The Elyton Hotel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is a property Ashlee and I stayed in that I covered in the Best Places to Visit in the Fall During a Pandemic.

Outside of a few quirks, this Marriott property is one to consider staying at during a trip to Birmingham. It’s downtown location gives you access to what the city has to offer. In addition, you’re not far from some of the best restaurants in the southeast.

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Best Credit Cards to Book the Elyton

High earning cards for your hotel spending include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Green Card, Citi Premier, Citi Prestige, and Chase Sapphire Preferred.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on travel. You earn 3x points on travel with the Amex Green Card. Citi Premier and Citi Prestige cardmembers earn 3x points at hotels. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2x points on travel.

Elyton History

Inside the renovated Empire Building, one of the South’s best known architectural landamarks, is where you find the Elyton. Only a short walk to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the hotel is right off of Interstate 65 making it easy to access.

The Empire Building building itself was built in 1909. This 16-story building celebrated Birmingham’s golden era and is one four buildings at the corner of North and 20th Street. The buildings on this corner as so heavy, the corner is called “Heaviest Corner on Earth.”

“Elyton” was the name of Birmingham 50 years before the city official took its current name. One of the city’s early entrepreneurs named the city Elyton, with this Marriott property using the name to celebrate the city’s beginnings, and history of entrepreneurialism.

How to Book The Elyton

The Elyton is a category five Marriott property. This means you can book the hotel with 30,000 points (off-peak) to 40,000 points (peak) per night depending upon your travel dates.

We redeemed two Marriott Bonvoy AmEx 35,000 point certificates that come with the credit card. Every year, we redeem these certificates at a time when the cash rates are high relative to the number of Marriott points required.

On our last trip to Birmingham, we used our 35,000 point certificates to stay at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Unfortunately, Marriott moved this property up to a category 6 hotel. This means that you need 40,000 – 60,000 points per night. So, you can’t use your 35,000 point certificates at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook any longer.

Elyton Rooms

There are 111 guest rooms and 6 suites at this hotel. Standard rooms offer complimentary Wi-Fi, TVs, mini-fridges and coffeemakers. Suites have pull-out sofas and additional space. Room service is available 24/7.

Concierge messed up on reservation and put us in a standard room the first night, which was tight in terms of space. For the second and third night, we were upgraded to a junior suite. Families or travelers wanting more space should consider booking a suite. Overall, the suites are fantastic with plenty of room.

Hotel Rooftop Bar

Among the hotel amenities include a farm-to-table restaurant called The Yard, a bar, and a gym. The hotel also has a rooftop bar called Moon Shine. Here, you can enjoy small plates, crafted cocktails, and views of the city.

During non-COVID times, Moon Shine would be a nice amenity to have when staying this hotel. However, intoxicated Moon Shine guests waiting in the lobby to use the elevator forgot that mask-wearing helps to prevent the spread of the virus. So, it’s important to note that people greeting you without masks is likely going to happen on the weekends.

Common Questions

Where is the Elyton Hotel parking?

Valet parking is available for $30 per night. Unlike World of Hyatt, Marriott doesn’t offer waived parking fees as a perk for some of its upper tier elite members. There’s also street parking which is what we did. However, there’s not a lot of street lighting and foot traffic so keep that in mind before selecting this option.

Is an Elyton Hotel Wedding possible?

Two event rooms and more than 1,800 square feet are available for an Elyton Hotel wedding. More details can be found here.

What is the Redmont Hotel?

Redmont Hotel is another hotel located in downtown Birmingham. Amenities available to guests include a cafe, a rooftop cocktail lounge and a restaurant/bar, and a gym.

What is the Westin Birmingham?

Westin Birmingham is a category 4 Marriott requiring 20,000 points (off-peak) to 30,000 points (peak) per night. There’s a restaurant, coffee shop, a lounge, a fitness center, and a heated outdoor pool.

What is the Tutwiler Hotel?

Tutwiler Hotel is a Hilton property in downtown Birmingham you can book with as low as 31,000 points per night. The hotel has a fitness center, a restaurant and bar, and a barber shop.

Conclusion on the Elyton

Elyton Hotel is a solid Marriott property in downtown Birmingham. What makes the hotel even more enticing to stay at is the ability to use your Marriott Bonvoy AmEx 35,000 point certificates during your stay. All in all, the hotel is one we recommend in addition to the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook.

What do you think about The Elyton? What other Birmingham hotels do you recommend? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.

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