Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Duluth Waterfront

The staff were welcoming, and they let me check out earlier than planned without charging me, which I really appreciated. The rooms are big, and it's a beautiful property on the Duluth waterfront. Breakfast was decent, with hot eggs, cereal, oatmeal, apples and bananas. Coffee was available around the clock. I'd happily stay here again when I'm back in Duluth, Minnesota.

The business center is pretty exposed, so be cautious about opening anything confidential there. My king room was roomy, especially the bathroom, and it was generally quiet. Breakfast was included and just okay.

The pool is called heated, though it didn't feel especially warm. It wasn't cold, either, but I wouldn't call it warm, and it only seems big enough for about three families at once. Kids who want lots of space to swim may not like it. Breakfast was a good free spread, with plenty of options and everything kept fresh and stocked. The room was clean, including the beds and surfaces, and there was no mold in the shower or stray hair in the corners. The walls and carpet did show the usual wear.

The first thing I noticed in the room was a needle mark on the side of an almost empty toilet paper roll. I saw that as a serious safety issue, but the desk staff seemed unconcerned and didn't even offer a replacement roll. A billing mistake by the desk led to a double charge of nearly $700 for one night. Mistakes happen, but fixing this one took a string of emails and calls and more than a week. Manager Ellen only looked into it after all that, and then it was corrected quickly. The walls and floors are so thin you can hear TVs and people peeing. Between that, the safety concern, and management making excuses instead of caring about guests, this was easily my most unpleasant stay in Duluth. Do yourself a favor and stay across the street.