Key West Inn Fairhope

We had a good trip, but we won't stay here again. The bathroom behind the door was filthy, like it had never been cleaned back there. The door didn't close properly, so I had to brace it with a chair. Outside lights came through the sides of the blinds, and the room never got dark. The walls were paper thin, and housekeeping was noisy in the morning. The water pressure was awful. On the plus side, the place is cute and close to a lot, breakfast was good, and there were several things my child with celiac disease could eat. The beds were clean, though a bit hard for me.

The room cleaners were wonderful, pleasant, and helpful. I check the bed before unpacking, and the mattress covers were clean, with no sign of bugs. The only spot that could have used extra cleaning was the handle under the shampoo dispenser, where soap had visibly built up. We enjoyed the quaint feel, outdoor entry, breakfast, and smart TVs that let us skip cable. It's only minutes from downtown fairhope and costs less, though traffic nearby was busy and it could be hard to see your turn if you didn't know the area. We could hear the neighbor's conversations because he wasn't very quiet. I'd still love to stay again.

The staff were nice, and the water pressure was good. Those were the best parts of my stay. I booked at the last minute for Mardi Gras and knew the drive to Mobile was part of the deal, but next time I’ll prepare better for the kind of stay I want. The location was okay, near food and stores along the highway. It’s a small, basic property, and the room felt low quality, like a cheap motel. I felt uneasy using the shower or touching things, and especially sleeping on the sheets. There was hair on the bedding, and when I called the front desk for pillowcases and towels, I had to argue for them because housekeeping had supposedly just cleaned the room. The phone was unplugged, so I had to plug it in first. I was given a handicap room without asking, perhaps because they were full for Mardi Gras, and the small parking lot was completely full at one point. From my downstairs room, facing the parked cars, bright headlights came in. The two pull-down shades still left a sliver of a view into the room from the side, which didn't feel private. Noise was moderate, but people were close by loading and unloading cars, and you could hear them in their rooms, so they may hear you too. Breakfast was offered, though I didn't have any, and I wasn't sure what time it was served. There's a small pool when it's in season. The bathroom had a coffee maker and cups, hair dryer, hand soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The smart TV had limited cable, Tubi, and Netflix, but the picture distorted every few minutes. I'd prefer a designated smoking area away from the property because I try to avoid secondhand smoke for my health.

You can hear the neighbors’ TVs through the paper thin walls, and there are no quiet time rules. The price is fine, but I wouldn't recommend staying here if you want a good night’s sleep. I got no decent shut eye.