Fairfield Inn & Suites Indianapolis Plainfield

I travel for work, and this no-frills hotel near the airport has what I need. The room is clean, the bed and pillows are comfortable, and there’s a fridge, iron and ironing board, and desk. Breakfast is the same as at other Fairfields. I especially appreciate that the ventilation is quiet, since so many hotel vents are noisy. I didn’t notice significant airport noise. My rating reflects what I paid. There are nicer hotels, but they cost more, and I wasn’t looking for anything fancy.

We came for a softball game at IU Bloomington. I was disappointed that there were no rooms available in Bloomington that weekend, but the 45-minute drive from here turned out to be worth it. As soon as you walk through the doors, there’s a fresh-laundry smell and a light, airy feel. I didn’t get that icky feeling I usually do at other hotels. Staff clearly take pride in keeping things up to standard. Breakfast was simple, with oatmeal and toppings, eggs, sausage, bagels, muffins, yogurt, and more. Another good stay at a Fairfield. I’ve had positive experiences at both older and newer locations.

The young man at the desk, I think his name was Joseph, was the one bright spot. At checkout, the young woman took several minutes to come up front and didn’t ask how the stay had gone. Maybe she didn’t care, or maybe she knew guests weren’t having a good time. On the second day, our room wasn’t cleaned and there were no fresh towels or rags. We passed several housekeeping carts downstairs, but had to go back to the desk for replacements. We were told the dryer wasn’t working well, and it wasn’t clear if anything could be provided. He did find some, but they felt damp and had mystery stains. Earlier, we’d had to switch rooms because the first one was full of garbage on the floor and table. We waited while other guests complained before it was sorted out. The second room smelled musty, had weak water pressure and barely hot water, a stained washcloth, cheap pillows, and very hard mattresses. Noise came from every direction, and the poor sound dampening meant very little sleep. Breakfast before leaving was a tiny spread, and the food was at the wrong temperature or soaked in grease. After more than 20 years of regular travel and hundreds of hotel stays in the US and abroad, this ranks among my five worst. Even with free nights, I wouldn’t stay again or recommend it to anyone.

Everything was convenient, with Stacks restaurant across the street for breakfast and a 24-hour gas station right on the corner. We stayed at the Fairfield by Marriot last weekend. The hotel was quiet the whole time, very clean, and the staff were super friendly. I’d definitely recommend it, and we’ll stay there again next time we’re in town.