Fairfield by Marriott Xi’an North Station

Being near the railway station made this a handy spot, especially if you want a good night's sleep instead of a chaotic morning dash. The room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, with the dependable Marriott feel: no odd smells or unpleasant surprises. Breakfast had plenty of fresh choices, and the coffee was perfectly fine. A reliable, comfortable stay. I'd come back.

The breakfast was just basic but okay. My room was a good size, nicely decorated, and clean. The bigger issue was the shower: water pressure was barely there, and the temperature jumped from very hot to very cold. I thought it might only happen during busy morning hours, but it was the same at 2 a.m. The AC also didn't work at all. Maybe the problems were limited to my room, since I hadn't seen other reviewers mention them, but a shower should work properly even at a budget hotel. The staff seemed friendly but spoke no English, so check-in involved very little conversation and I couldn't ask about restaurants or taxis. And while the hotel is close to the railway station, there isn't much to do nearby in Xi’an. I'd choose somewhere nearer the city instead.

I paid for a room for three, but the supplies, including towels and water bottles, were only set out for two. Guests ignored the no-smoking signs, and the staff could only apologize. Cigarette odor in the room kept me awake. I turned off the AC and opened the small window to air it out, but the smell kept coming back, and I couldn't tell where it was coming from. The staff couldn't speak English, and the toilet door was terrible. Everything about the hotel felt weird.

A pretty good stay, especially for redeeming points, with free breakfast too. The people at check-in were nice, and I got a modern-looking corner suite on a high floor. It's close to the airport and most of the tourist spots.