Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Houston Hobby Airport.

The hot water came through quickly and stayed hot, and breakfast was served on time with a decent range of options and plenty of seats. Parking was free and felt fairly safe, with easy access to 45. Still, I wouldn't choose this Fairfield again. If I wanted a hotel this much of a budget option, I'd have picked Four Points by Sheraton next door. The building feels old and as if it's coming apart, even though some renovation work has clearly happened in recent years. Carpet was fraying by the window, the desk had sticky residue on it, and there were stains in the bathroom I didn't want to investigate. At least the sheets and towels were clean and the bed was fine. I got there about 2:15 hoping to check in early. I understand that's never guaranteed, and Miguel said it might take around half an hour, so I waited in the lobby. My room wasn't ready until about 3:15, after the regular 3:00 check-in time. I had to keep asking the desk for updates; nobody came to let me know while I waited. Lobby coffee is usually available around the clock at Marriott hotels I've stayed in, but at 5 a.m. here it was ice cold, apparently left over from the day before. The front desk woman watched me pour some and didn't offer to replace it. It was only hot at 6, when breakfast began. I don't like the in-room coffee makers because they rarely seem clean. You notice little things missing: no pen or notepad in the room, no tissues, and no bar of soap. The body wash was off-brand instead of the usual Marriott Alice & Co. I get that Fairfield is meant to be budget conscious, but it should still meet its standards. This is the second Fairfield I've stayed at this year, and both felt like the brand had declined over the last few years. When I checked out in the morning, I left my bag with the desk, planning to pick it up after a few meetings. Miguel seemed unsure about the request, even though leaving a bag at a hotel desk is common. When I came back, I waited about 15 minutes for help. A woman was sitting in the lobby with her laptop and saw me waiting, but didn't ask what I needed until I rang the counter bell. I hadn't realized she worked there, since she was just sitting around in the lobby.

We had to leave that same day and find another hotel, Wyndham Sugar Land Houston. We arrived with family and friends and found spiders on our bed right away. The bathtub and tiles were dirty and rusty, and the front desk staff showed no empathy, saying housekeeping was off for the holidays. They also charged us for the full stay for two rooms instead of just the $100 security hold. That left us with barely enough money to move elsewhere. Unacceptable. I don't recommend this place.

The one thing they were out of was Kleenex. Otherwise, our two-night stay was quiet and comfortable. The room was clean and roomy, the beds were comfortable, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast offered a mix of hot and cold choices. It's convenient to the airport, and I'd stay here again if I came back to Houston.

We were frustrated to find no towels in our room. The room also had water damage and a strange smell, and the cleaning staff stood outside our door popping packaging bubbles and making a lot of noise.