Hotel Review: Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel – When the Water Ran Out!
This stay started out pretty chill—but quickly turned into one of the most unforgettable hotel experiences I’ve ever had. From fast Wi-Fi and gaming-friendly tech to meeting NHL players and a water pipe disaster, the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel had it all. Kind of.
First Impressions & Check-In
We stayed here during our spring break road trip heading south. It was our first time at this property, and right away we were greeted by friendly hotel staff, both outside and inside.
The lobby looked modern but nothing super fancy. There’s a cool winding staircase and a wall behind the front desk that (in my opinion) looked like it had a bunch of speakers behind it. Check-in was quick, and I had no problem finding a luggage cart while my dad parked in the indoor garage.
Room Tour: Club Level 2 Queen Room
We booked a Club Level 2 Queen Room, and it was solid! Two queen beds, a pull-out sofa, and a nice stand-up shower in a roomy bathroom. The whole place was super clean, and the TV was massive—around 50 inches—which made relaxing way better after a long travel day.
Wi-Fi & Gaming Setup
This hotel nailed it.
✅ Easy Wi-Fi connection on all my devices (Switch, iPad, phone, laptop)
✅ Fast enough to stream and game without any issues
✅ Super simple HDMI hookup for my Switch
Pro tip: Bring a power strip—outlets fill up fast with everyone’s devices charging overnight.
Pool Vibes? Not Here.
No pool. No gym. This was the first hotel I’ve stayed at that had neither. Kinda weird for a Marriott Renaissance, but I wasn’t too bothered since we planned to explore the area.
Food & Restaurant Options Nearby
We didn’t try the in-hotel restaurants (Leo’s Italian Social and 41Hundred), but the good news is there are tons of restaurants in the North Hills area—all walkable. We ended up going to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, and it was packed and amazing. Highly recommend!
Some other options we considered:
- Five Guys
- Chick-fil-A
- The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- The BBQ Lab
- bartaco
After dinner, we walked off our food by heading to Target (yes, Target) right around the corner. There are plenty of shops in the area, and even a Regal Cinema nearby for movie night.
Bonus Moment: NHL Sighting!
When we got back to the hotel, we saw two big buses parked out front… turns out the Calgary Flames NHL team was staying there too! I even ran into a couple of the players in the elevator. Definitely one of the cooler moments of the trip.
The Water Crisis… Yep, It Happened
And here’s where things got wild. My mom tried to take a shower that night, and there was no hot water. Actually—there was no water at all. We woke up the next morning to find a letter under the door explaining that the hotel’s main water pipe had burst. 😬
The hotel quickly pulled together a complimentary breakfast setup in the lobby (pastries, juice, coffee), but we had originally booked a room with full breakfast included. We never got to try it. Since there was no ETA on water repairs, we had to cancel our second night and leave early.
Final Verdict: Great Stay… Until It Wasn’t
Before the water disaster, everything was going great.
👍 Clean, spacious room
👍 Fast Wi-Fi and easy gaming setup
👍 Cool restaurants and shops nearby
👍 NHL players casually hanging out
The hotel staff did what they could to make up for the problem, and I’d totally be open to staying here again—hopefully next time with working plumbing!
Even without water, this stay definitely wasn’t dry on experiences! 😄
– Mateo / This Teen Travelz