Marvin's Garden Inn won't be for everybody. It's a rather odd hotel, with very cheap signage (e.g., "Hi" and "Bye" signs decorated with castles in the parking lot), and a freakishly funny vending machine out of which one can buy condoms, cigarettes, shampoo, or cupcakes. The front desk clerk wore a diaphanous leopard skin blouse. The housekeepers are dark-eyed beauties with Eastern European accents and a cute, chubby girl child in tow, who wears plastic gloves and empties the garbage. There are no elevators to the second floor, where I stayed, but the rooms on the first floor are accessible from the outside.

The hallway on the second floor looks like 1970's chic, with glass and marble, but it appears to be new. My room had a new stand-in shower, granite counter tops, a stainless steel sink, a leather fainting couch, a small fridge, and a king size Tempur-Pedic bed. It was clean, comfortable, and quiet.

I likely would not have chosen this place as a drive-by traveler, but I booked it on the internet sight unseen. I'm glad I did, because the price was reasonable and I slept well. Still, I think others should know that this is not a "normal" type of hotel, but one that's kind of quirky and different.

You want to worry about sleeping with bugs in their newly decorated double queens. I checked in after a verly long drive from the St. Louis area. I explained to the clerk that I was going to be staying couple of nights there. I didn't have my wallet, because it was in the car, so I just payed cash for the first night and explained to her that I will take care of the balance before I leave. The clerk was fine with that. I was awaken to some woman banging on my door demanding that I either check out our pay now! This was about noon and I had only had about a 3 hour nap. I explained that I spoken with the clerk and she said that it was fine. The woman left my door and then called me on the phone demanding the same. I figured that if I wanted to get some sleep, just go ahead and pay. I started turning on the lights and opening the shade and noticed multiple bugs on the marble-like floor. They were still living because just about all of them were kicking their legs in the air. I have pictures. Anyway, I walked up to the front desk and payed for the current day, I asked for fresh towels, sheets, dusting, and to have an exterminator to come by and take care of the bugs. I realized that the bugs had been natives there because there's a spider web behind the front door that housed the same bugs. I was informed that house cleaning will sweep up the bugs and the manager wan't there. I didn't even get as much as an appology for having to sleep with the bugs the night before. I was also informed that I couldn't get my refund for the same day I just payed for with my credit card. This place is a modern "Do Drop Inn" The courtesy is non-existant once you've paid your money here. I had drunk people to wake me knocking on my door, as well as smelled illegal drugs in the area. Now I know why the last positive post about this place was almost a year ago!

First let me say that this was my second visit to Marvin's Garden, so my review is mixed. The first time around the room was great-- spacious, clean, great bed, awesome shower, and a nice location. Needless to say we decided to return again. This time we booked four nights, expecting the same quality visit we had the last time we stayed. No such luck. The woman who checked us in had some weird attitude, told us we'd get our receipt upon checkout (okay, that's understandable) but how about telling someone how much you're running their credit card for? Then she gives us this small room. Granted we scaled down to a queen to save the budget, but you could barely move. Then there was the issue of bugs. I killed maybe three spiders and what looked like a roach crawling across the bathroom floor! I give them the benefit of the doubt, brush it off, maybe something came in from outside, who knows. Then later I find that the clothing steamer does not work. The woman tells me they have irons at the desk. We go to the desk, the iron is sitting there but no ironing board? Then again we probably wouldn't have room for an ironing board anyway. Then there was the issue with the fridge that never got cold. Oh, and the cleaning lady broke the shower door and instead of telling her manager she neatly places the missing piece in the shower next to the soap. What the [--]? By the time we checked out I was more than ready to go. Marvin had gotten on my last nerve. Overall I won't knock the place...but man, this time was a let down. Don't know if I'll go back but I'll still recommend them for those who need a decent place to stay while in the city.

Wow!!! I travel 4 times a month for 3-4 days each time for about 10 months of the year. My company and myself usually only book high end hotels or resorts to conduct my business meetings and for my comfort. Well, let me tell you, Thank God, Marvin's Garden Inn had availability when I desperately needed a 2 night stay unexpectedly! This place was Great from Head to Toe. The BEST ROOMS, only comparable to "The Hotel" at Mandalay Bay in Vegas for a fraction of the price. Great Beds, Pillows, Sheets, Comforters, great towels and the best bathroom with all granite and stainless steel. Oh, and very powerful showers with jets coming out of the wall. Amazing staff who were very helpful and nice. They offer good breakfast too. I will only stay at Marvin's Garden Inn if I ever have to go back to Detroit. Thank you Marvin, whoever you are?