Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Columbia

The shower had mold around the seams, the towels were old and used, and it took a full five minutes for the water to get warm. Four of the five ice machines didn’t work, and the electrical cords from the unit on our floor were wrapped around it. The elevator was noisy and took forever to open. At 6 p.m. it took the lobby attendant two minutes to show up from the back office. On Saturday night, some families treated the lobby like a gathering place and slammed every door on our fourth floor. The area wasn’t great either. Don’t turn right out of the parking lot and go into the neighborhood behind the hotel. Multiple security solar cameras running all the time in the parking lot did make me feel secure, yeah, right.

The hotel was worth the price, with plenty of things close by but little traffic noise. Our rooms were clean and stocked with supplies, and breakfast was ready on time each morning. Earl kept the area clean and stocked, and was helpful with questions. Service was great. The front desk staff were helpful and seemed purposeful about things. When we mentioned that our other half was coming, a young man at the desk suggested adjoining rooms, something I wouldn’t have thought of. It made things so convenient. We stayed with family from 28 Oct to 31 Oct and would definitely come back.

The front desk staff were friendly and courteous, and even got us a better room rate. They were very accepting of our dog and put us on the main floor to make potty breaks easier. The room was spacious and clean, and the location gave us a clean place to sleep in a decent part of town. We’d stay here again if passing through. Breakfast was meant to start at 6 a.m., but when we came down at 6:20, all the food was gone and nobody was in the dining area. I’m not sure what happened, but it was disappointing to miss it. The shower also looked like it had been put in by a first-time DIYer. The shower door leaked onto the floor, and the tile looked like the installer had run short and used at least three mismatched styles.

The hotel was convenient for the base, but the room’s water never got properly hot. The shower only reached lukewarm at best. When we raised it with staff, they spoke to us rudely and condescendingly, as though we didn’t know what we were talking about. That really affected our stay. We were there for my son’s basic training family day and graduation. At check-in, the front desk staff were very friendly and welcoming, so it was a great first impression. Things changed once we had problems with the room.