Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Tacoma DuPont

The food was a real plus: breakfast was a 9/10, with fresh hot choices, oatmeal, eggs, souffles, quiches, gravy, and great coffee. The tables hadn’t been wiped when we came down, so we cleared other guests’ crumbs and spilled sauce ourselves, but that wasn’t a big deal. Sean was awesome at arrival and made me feel welcome. A housekeeper also knocked loudly while I was working even though my DND sign was on the door. Sleep was the problem. The walls are paper thin, the fire doors are heavy and loud, and you hear people talking and leaving their rooms. Our first night was in 101, with a one inch gap under the door and a nearby exit door whose closer was broken. It slammed over and over, setting off a chorus of barking dogs. Guests taking their dogs out at 4am restarted the barking, and I got maybe three hours of sleep. We were moved to 323 by an elevator, whose ding was better than the slamming. Then a group of badly behaved teenagers went into 325 next door, repeatedly letting the door slam on the lock and running in and out and down the hall. Around 9:30pm, one of them ran through the hall yelling “HELP!” We opened our door to check, but the teen stopped, stared, and then calmly walked off. Hotels should be restful, and Fairfield’s noise blocking is badly lacking. Thoughtless guests who don’t respect shared spaces can ruin that easily.

The hotel was clean, in a pleasant location, and close enough to restaurants and shops to walk. Staff were friendly and accommodating. The one problem was the internet wasn’t working. If I’d needed to work, I would’ve been out of luck.

The breakfast was really good, and the staff were top notch. Rooms were clean, and the hotel is just off I5 in a safe area with several restaurants and other conveniences nearby. I’d recommend staying here if you’re in the area.

The room was clean, though it had a slight musty smell, and I didn’t find the beds comfortable. The hotel is in a nice area and the customer service was good.