I have to stay in hotels for work 87% of the year. Last year, I stayed at my first Fairfield Inn by Marriott, and it was the second-best hotel stay I’ve ever had. Since then, Fairfield Inn has been my top choice—when the rate is...
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I have to stay in hotels for work 87% of the year. Last year, I stayed at my first Fairfield Inn by Marriott, and it was the second-best hotel stay I’ve ever had. Since then, Fairfield Inn has been my top choice—when the rate is reasonable.
However, I’ve learned that not all chains are the same. Just like all Chick-fil-A locations or Publix supermarkets can vary, the same goes for hotels. I’m not sure if the issues I experienced are due to management or an owner-operator problem, but the condition of my room was disappointing.
The problems in my room shouldn’t have gone unnoticed. Housekeeping should see them, report them to senior housekeeping, management, maintenance, or the owner—but it’s clear these issues have been ignored for a while.
• The tub drain is slow, which can be a major issue, especially after a long day at work when you’re trying to get clean.
• The paint in the toilet is peeling, and at first glance, it looks like something much worse when you walk into the room.
• There were no face or bath towels in my room at check-in. Strangely enough, I saw a face towel being used to hold a door open in the hallway near the elevator.
• Light switches were broken or missing, bulbs were blown, and I’m fairly certain the bathroom fan has been out for a long time.
These aren’t minor inconveniences like a missing Bible in a drawer or an absent alarm clock on the nightstand—these issues directly affect a guest’s stay. I expected better from a Marriott-branded hotel.
Because of these problems, I’ll be checking out earlier than planned and booking a room at a Choice property down the street, where I’ve had a much more pleasant experience in the past. It was just fully booked at the time of my reservation.