Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Charlotte Matthews

I wouldn’t stay here again. The property felt sketchy, though it did have security, and the ownership seemed cheap. The employees appeared to be trying, but weren’t being given what they needed. There are other options 5-10 minutes away. The front desk agent, a Spanish/white gentleman, gave great service, and the woman running breakfast was awesome, kind, prepared everything, and replenished it on time. But the room had too many problems: it was dark with old yellow lights, the TV screen was half black, and the in-room phone didn’t work, so I had to go downstairs to contact the desk. The room iron was broken, and the replacement was dirty and stained my shirt. The shower curtain was too high and water got all over the floor. There were no washcloths, and I had to find one. Towels and pillows were stained too. I never saw maintenance during my stay, which concerned me. This hotel needs a major renovation, and Marriott should step in.

The indoor pool was a nice little extra, and breakfast was a highlight, with lots of fresh choices in a clean dining area. Staff were welcoming from check-in onward, and every person I met was friendly, professional, and went out of their way to help. My room was spotless, fresh, comfortable, and well kept. The bed was one of the most comfortable I’ve had in a hotel. Fairfield Inn exceeded my expectations, and I’d highly recommend it. I’ll be back on future trips.

We left after one night and customer service thankfully canceled the remaining stay without a penalty. The water was barely warm in my shower after five minutes, and my husband found it even cooler. The desk initially said this was normal because of the weather, even though it was 15 degrees Celsius. The next morning it was still the same. At checkout, another staff member was horrified to hear that explanation and confirmed it wasn’t normal. We’d booked seven nights to visit family and were allowed to check in early, which went smoothly. After that, it was a disappointment: the room was small, stuffy, and very dusty, the AC filter was filthy and the unit too noisy to sleep with, and the windows wouldn’t open. Breakfast was good, but I’d booked based on positive reviews and was let down. It seemed like the owners didn’t want to keep up with maintenance.

Lisa was wonderful to work with, from arranging the room block for our son and DIL’s wedding to booking the conference room/breakfast area for Friday night’s welcome party and rehearsal dinner. Her whole team was attentive and great. Most guests were coming from out of town, and the evening became memorable for the future bride and groom and everyone there. Nacho Average Truck catered the party and was amazing. I highly recommend Fairfield Inn and Lisa for coordinating wedding accommodations and a rehearsal dinner or welcome party.