Fairfield by Marriott Saga Ureshino Onsen — Hotel in Ureshino

SUMMARY The area seems quiet, safe, and well connected enough for our needs. Our experience here has been good for the most part. For the price, what is being offered, and the failure of plumbing quality control (if baths aren't offered, at least make the showers standard quality or better), we felt this was not the best value for the money on our trip - but acceptable in a pinch.

PROS The front desk staff was friendly upon arrival and provided some printout information about the area which was appreciated. The rooms were clean and well-designed with reasonable space for the location. Convenient location next to the station (if needed) and ample, spacious, easy to navigate parking. There is a grocery store and convenience store (Lawson's - the one a few blocks over and not the one in the medical center across the street since it was locked for the public) located within 5-10 distance and several (according to reviews) average eateries within 3-15 minutes walk. The grocery store (Gyomu Super Ureshino 業務スーパー 嬉野店) sells some of its prepared meals for 20% off when it is late (we went around 7pm). You may have to inquire about food being heated at Lawson's (some convenience stores ask at the register - here they did not).

We booked last minute when some plan fell through, and many hotels in the area seemed difficult to book on the day of, which had not usually been a problem most places we have traveled, so acknowledgements for Marriott Fairfield's last minute bookability.

We were a little late with check out and they were nice about it. Lounge is relaxing and spacious, and the complimentary coffee was pretty good.

CONS The shower water quality left my hands and skin feeling slightly scaly and rough, and there seemed to be no lotion provided to counter that which is unusual for the one place that would really benefit from providing it. My spouse and I both noticed that the shower flashes hot or cold multiple times during our showers - possibly due to other guests flushing or using water which was somewhat uncomfortable.

As a western guest unfamiliar with the area, we were looking for a last minute place to stay while between towns, and having the term "onsen" in the title is misleading when there are no public or private baths on premise (we have since realized it is in the name of the area/the station). The staff did kindly provide a list of baths in the area along with detailed information for each one, but it was inconvenient to geographically locate, research, and compare on short notice. It was just a bit disappointing since I had anticipated the facilities given prices of places nearby with baths included. The hotel could consider making this more clear or collaborate with a nearby onsen or two to include a paid ticket/instructions.

There does not seem to be much shopping or attractions around besides a pachinko store, but I could be wrong. Downtown is a bit further away and would probably require a car, public transit, or 30+ minute walk. This was all fine by us since we just needed a place to stay and arrived in the evening. We paid about $190 USD, and it seems a bit pricier for what is being offered compared to the other 13 nights we booked in the region...

Multiple staff members lied by omission. I was assured they could send out luggage via Yamato twice— once several days before when I called, and once on my last night by going down to the front desk. They even showed me the slip. Come checkout, I am told they cannot actually do it because they can’t accept payment like every other hotel. So you have to wait until the Yamato courier arrives to pay them directly, which is not manageable without prior notice. Especially since hotel checkout is at 11AM and the courier does not arrive until noon or later. And even if you’re willing to wait, I don’t think you want to spend your day sitting around in the hotel until the Yamato courier happens to arrive. They did not explain why I couldn’t pay upon receipt either, which would have allowed me to send it out without waiting hours for the courier to arrive.

It would have been wildly easy to say “we have a courier arrive, but you must pay him directly whenever he comes.” Omitting key details like that has probably caused someone else to struggle to find an alternative, and I’m not likely to be the last. With so many better hotels around, with honest service, this one should be avoided. I only booked it because I’m Marriott Titanium Elite or whatever and wanted my points, but this was not worth it.

And there really are better hotels: this one has great access to the train station, but the others are close anyway and have actual integration with the town and onsens. You should only stay here if you really need to be next door to the train station for...

This was our first time staying at this Marriott brand, and everything was perfect. The hotel feels brand new, and although it is located right next to the Shinkansen tracks, it is impressively quiet. The shared amenities are excellent, featuring a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave and a WMF coffee machine (coffee and tea are complimentary). The living and dining areas are also very inviting.

The room size is ideal for travelers with minimal luggage, as the rooms do not include wardrobes. We had two large suitcases, which occupied most of the floor space. If you have limited mobility, this is something to keep in mind.

What we appreciated the most was how well-organized everything was for non-Japanese speakers. Laminated printouts in English provide clear instructions for all processes and offer helpful recommendations. We highly...