Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Austin Buda

We weren’t planning to spend much time in the room, just needed somewhere to shower, sleep, and maybe get breakfast, so I knew it might not be a great hotel when I booked. Still, we won’t book here again. We return to the area often for competitions, and there are much better choices in the same price range. The hotel was about as clean as a run-down place can be and smelled like cheap disinfectant. One elevator was out, as was the ice machine on our floor. Our room was small and awkward, with a tiny coffee maker that wouldn’t brew. The TV stayed on channel 1. A woman at the desk couldn’t fix it, but a man showed us how to unplug the box at the back. We had to do that each time we turned the TV on. The beds were worn and uncomfortable, with strange plastic-feeling comforters. I brought my own pillow, but the king bed had basic, uncomfortable standard-size pillows. The shower had barely lukewarm water and almost no pressure. Between 5 and 7 a.m. on Sunday, there was no hot water at all, despite trying several times at both the shower and sink. The walls were thin, so we could hear everything around us. Breakfast was bland, though they did have some gluten-free options, which I don’t see often at budget hotels.

The room’s shower was visibly old and rusty, the elevator was out of service, and the hot tub was broken. Housekeeping didn’t clean during my stay, and only one bottle of water was provided for the entire visit. I also asked for extra towels and an iron, but neither was ever delivered. It felt like a basic request was a nuisance to the staff. This stay at a Marriott property was frustrating and far below what I expected for comfort and service. The poor maintenance and lack of help have put me off this location, and I’ll think twice about choosing Marriott again.

The hotel is very clean, and the staff have always been friendly and enjoyable to talk with. There are good places to eat within an easy walk.

I don’t usually review hotels, but Ms. Hernandez on the night shift was phenomenal. I got to Austin, Texas at 3 a.m. after driving from Abeline, Texas for work, and had just found out there was a problem with my reservation at Best Western. After searching Google Maps for 30 minutes at that hour, I found the Fairfield. I was tired, and Ms. Hernandez listened to what I needed and got me checked in quickly. She set me up for an extended stay, pointed out that Walmart was across the street, and told me about nearby restaurants. Most helpful of all, she explained how to get around afternoon rush-hour traffic for work. She was amazing and very helpful. Christian T