This is a review of The Ballantyne, part of the Luxury Collection of the Marriott brand. As detailed in this previous post, we booked this very last minute. Literally. We booked it at 2pm and checked in around 6pm. The hotel is located just outside Charlotte, North Carolina and can be classified as a Golf and Spa resort.

As expected, weather in July was perfect, slightly on the hot side hitting over 90 degrees every day we were there.

Hotel and Check In

When arriving, the hotel looks quite grand and large. The overall area with adjacent golf course is a typical Southern resort, in a positive way. Check-In was quick and easy. We were assigned a room on the top floor and as a Platinum member, selected breakfast vouchers for our welcome gift.

Room

We were assigned a room on the 7th floor, which is the top floor. Since we booked so last minute, no upgrade or better view was available. However, the room had a king bed and a large bathroom. The flimsy swing doors on the bathroom were the only negative, but otherwise the room was great and spacious.

Breakfast

As Elli is Titanium Elite, we received breakfast vouchers. The breakfast was served in the on-site restaurant as a la carte dining. These vouchers were good for either a specific Marriott Platinum dish or up to $20 for anything else on the menu. We tried a couple different items over our stay, including the Chicken and Waffles and Eggs Benedict. All dishes were excellent and provided a great start in the morning. Breakfast is served from 6-10am on weekdays and brunch on weekends from 7-2:30pm so sleeping in was encouraged.

Spa

We did use the Spa for some massages. The entrance is on the ground level, but a level down are the locker rooms and the treatment rooms. The Men’s Locker room was large and well equipped with towels, robes and toiletries. There was a private lounge area to use while you wait for your appointment and you could take full advantage of a steam room or sauna. Our treatments were excellent and so relaxing. The Spa is also available to outside guests and includes access to the Indoor and Outdoor pools.

Pool

The Outdoor pool was right off the Spa and was quite large with lots of chairs, umbrellas and lounge options. It also featured a few private cabanas and a large bar. Service was impeccable and you were offered a cold water right away. A nice touch I always enjoy is that sunscreen was provided. It’s a small detail that, for me, makes a big difference, since brining lots of sunscreen is often challenging when traveling with only a carry on. Prices on the menu were quiet reasonable as well, which made lounging by the pool not for a full day, sipping on pina coladas and beers, quite enjoyable.

Service

Everywhere we went we were met with friendly people. That made a difference and allowed us to fully enjoy our space. Especially at the pool, we were always well taken care of and never had to wait for a drink. There is certainly some truth to southern hospitality and the Bellantyne was no exception.

Cost

We booked this with points at 50,000 points per night. Nightly rates were around $300, so while not the greatest redemption, we were still happy to pay with points.

Summary

This was a great hotel for a weekend get-away. It had everything we were looking for. The staff was friendly. The pool and spa fantastic. We can highly recommend this hotel and is perfect for a quick couple’s getaway.