Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott South Hill

I usually pick Hampton, though I can’t stand the Hampton in South Hill, so I tried the Fairfield and really liked it. The employees were kind and helpful, the hotel was clean and friendly, and the room’s furniture was very comfortable. The large bath towels were another plus. The bedding brought my rating down. The bottom sheet had a cut in it, and the top sheet had two large stains. I’m very particular about crisp, clean bedding, and would have given five stars if it had been up to standard. The shower and tub were also slippery, the required $5 parking charge rubbed me the wrong way, and the morning coffee was cold. That’s a big miss for travelers.

For $202 a night plus a daily parking fee, I can’t understand why anyone would choose this when a $50 motel can offer the same rundown experience. There was mold on the windows, and the window base was covered in hair, insects, and dust. The room was supposedly clean, but had an indescribable odor, so I immediately went out for air fresheners. Walls and surfaces were aged and seemed baked by smoking in the rooms. The AC filter looked like it hadn’t been replaced in years. There was no hair conditioner, and pubic hair remained on the toilet seats. I’m not high maintenance, but this is a matter of legal compliance. Under 12VAC5-431-310 and -320, hotel walls, ceilings, windows, fixtures, and furnishings must be clean and in good repair. The Virginia Department of Health instructs guests to report hotel mold to the local health department. You are breaking the law.

The beds were a little firm, but the rooms were clean and the breakfast was decent. Staff were friendly, and the shower had fantastic water pressure and temperature.

There was no one at the desk when I arrived at 9 PM, so I called out. A woman came out looking unhappy and asked whether I had a reservation. I gave my name, she made a key and handed it over, but didn’t return my thanks. It wasn’t a welcoming check-in. The room had damaged ceiling over the bed, peeling wallpaper, moldy grout in the tub and shower, and open sugar and stirrer packets. I booked through the Bonvoy app and was surprised the rate was $169 in the middle of nowhere, especially since all our other rooms on this Florida to New Jersey trip were $129. This wasn’t what I expect from a Marriott partner.