Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Charlottesville Downtown/University Area — Hotel in Charlottesville

We are an immigrant family who stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Charlottesville (Cherry Ave) for 30 days. This review reflects our experience during the entire stay.

We did our research prior to coming, but most of our information was second-hand. Initially, it was challenging to navigate the area as we were unfamiliar with the transportation system, places to shop, and local attractions.

The reception/management team was very helpful. They provided valuable insights and feedback about the area. They were very patient in answering our queries – as you can imagine, we ask a lot of questions. They also safely kept our packages from Amazon, Walmart, and Costco until we picked them up. I also wanted to recognize Gui for being accommodating and supportive to my family during our stay.

The room was clean, neat, and tidy. I especially appreciated the bathroom, which had a pleasant scent. We were given a ground floor room, which was convenient since we have a child, making the amenities more accessible. The housekeeping team did a great job maintaining the cleanliness of the room.

We enjoyed the free breakfast during our stay. While the selection was not extensive, it was satisfying. They offered bagels, white bread, and cinnamon-flavored bagels with various spreads, including peanut butter and cream cheese. They also had mixed fruits and bananas, which were perfect for replenishing potassium after a morning run.

Beside the baked goods, you will find the oatmeal with variety of toppings (nuts, coconut, etc). They have flavoured yogurt, but if you are trying to be mindful with your health, they have Greek yogurt too. My daughter loves choosing between milk and apple juice so I am happy with it.

Next to the oatmeal section, you could choose eggs or bacon/beef patties (which alternated daily). They also offered packed waffles, croissants, sausage biscuits, and egg muffins, rotating these options daily. Occasionally, they set up a waffle maker, which my child loved and still remembers fondly.

In the corner, there was brewed coffee with various flavors like hazelnut, vanilla, and Irish cream. They continued to refill the coffee throughout the day, which I appreciated as a coffee lover.

The hotel had a gym and an indoor pool near the reception area. The gym had free weights, treadmills, and ellipticals. While it might not cater to specific workouts, it was sufficient to keep muscles toned and the heart pumping. The pool was small but adequate for a refreshing dip.

Although some reviews mentioned the area seemed sketchy, my child and I walked to the nearby Tonsler Park without any issues. It's a large park with many kids, a playground, and a water splash area. As with any location, it's wise to be cautious after dark. Additionally, there's a bus stop in front of the hotel, making public transportation (CAT) easily accessible. Uber is available in the city as well.

Overall, we really enjoy staying in this hotel. It might be a three-star hotel but the people who works here goes above and beyond. I can attest this as I have been to many hotels in different countries (Dubai, Norway, Japan, etc) I wish I can thank them all for doing...

Very clean hotel which is undergoing some outside construction. Parking was easy in the two garages and there were never issues finding parking even on the weekend. Staff was very friendly, the pillows were perfect which I need due to neck issues.

A few complaints....

The rooms were expensive! I'm not sure if there was something going on, but it was a pricey stay!

Lack of information!! There is absolutely NOTHING in the room to tell you how to dial out if needed, hours for breakfast, and information about how to upgrade internet service to a faster speed. I've been in the Network Security field for three decades so I'm a tech guy. I easily connected to the wifi and was then presented with an option to upgrade to a higher speed. I wanted to run a few tests after I connected to determine if the speed upgrade was required or not so I checked "no" for upgrading. I quickly realized, I did indeed need the upgrade, but there was absolutely NO WAY to do this. I've traveled plenty and there's always a card on the desk which provides information about connecting, offering a speed upgrade and if you need tech support. There was nothing at all!

I called the front desk and they weren't aware of a link and said they didn't have the ability to do the upgrade at the front desk. After about an hour I heard from tech support, super nice guy and he thought he was able to do it, but then said, "sorry, it says this can only be done by the hotel front desk on their system." I went downstairs and the lady said she could only give it for free, but couldn't actually make the speed upgrade happen. It was so very frustrating and such a waste of time. I've never stayed at a hotel with absolutely no information whatsoever in the hotel room and I mean nothing except the bible.

I take that back, there was a laminated piece of paper telling me how to Venmo tips to the cleaning staff. That leads me to another issue. Cleaning does not come to your room and if you want extra towels/fresh towels, you need to tell the front desk "the day before." I've never experienced that in a hotel either, very strange to not even be given or offered towels daily. Luckily I didn't run low on toilet paper, what if that request needed to be submitted a day before as well!!?!?! Just strange.

Would I stay here again? Absolutely! The negatives could be avoided the next time and hopefully, this review will help you if you are thinking about staying at this hotel. Small "problems" which can be addressed ahead of time with...

I work as a travel night shift nurse and booked this hotel for a week stay. While sleeping during the day, I was woken by the sound of someone entering and exiting my room. I had a door hanger saying not to disturb. There was no knocking prior to entry. I did not see this person and have no idea what they did in my room as I was sleeping and only awoke due to the sound of my hotel room door. I got up and flipped the inner latch on my door. About two hours later, someone attempted to enter my room AGAIN but was stopped by the inner latch. I immediately called the front desk who said they would ask housekeeping (housekeeping is requested and I had not requested housekeeping my entire stay). I was then told they had a new employee that was tasked with clean filters that he would take out of empty rooms. He was supposed to have a list of which rooms to service but did not have it on him. So he had been going door to door entering rooms to remove and clean filters. While I may be able to understand it happening a first time, there was no knocking prior to entry of my room and this employee entered my room a SECOND time knowing it was occupied. After bringing it up to the front staff, I was told that getting a travel door lock would be helpful. I also spoke to the head of housekeeping who apologized on the employees behalf and stating she would “train him better”. I find this unacceptable as I am a female staying by myself, sleeping and not appropriately dressed and having a MALE employee enter my room with no warning not once but TWICE. Once may have been an accident but the second time was intentional. I do NOT feel comfortable staying there and while they did take a couple nights off of my bill, that does not change the fact they have an employee there entering rooms inappropriately. Fairfield Inn & Suites in Downtown Charlottesville: do better and protect your patrons especially vulnerable females. Very...