Fairfield Inn & Suites Los Angeles LAX/El Segundo

The breakfast was the usual mix of hot and cold cereal, juice, coffee, tea, yogurt, make-your-own waffles, toast, turkey and pork sausage, and scrambled eggs. Bananas were the only fresh fruit. Some evenings they put out popcorn in the lobby, and there was enough seating for breakfast. There may be lunch and dinner, but there are too many restaurants around with much better choices. Ralph’s grocery store is across the street, and Wells Fargo bank and an ATM are at the end of the block. The street is huge, probably seven or eight lanes, so be very careful at the intersection. Aloft is next door, a much better budget option than this Fairfield, and the airport shuttle serves both hotels. The 24-hour airport shuttle is the best thing here. The drivers are very nice, but front desk communication can leave you waiting a frustratingly long time. They need the “where’s my ride” app other hotels use. The layout is horrible: long hallways, poor signs, stairs in random spots, and tiny elevators in random spots too. Some rooms open to the outside like a Motel 6. It’s a bad choice if you have mobility concerns. The addition is miserable; honestly, they should tear it down and rebuild it. Marriott needs another brand category for motels, because this property would fit. I won’t stay here again. Maybe it works for men traveling for work, like construction workers, technicians, or truck drivers. The bed linens are cheap and inconsistent, with some rooms nicer than others and some thin, pitiful sheets. The rooms also look like they don’t get regular deep cleaning.

Tania made check-in easy and professional after a long day of travel. She was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. Vicky also jumped in to help, and she was just as friendly. The two of them gave me a great first impression. The rest of the Marriott property was welcoming and well organized. My room was clean, modern, and comfortable, breakfast was fresh with good choices, and the pool area was beautiful and well kept. I had a fantastic stay, with great amenities and service, and would absolutely come back.

The staff deserve credit. The front desk people were kind, professional, and accommodating, and every employee I met worked hard. The shuttle from the airport was efficient, as much as LAX traffic allows. The breakfast was standard, but the team worked hard to keep food available and the dining room clean. The location is handy for lots of food options, and the rooms were relatively clean. I had no trouble with the appliances, including the A/C. I’ve stayed at this hotel on and off over the past month for work commuting to LAX, and have been in several rooms. Every one had the same overpowering musk and stench. It hits you as soon as you walk in, feels almost physical, and makes your body react. The carpets need to go. I hope the smell comes from human odor and not something more sinister like mold. Consider nose plugs. That stench is the only thing keeping this hotel from being a real gem. I’ve given up and will spend more elsewhere so I don’t have to breathe it or carry it on my suitcases and clothes.

The breakfast is simple, but they do it well, and the staff are good. The clean, pleasant room and on-demand airport shuttle make this good value for the money. Across the road there are plenty of fast food places, including In and Out, Calr’s Jr, and Chinese options. It’s a slightly dated place with charm and quality service, and it outperforms its infrastructure. Don’t compare it with the rest of the Marriott chain; it doesn’t claim to be the same. Still, don’t write it off. For what you pay, you won’t find the same value anywhere else in LA.