Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott - Jefferson City

The room was clean and refurbished, and the service was good. The bed was the problem: the pillows were so thin that even stacked together they weren't comfortable, and I woke up sore every morning. New beds and thicker pillows would make this place fine.

Breakfast was a highlight, with a wide range of hot and cold options from 6 a.m., including things to take for later or sit down and enjoy. The cleaning staff did a great job, and the front desk team were very kind. My room was tidy and particularly clean, with a small microwave and a handy mini fridge about three feet tall. The bathroom was bright and clean, and its exhaust fan kept it ventilated during showers. The hotel is refurbished and fairly central, with restaurants, shops, parks, and outdoor activities within a five-minute drive. Downtown and the Missouri Capitol are under ten minutes away, with more history and places to see. The indoor pool on the first floor was warm enough, and the pool room was heated. The gym is compact, with dumbbells, a treadmill, and an elliptical. It works for about three people; another guest and I took turns using the weights. The room had a small desk where I could work, and the mini closet was enough. I slept well with the AC set to 60 degrees, and the bed was firm but comfortable. The pillows stayed full under my head. I appreciated the Gideons Bible and reading God's Word before bed. The hotel was mostly quiet, though guests in my third-floor hallway stayed up later than I wanted, and I heard wind outside the window much of the night. Even so, it was an enjoyable stay near the Capitol Mall in Jefferson City.

It's not a terrible hotel, but the noise made for a strange stay. Every morning at exactly 6 a.m., I woke to hammering, furniture being moved, and other loud sounds from rooms above and around me. The walls are thin enough that I could hear people in the hallway at all hours. Housekeeping seemed to be cleaning or in the halls anytime from 7 a.m. until after midnight. I don't know whether staffing shortages explain it.

I was here for four weeks for work and stayed in five different rooms because I had to go home for one night in the middle of one week. It was very clean, but I have several other impressions. The beds were all extremely firm, the TVs were tiny, and there was no water softener. Lime buildup on all the showerheads kept them from spraying properly, so it took forever to rinse shampoo and conditioner out of my hair. The hot water never got hot enough, and twice it ran out while I was showering. Very few staff members greeted or even acknowledged me. I was told housekeeping only came if I called the front desk to request it, but they entered anyway unless I kept the do not disturb sign up. I'll ask my company not to book me here again.