Lexington, KY | January 18-20, 2025
We needed a change of scenery this winter. Somewhere new, somewhere the kids could burn energy without us freezing to death outside, and somewhere within a reasonable drive from home. The Marriott Griffin Gate in Lexington checked all three boxes.
Check out the video for a full walk-through of all three rooms: the central living space, king bedroom, and double queen room.

We booked a standard 2 queen room ($334.28 for 2 nights) and got bumped to a Hospitality Suite thanks to Titanium status. The suite connects three rooms: a central living space with kitchenette and full bath, plus a king room on one side and a 2 queen room on the other.
The kitchenette includes a mini fridge, bar sink, and coffee maker. The dining table seats six. The sectional sofa fits six adults comfortably (or eight kids piled on top of each other, your call).

Both bedrooms come standard with mini fridges and coffee makers. The king has a walk-in shower. The 2 queen room has a tub. Every room opens to a balcony.
The bedrooms themselves? Excellent condition. Well-maintained. The central living space showed more wear, which makes sense given how much traffic it sees compared to sleeping areas.

Nothing is within walking distance. You’re eating at the hotel or driving somewhere else.
We traveled during a snowstorm and had no idea how quickly Kentucky clears roads. The first night we drove into town and found a good Japanese restaurant (fairly authentic, too). The second night we stayed in and ate at the hotel. We packed snacks but ended up relying on hotel food more than expected.

Kids meals run $7 each and include pizza, mac n’ cheese, grilled cheese, or burgers. Each comes with fries, fruit, and a drink. The portions satisfied our growing boys. The quality matched the adult menu, which means fine but not memorable. Honestly, the kids meals were such a good value at $7 that we probably should have just ordered four of them for ourselves.
Adult menu prices hit typical hotel rates, maybe higher for what you get. The food was fine. That’s it, fine.
Complimentary made-to-order breakfast came with our status. Rolling out of bed to feed hangry kids before they wake everyone else? Worth it. Going in shifts so early risers eat first? Also worth it.
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The resort fee covers:

We grabbed the free drinks and s’mores kits. Ate them cold instead of bothering with the fire pits. Kids didn’t care.
The hotel offers free self-parking and paid valet service if you prefer. Electric vehicle charging is also free.
The EV charger saved us. We trickle charged overnight and didn’t worry about cold temperatures draining the battery.
Our kids spent most of their time in the indoor pool. Mission accomplished: they wore themselves out and we got our money’s worth.
The indoor pool and hot tub are open daily from 7am to 10:30pm. The outdoor pool and hot tub operate seasonally from 8am to 10pm. The property also features a Rees Jones 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, fire pits under a lit oak tree, horseshoes, a badminton/volleyball net, and yes, a bourbon vending machine.
Housekeeping services are available Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and weekends from 9:30am to 5:30pm.
Lexington sits on the Bourbon Trail, and the resort hosts BourbonCon every January. Six distilleries call Lexington home, including James E. Pepper Distilling Co.
Nearby attractions include the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland Racetrack, and the University of Kentucky.
The stay delivered what we wanted: a change of scenery in winter, somewhere new to explore, a pool for the kids. The room upgrade was excellent. The food was fine. The prices were high for the quality, though kids meals offered solid value.
Would we stay again? Yes, particularly if we could charge our EV for free and let the kids swim themselves tired.
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Stayed as Marriott Titanium Elite members. Complimentary upgrade and breakfast included with status.