Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Augusta

The hotel was almost full, and the lot was nearly packed, so I wish there had been more parking. Still, I'd come back. I arrived very late but got a cheerful check-in and a rundown of the amenities. The room was clean and comfortable, and the place was terrific.

The staff were lovely, friendly, helpful, and kind, while giving us space. The rooms were spotless, better than some luxury hotels I've stayed in. But they were small and crowded, and all four rooms we used that weekend had some issue: a missing closet door, a loud closet door, a fridge so noisy we had to unplug it to sleep, or a broken curtain track. The free breakfast was a nice gesture, but unless cereal or yogurt is enough for you, it wasn't very good. I'd rather have gone to a coffee shop and had some money taken off the bill. We were there for Colby graduation weekend, and paid $500 a night. I understand high demand brings an opportunity to make money, but even $200 a night would be a stretch for the value. It's a Marriott property, and it seems they make money by charging guests a lot when demand is high. At $500, no thanks, not again.

The location was okay, and the staff we dealt with didn't seem very interested in helping guests. The place also feels a little worn out and may be due for a refurb.

Eric and the front desk staff were wonderful, and breakfast was good. What really stood out, though, was how spotless the hotel was. Housekeeping and their supervisor Christopher deserve credit; it was cleaner than I expected by far. The bed was so uncomfortable that my back hurt throughout the stay, and I woke around 4 AM each morning in pain. Still, the cleanliness alone earned it five stars from me.