
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Best for families, golfers, and groups who want on-site activities, pools, spa services and large meeting/event space.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is a four-star, family-oriented leisure and meetings resort in Acme with golf, multiple pools, a large health club and an on-site spa. Residence Inn is a three-star, extended-stay Marriott in Traverse City with kitchen-equipped suites — read this if you’re choosing between a full-service resort stay and a practical suite-style option for longer trips.
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Best for families, golfers, and groups who want on-site activities, pools, spa services and large meeting/event space.

Best for longer stays or practical travelers who want kitchen-equipped suites, complimentary breakfast and easy access to Traverse City’s waterfront.
When Grand Traverse Resort and Spa wins: choose the resort if you want resort-scale amenities (multiple pools, an indoor water playground, Spa Grand Traverse, championship golf and many on-site dining options) or if you’re booking a meeting, wedding or a multi-generation family stay.
When Residence Inn wins: pick Residence Inn By Marriott Traverse City for longer stays, for a room with a full kitchen, for free weekday breakfast and straightforward, branded service close to the beach and local sights.
Bottom line: Grand Traverse is the choice for a full-service resort experience and on-site recreation; Residence Inn is the practical, suite-style alternative for extended visits and travelers who prioritize a kitchen and simpler, downtown-accessible logistics.
| Category | Grand Traverse Resort and Spa | Residence Inn |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Resort-focused, full-service leisure and meetings property with multiple recreation options | Extended-stay, practical and residential-feeling hotel with suite kitchens |
| Location | Acme, northeast of Traverse City on a large lakeside property with a private Beach Club | 2146 US 31 N, Traverse City — steps from Grand Traverse Bay and Traverse City Beach |
| Size | Large resort (roughly 450–550 rooms reported, extensive grounds and meeting space) | Medium; 121 rooms |
| Ages | All-ages resort with family-oriented amenities; limited adults-only hot tub areas | All-ages property (not adults-only) |
| Pools / water features | Multiple pools: two indoor pools, two outdoor pools, indoor water playground, family hot tub, adults-only outdoor hot tubs, Beach Club access (seasonal) | One indoor pool (wheelchair-accessible); beach access is very near the hotel (hotel is steps from Grand Traverse Bay) |
| Restaurants & bars | Several on-site restaurants and bars (Aerie, NIIJII, Jack’s Taproom, The Den, Grand Lobby Bar, Marketplace, plus Beach Club dining) | On-site convenience/grocery store and coffee/continental breakfast; no full-service signature restaurants listed |
| Spa & wellness | Spa Grand Traverse (12 treatment rooms, signature treatments, Serenity day pass) and a 100,000 sq ft Health Club with classes | Fitness facilities available; no on-site full-service spa published |
| Known for | Championship golf, large meeting venues, family water amenities and a 16th-floor fine-dining restaurant (Aerie) | Suite-style rooms with kitchens, free continental breakfast, proximity to the beach and airport |
| Accessibility & practicalities | Free self-parking, EV charging stations, complimentary airport shuttle (seasonal/resort shuttle), nightly resort fee typically covers fitness/pool access | Free self-parking, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour business center, complimentary continental breakfast on weekdays and weekends (hours vary by day) |
| Pet policy | No pets allowed (service animals permitted) | Pet fee listed as optional fee (USD 150 per accommodation, per stay); service animals exempt |
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa sits on a large lakeside property in Acme with an on-site private Beach Club and shuttle service.
Best if you want resort grounds, shuttle access and a private Beach Club rather than downtown walking access.
Residence Inn By Marriott Traverse City sits on US 31 N near Grand Traverse Bay and is close to the beach and local points of interest.
Best if you want a convenient, beach-adjacent base with short drives to downtown and the airport.
Grand Traverse offers a broad range of rooms, suites and condos across hotel towers and resort areas.
Choose Grand Traverse for a wider selection of room types, view options and resort-suite experiences.
Residence Inn provides suite-style accommodations with full kitchens aimed at extended stays.
Choose Residence Inn when a kitchen and a suite layout are priorities for longer stays.
Grand Traverse has multiple full-service restaurants and bars, including a signature, bay-view fine-dining venue.
Better if you want varied on-site dining and evening entertainment without leaving the property.
Residence Inn focuses on convenience dining and complimentary breakfast rather than multiple full-service restaurants.
Better if you plan to self-cater or want simple, predictable breakfast and convenience options.
Grand Traverse’s pool complex and Beach Club are central features for families and active guests.
Pick the resort for a broad selection of pool features and a seasonal private Beach Club.
Residence Inn has a single indoor pool and very close public beach/water access nearby.
Pick Residence Inn if you want quick beach access and a smaller indoor pool rather than a large multi-pool resort complex.
Grand Traverse combines a large fitness center and a full-service spa with multiple evening entertainment options on-site.
Choose the resort for a full spa program, classes and on-site evening entertainment.
Residence Inn offers basic fitness facilities and a low-key environment suited to longer stays rather than a resort nightlife scene.
Choose Residence Inn when wellness needs are modest and you prefer nearby local dining and bars over on-site nightlife.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa — indoor water playground, multiple pools and family-focused programming make it easier to keep kids occupied.

Residence Inn — full kitchens, suite layouts and complimentary continental breakfast suit longer stays and self-catered trips.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa — full-service Spa Grand Traverse and a 100,000 sq ft Health Club with classes.

Residence Inn — located steps from Grand Traverse Bay and Traverse City Beach for easy waterfront access.
Residence Inn — the suites have full kitchens and living space designed for extended stays; Grand Traverse has condos but the resort focus is more on dining out and on-site venues.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa — it offers an Indoor Water Playground, multiple pools, family hot tub, game room and seasonal Beach Club programming.
Residence Inn advertises complimentary continental breakfast; Grand Traverse publishes optional breakfast fees and multiple on-site dining options (breakfast is generally a paid add-on or ordered in-room).
No — Grand Traverse has Spa Grand Traverse on-site with a full menu of treatments; Residence Inn does not list a full-service spa.
Explore how Grand Traverse Resort and Spa stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·