Fairfield Inn & Suites Rochester Mayo Clinic Area/St. Marys

The room was clean and had good equipment, but freeway traffic was incredibly loud all night. I was shocked that semi trucks could use engine braking right in front of the hotel. I usually sleep pretty soundly and only woke a handful of times, but my wife couldn't sleep at all. If you're a normal or light sleeper, I wouldn't stay here. Maybe the owners could add sound dampening or push for road rules against engine braking.

It's quick and easy to get to Mayo Clinic, and there are good amenities nearby, including a fantastic walking path around Cascade Lake. The place looks new and clean, the freeway is right outside but usually quiet with the windows closed, and the free breakfast is as good as it gets. The internet ruins it, though. It's worse than dial-up: TVs default to 144p and buffer nonstop at any setting worth watching. Laptops, iPads, and iPhones won't open browsers and time out, even in the lobby fitness room. I asked about it on my last visit and staff said they knew there were issues. I gave it another try a month later because of the good points, but the internet was just as bad or worse. There are too many good hotels in Rochester to put up with having no internet these days.

The paved trail right beside the property was cleared all the way down to the blacktop, even in January. We bring our dog, so that’s handy, though in summer you’ll want to watch your step near Cascade Lake. Those Canada geese apparently don’t count as pets. We come here whenever we have appointments at Mayo and make use of the shuttle. The rooms are very clean, breakfast has plenty of choices, and after trying other places in Rochester, this is the one we like best.

There’s some highway noise, but it’s noticeable rather than bad. The rooms and breakfast are both great, and the hotel is very close to St Mary's Hospital. One of the nicest places to stay in Rochester.