The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card’s annual fee is $95, and it offers useful perks to offset the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
A 35,000-point Free Night Award
15 Elite Night Credits that will help you achieve a higher Marriott Bonvoy status
Please note that you can’t combine Elite Night Credits from two Marriott Bonvoy personal credit cards, but you can stack Elite Night Credits from one personal and one Marriott Bonvoy business card. Thus, if you own both AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, you would only earn 25 elite night credits.
The last Marriott Bonvoy credit card you could use would be the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. Considering that the annual membership costs $125, you get paid to have the card! The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card is the only Marriott business card on the market.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card’s annual fee is $125, and it offers valuable benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
A 35,000-point Free Night Award
15 Elite Night Credits, which can be combined with 15 Elite Night Credits from other personal Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
As you can see, the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual Free Night Award perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 Elite Night Credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
Location
Copenhagen Marriott Hotel is located a 10-minute walk away from Copenhagen Central Station, making the hotel a convenient location if you were to arrive by train from Copenhagen airport. The hotel is also close to popular tourist destinations such as Tivoli Gardens and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. Other attractions like Nyhavn and Rosenborg Castle will be difficult to reach on foot, but public transportation will take you to both spots in under 20 minutes.
Lobby & Check-In Review
After battling brutally freezing Danish weather, I arrived at Copenhagen Marriott Hotel. I was jet lagged and headed over to the front desk, hoping to check in as soon as possible.
The front desk representative elucidated the array of benefits accessible to me as a Titanium Elite member.
The receptionist informed me that I had been upgraded to a room with a river view, but unfortunately, it wasn’t ready at the moment. To pass the time, I found myself meandering through the lobby.
The lobby was beautifully adorned with festive Christmas ornaments, complementing the chilly winter in Denmark.
With Christmas a mere few weeks away, the space was adorned with holiday enchantment, from a tall Christmas tree to a warm and inviting fireplace.
The lobby was directly connected to the walking path by Københavns Havn.
Almost all of the seats in the lobby were allocated to PIER 5 Bar & Restaurant—the hotel’s casual food and bar.
PIER 5 Bar & Restaurant was a casual restaurant selling light bites and beverages.
As I was about to check out the executive lounge, the front desk notified me that my room was ready. I received my card keys and went up to the 6th floor, where my room was located.
Bedroom Review
Although I knew Marriott's conventional nature, the bedroom exemplified its conservative persona exceptionally well. However, I must admit that the bedroom felt rather mediocre, lacking the charm and distinctiveness expected from a Marriott-branded property. The entire bedroom was carpeted, and in the center was a king-sized bed.
The bedroom embodied the quintessential essence of a Marriott room, albeit with slightly dated amenities.
The mattress was springy but comfortable, and complementing the bed were two matching nightstands with bedside lamps and reading lights, adding functionality to the room. Across from the bed was a typical flat-screen TV sitting on top of a dresser. Although the TV was not a smart TV, I wasn't surprised, considering my first impression of the room.
Given the history of the hotel, I didn’t expect to see a smart TV in my bedroom.
The minibar came stocked with complimentary water bottles and Nescafé instant coffee. Positioned below it was a mini fridge which, though empty, served as a convenient storage spot for my own water bottle.
Denmark has one of the world’s cleanest tap water; so feel free to refill your water bottle with tap water.
Don’t forget Denmark has one of the world's cleanest and best-tasting tap water, so if you run out of bottled water, feel free to drink straight from the tap. The bedroom's standout feature was its panoramic view of the river, visible through the sole window.
From the bedroom, I could enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the river, which imbued an expansive and airy ambiance.
A well-proportioned work desk occupied a corner, providing ample space for productivity.
The work desk provided ample space for setting up my remote work station.
The remaining area housed a comfortable lounge chair paired with a convenient footrest.
Despite spaciousness, the bedroom appeared somewhat devoid of furniture, lending it an air of bareness.
On the side table, the hotel surprised me with a massive fruit platter and a bottle of champagne, along with a handwritten letter from the rooms division manager.
The abundant fruit platter served as a delicious evening snack, complemented by the ever-welcome addition of champagne.
The fruit platter consisted of honeydew melon, pineapple, watermelon, and grapes. Initially skeptical about their seasonal availability, I decided to give them a try. To my pleasant surprise, they were perfectly ripe and paired exquisitely with the refreshing champagne. I truly value those special moments when hotels go above and beyond to express gratitude towards Marriott loyalists. While the hotel's hospitality was truly exceptional, I must admit that the overall bedroom experience fell a bit short of my expectations. There wasn’t much excitement other than the river view, but even the riverscape wasn’t as dynamic as I had hoped for. While the traditional design of the room didn't particularly bother me, it could greatly appeal to the younger generation of travelers with a well-deserved renovation.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom was small, but it was astonishing how much the hotel could fit in a tiny space. The bathroom featured a single sink vanity and a walk-in shower, which was probably one of the smallest shower booths I had encountered.
Just like the bedroom, the bathroom also featured an older design aesthetic.
I want to advise everyone to be cautious when entering or exiting the shower area, as there is no door stopper. I had a moment of panic when the door accidentally swung open and came into contact with the toilet, making me think I had shattered the glass door.
The walk-in shower booth was barely big enough to fit one adult, and be careful when open the glass door, as it could hit the nearby toilet.
The shower head was ancient, and unfortunately, the water pressure was on the weaker side. The toiletries were by a Greek company called Papoutsanis, and the Olivia product line is made with olive trees’ organic extracts, including olives, olive leaves, seeds, and olive oil. The toiletries had refined and upscale scents without being too assertive.
The toiletries were by a Greek cosmetics company, and I wish the hotel utilized a local producer.
The bathroom was cleverly designed to accommodate a bathtub, albeit with a narrow profile that allowed only one person at a time. Surprisingly, its ergonomic layout provided an oddly comforting experience, offering a relaxing way to unwind at night after a day filled with exploration in Copenhagen.
Despite its traditional nature, stepping into the bathroom provided instant warmth to my body after exploring Copenhagen in the midst of winter.
Although the bathroom shared a similar ambiance with the bedroom, I admired the clever design solutions for the limited space. However, there is room for improvement in the overall atmosphere, and I look forward to witnessing a more contemporary and enhanced space in the future, ideally in conjunction with the bedroom.
Gym Review
The gym was located on the ground floor and was open 24/7. Out of the four elevators in the hotel, only a single one granted access to the ground floor, leading to frequent delays during peak hours. The spa was conveniently located next to the gym.
Take advantage of complimentary access to a sauna—your body will thank you!
Although I personally didn't utilize the sauna, it is available for your use, along with a steam bath, daily from 5 AM to 11 PM. The gym was quite the opposite of the hotel room, in every positive way. The free weight station offered two adjustable benches with dumbbells up to 50kg (or 110 lbs).
The fitness center boasted a generous selection of lifting equipment, setting up an optimal workout environment for avid gym enthusiasts.
The lifting area had sufficient padding, and it offered an all-in-one workout machine, along with kettlebells and dumbbells. Though I had to search through them to find my desired one, I was delighted to see various options available. The gym showcased numerous strength machines conveniently placed throughout, complementing an industrial accent wall design.
It appeared that the gym was recently renovated, and I was impressed with its fitting industrial design.
While the selection of cardio machines, such as treadmills and stationary bikes, was ample, some of them were older models.
Some of the cardio machines were slightly older than strength machines, but they still functioned well.
After an intense workout session, I recharged and hydrated with complimentary vitamin water, which had flavor notes of lychee.
This complimentary vitamin water provided much needed hydration after an intense workout.
Due to the traditional design of the hotel, I originally didn’t anticipate much from the gym, but I was pleasantly surprised by how modern and spacious it was. If Copenhagen Marriott Hotel could establish a more contemporary configuration for its rooms and amenities as they had successfully implemented in the gym, I could envision a more engaging lodging experience in the future.
Executive Lounge Review
The executive lounge was on the first floor and offered afternoon tea daily from 3 PM to 5 PM and hors d’oeuvres daily from 5 PM and 7:30 PM.
The executive lounge showcased plentiful seating arrangements, capable of accommodating parties of all sizes with ease.
Alcoholic beverages were served daily from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, so if you want to pair your wine or beer with finger food, a visit between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM would be ideal. That is exactly what I did; after shopping for some souvenirs, I stopped by the lounge to have some appetizers and pre-dinner drinks.
I loved the white marble finish of the digital fireplace and its festive Christmas decorations.
The executive lounge was a popular spot among couples and families. The food options were presented in an appetizing buffet-style setup, with each item thoughtfully portioned in small cups and bowls.
The appetizers during the evening buffet hours were portions in reusable small cups and bowls.
Among the options, it seemed that ventricina with grilled onions and brie cheese with pickled nuts were the crowd favorites, although I found them to be merely satisfactory, lacking that exceptional factor. One of the items on the menu was fried chicken with BBQ sauce, yet it was actually chicken nuggets with barbecue sauce.
Although unconventional, the combination of red wine and chicken nuggets surprised me. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky pairing.
To be frank, I love chicken nuggets, and I couldn’t complain. In fact, I found it amusing how the description got lost in translation. For beverage offerings, a tall fridge contained soda, beer (Carlsberg and Tuborg), and non-alcoholic beer.
Carlsberg and Tuborg are the most popular Danish beers, and Carlsberg acquired Tuborg in 1970.
A few types of red and white wines were available, and I tried Tempranillo by Melea—a Spanish organic and vegan wine.
Tempranillo is Spain’s number one red wine grape, and it was interesting to try a vegan variation.
The wine was delicious, and it had robust blackcurrant and clove notes. Because I had dinner plans, I only sampled a few bites of the hors d’oeuvres. While I wish the food choices were more diverse, I also acknowledge the need for realistic expectations when it comes to complimentary appetizers.
The executive lounge space was reutilized for breakfast in the morning.
Regardless of the limited food options at the executive lounge, having a few pre-dinner drinks at the lounge could save you a good portion of your dining bill. If you have access to the executive lounge, check it out and try Danish beers and finger foods.
Breakfast Review
Breakfast was served at the executive lounge on weekdays from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM and on weekends from 6:30 AM to 11 AM. The lounge presented a modest selection, yet every item was well-executed and delicious.
Grab buttery Danish cookies and pair it with a cup of coffee or juice.
Classic breakfast offerings included succulent breakfast sausage, crispy bacon, velvety scrambled eggs, and delicately soft-boiled eggs. Personally, I couldn’t get enough of the breakfast sausages with their subtly smoky flavor.
The breakfast sausages, with just a hint of smokiness, had a delightful texture and a satisfying snap upon each bite.
While the scrambled eggs were flawlessly cooked to my taste, some individuals might find them slightly underdone.
The scrambled eggs were smooth and silky, and if you prefer other options, the buffet had soft boiled eggs.
Cold cuts of meat and cheese, as well as salad ingredients, were all on another serving table. I couldn’t recognize some items, but fortunately, the hotel placed small name cards with ingredients and allergen information for each dish.
The buffet showcased a wide assortment of delectable cold cuts of meat and cheese.
My favorite cold cut was smoked turkey with red pepper flakes, and I made myself a salad with veggies and cheese. Since Danish people don’t enjoy salads the same way we do in the States, the buffet didn’t have any dressing other than quality Italian olive oil.
I appreciated that the hotel placed small name cards with ingredients and allergen information for most dishes.
Nevertheless, the ingredients were very fresh; my salad was just fine with olive oil and vinegary condiments like capers and pickles.
The bread and pastry station was decent; however, it was evident that they weren’t freshly baked in the hotel, as some pastries, such as Tebirkes (Danish poppyseed pastry), were quite greasy.
It was apparent that certain baked goods were not freshly baked in-house every morning, yet the accompanying condiments helped.
Lastly, the breakfast bar had generous muesli toppings and two types of yogurt.
You could elevate an otherwise ordinary yogurt by dressing it up with crunchy and fruity toppings.
In addition, a small selection of gluten-free toppings was available for those who can’t process gluten. I paired my yogurt with fresh-cut fruits and berries, which were as ripe as the ones I had in the welcome amenity.
Although the gluten-free station had very limited options, it still offered some alternatives for those with dietary restrictions.
If there were one thing I wish the restaurant had done differently, it would’ve been nice to see more name tags for food. For instance, next to the smoked salmon was another type of smoked fish. Despite not knowing what it exactly was, I decided to give it a try, and surprisingly, it won me over with its texture and flavor.
Regrettably, a few items lacked name cards, and I couldn’t learn what they were.
Nonetheless, having the dish's name would have added a nice touch to the overall experience. At a standard Marriott property, the breakfast was quite satisfactory. If your Marriott status qualifies you for a complimentary breakfast, I highly recommend stopping by in the morning for a well-rounded and nourishing start to your day.
Positives & Negatives
Positives
Copenhagen Marriott Hotel had a contemporary gym, finished with energetic and industrial interior design elements. The ambiance contrasted the room’s mundane atmosphere, and you can wrap up your workout in a steam room and sauna.
Though the executive lounge served limited alcoholic beverages and finger foods, I still appreciated complimentary access to the lounge with my Titanium Elite status. The breakfast buffet featured more menu items, and if your stay include free access to the lounge and breakfast, definitely take advantage of it to save money and time.
The warm hospitality from the staff was remarkable. They showered me with generous welcome amenities to start, and when I requested late checkout or used a gift card, I experienced nothing but smiles and willingness to assist.
Negatives
Copenhagen Marriott Hotel is not a new kid on the block. The room was rather conservative and didn’t have modern amenities. If you are looking for a stylish, up-to-date hotel in Copenhagen, Copenhagen Marriott Hotel may not satisfy your taste. Instead, I recommend you try Villa Copenhagen.
Summary
Copenhagen Marriott Hotel was the first Marriott property in Copenhagen. Since its introduction in 2001, it still is a five-star hotel, but a renovation may be due. The bedroom design was uninspiring, and although my room was upgraded to a room with a river view, the view wasn’t as interesting as I initially imagined. Nonetheless, the hotel gym was a recently renovated facility with spa access, and if you have Platinum Elite status or higher, you can enjoy the executive lounge’s complimentary food and beverage offerings in the late afternoon and a delicious breakfast in the morning. If you are looking for a traditional Marriott hotel with a familiar design, check out Copenhagen Marriott Hotel.
