Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Charlotte Pineville

We were in town for the race in Charolette and had accidentally booked a one-bedroom room instead of the two-bedroom we wanted. They made switching rooms easy and were understanding about the mistake. The woman who checked us in was especially professional and nice, even though I can't recall the names of the ladies who helped us. My husband and I would definitely come back.

The smell was the biggest problem. We were told it came from a nearby water treatment facility and was beyond the hotel's control, but sewage odor was noticeable in the elevators and blew into our room through the AC, toward the pull-out sofa where our kids were sleeping. Other guests were uncomfortable and complaining too. We didn't feel it was suitable for our young children, so we asked for a refund. The front desk said they couldn't authorize one, and late at night we packed up our exhausted kids and drove farther away to find another hotel. We had booked ahead after a full day at Carowinds celebrating our son's birthday, hoping to get some rest before heading home. When we arrived, there was already a strong sewage smell outside. Then, after checking in, we entered our assigned room and found another family staying in it. We felt awful for disturbing them. The desk apologized, said their system had been having issues, and moved us to a room on another floor. The whole thing was stressful and very disappointing, though it didn't ruin our son's birthday trip. I'd urge families, especially those with young children, to consider staying elsewhere until this is properly addressed.

The rooms were immaculate and nicely furnished, and the staff were so friendly and helpful. We were there for a baby shower, and the meeting room was clean and set up nicely. They also let us decorate it for the shower.

The microwave in the room and the free breakfast were real highlights for me. Those small conveniences are surprisingly hard to find these days. I enjoyed staying here, and the front desk staff were friendly and available at all hours.