Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Atlanta Marietta

The property was well kept, and our final room was clean and worked well for my family. Getting there was another story. We checked in a little after 6:30 with Monique, who came out from the back looking visibly congested. I asked if I could see the room before bringing our things up. I’d requested one away from the elevator because of a recent leg injury, but the assigned room was at the very end of the hall. When I went back to ask for a change, Monique was in the office with the door open. She threw up her hands, rolled her eyes, and came to the desk when I called to her. She did assign another room, but by then I’d been driving for hours and was already irritated by her response. My teen daughters checked that room while I went to unload the car. They came back to say there was a pile of dirty sheets, a trash bag, and a vacuum outside the door. The lights were off inside, but the TV was on, so they didn’t go in. When I told Monique, she sarcastically asked, “Was it dirty?” I explained they hadn’t fully entered and asked if she’d want to stay with trash and used linens outside her door. We were switched again, but I was exhausted, so I asked for the original room instead. I also asked about the rewards program and was told I couldn’t earn points because I’d booked through a third party. I got no details about benefits or how to sign up. I wanted to give this hotel five stars, but that service was unacceptable for such a nice place. It was a poor first impression.

For the price and location, it worked well enough as an overnight stop, though I’d probably choose somewhere else next time. The bed was okay, but the pillows were flat, lumpy, and uncomfortable. Turning the temperature down didn’t make the room as cool as we wanted. It was mostly deserted on Friday night, except for someone running and making noise in the hall and above us.

I’ve stayed here a couple of times and the rooms have always been clean, comfortable, and a good size, with a nice TV. It’s a newer, modern, fresh-looking property, especially for a Fairfield. The freeway is right nearby, and The Battery/Truist Park is about 10 minutes away. There are a few restaurants and a Racetrac gas station close by, too. The security deposit is only $20, which I appreciated.

The lobby looked great, but the room wasn’t comfortable. Apart from the king bed, there was nowhere to sit except a desk chair, even though there’s room for a loveseat or a decent armchair with a footstool. When I asked, the front desk attendant said the owner didn’t want to spend money on more furniture. The bathroom door also wouldn’t close all the way, which left a privacy issue for a family. I won’t stay here again.