Fairfield by Marriott Taichung

I really enjoyed another stay at Fairfield Taichung. Breakfast was simple and fresh; the salad and a good Americano were my favorites. The staff also patiently explained the phone casting system and how it works with their network security. I left my black Nike vest jacket at breakfast, and I’m grateful they kept it for me. A week later, I called from Taipei, and they arranged to send it safely to me at the Grand Hotel Taipei for a small collection fee. Thanks especially to Ms Chen and Ms Zhang for being so kind and helpful. I’ll stay at Fairfield Taichung again on my next visit.

The room is spacious, and the staff are attentive and polite. But the bathroom needs attention: there are only two hooks, no towel bar for hand towels or washcloths, and the vanity is the only place to leave them. With the humidity, the towels stay damp all day, making it hard to follow eco-friendly practices. Black mildew is visible in the shower area, which needs a more thorough cleaning.

The bed was comfortable and the room stayed quiet. It’s a little small, but there are plenty of outlets and room to open luggage. The front desk and breakfast staff were kind and helpful, especially Charlotte, who helped me a lot at check-in.

The basement parking was dirty and shared with loading docks and large freezers, so we had to watch for anything in the way. The room was the smallest we’d had in the Marriott chain, and although we booked two nights, we only lasted one. We arrived late and were too tired to look for another hotel, so we went back to the lobby right away and canceled the second night. The complimentary breakfast was the only redeeming feature, but it was for paying customers only. Guests using points or free night certificates weren’t offered it. We were told that this is standard at all Asia Fairfield Inns.