Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriott Effingham

I used rewards points for this stay, and I'm not sure the regular nightly rate would have felt worthwhile with the rooms still needing technology upgrades. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and the staff friendly. My main problem was charging devices: the alarm clock had just two USB-A ports and no USB-C ports. My husband and I needed to charge our phones and my tablet overnight, but we couldn't. I called the front desk to ask whether I'd missed any other ports in the room, but there weren't any. I was surprised a Marriott in 2025 had so few options, especially since I usually stay with Marriott. They could at least lend chargers at the desk. Bring your own charger or a USB-C to USB-A cable.

For a quick overnight stop, our spotless room, comfortable bed, and pet-friendly setup did what we needed. The staff were especially kind and welcoming. We usually choose Marriott, and this place checked the boxes, though it didn't stand out. The property feels tired and the common areas could use more attention and a refresh. Breakfast was the biggest letdown: it felt thrown together, and aside from the waffle maker and a bagel, the other options didn't work for me. I don't expect a luxury spread, just a few dependable basics. With some updates and more thought put into amenities like breakfast, this location could be much better, especially with such lovely people working there.

This has happened on both of my stays here: housekeeping has come into my room before checkout. Checkout is at noon, so why are staff knocking at 10 in the morning? People may arrive late and want to sleep until it's time to leave. There wasn't even a do-not-disturb sign in the room, and when I called the front desk, the person acted like it was no big deal and that every hotel does it. I've never had another hotel knock before checkout to see if anyone's there. The first time, I was completely nude after a shower when the door opened and a man was standing there. This time I was asleep in bed. I won't stay again if this keeps happening. Is this how the new management wants to run things?

We were on a road trip and stopped overnight to get a good night's sleep, but the AC kept tripping every one to two hours and we barely slept. We expected at least basic Marriott standards, yet the trash bins had no liners and there was no body lotion in the room. The coffee was good, at least, so that's the extra star. A waste of money.