Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Barrie

I keep coming back because the staff are so kind, and the place feels like a home away from home. The bed is really comfortable and the rooms are clean and practical, though a bit dim. Breakfast is nice, and there's tea and coffee available all day and night. Laundry is self-serve, and the lovely staff will happily exchange coins. Food options are right nearby, with Tim Hortons and a gas station across the road, and Zehrs is an easy walk of under ten minutes.

Free breakfast and parking make staying here easy and good value. I've been a couple of times, and it's been quiet, clean, and comfortable on each visit. Check-in is straightforward, and the staff are friendly. The rooms are practical and well cared for, in keeping with the usual Fairfield setup. A reliable place to stay in Barrie or when passing through.

I booked because the website photos made the hot tub look usable, and that amenity was a big part of my decision. When I arrived, I found it had been permanently filled with cement. Listings online, including Marriott-related ones, still show pictures that give a reasonable impression it's operating. Marriott's reputation raises my expectations, so finding amenities represented inaccurately has left me disappointed more than once. I'm posting this so other guests can decide with accurate information and the property can update its listings.

Breakfast had plenty of choices and was good. The room itself was small, and the hotel is smaller than the website makes it appear. Our bathroom door stuck badly, and there was dirt and moldy caulking along its bottom edge. We also found torn curtains and an odd smell. It was an adequate weekend stay, though the rooms need more maintenance. I'd put this at three stars.