Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Destin — Hotel in Destin

The location we stayed at is the Fairfield Inn & Suites Fort Walton Beach-West Destin, 540 Santa Rosa Blvd. Destin Florida 32548 and this review is about that location: The initial booking was for Saturday night only (for a last minute couple escape for the weekend). Well, knowing that it is high season in Destin and the city 400 birthday, I was not sure we were going to be able to find a room to stay on Friday, all it took was a quick phone call and they were able to work out something for us. In the hospitality business, communication is a great deal and surely, they’ve communicated everything I needed to know in advance, from rate to terms for the stay, to room type for each night, and breakfast details. Wonderful communication with guests. Having mentioned all that, I want to congratulate Tanaya Ambrose at the front desk - wonderful customer service girl that pays attention to all details and even the small request like the one I had: I want to wake up and see the sand… she made sure I was happy on my second night (initial reservation date). Thank’s for that small detail that was very important for me. The hotel it self is very business like with computer available at the lobby - gym area - breakfast area in lobby - small parking space that it is enough for the hotel and very safe. Breakfast was incredibly clean and well kept and the HOT COFFEE was wonderful. The staff was pleasant and kept them selves clean too. Very nice! The Lobby and all the areas mentioned are on the 1st floor and it is understood that everyone will walk from pool and beach all over the floors, well, there is always someone keeping the place clean. The whole time I was around, I did NOT see anyone complaining about anything. Wonderful access to the beach and the area is kept clean, notice in the pictures that there is no trash left behind. Pool is small, hence the business like hotel comment, but enough to have a pleasant time after the hot sun at the beach. Now the rooms: beds are confortable, pillows are great, bathroom and room amazingly clean and common areas are well kept (see pictures). One thing I noticed is that the manager walks around the building picking up things/items that guests leave behind and she is happy to do it. I will recommend this place to everyone that goes to Destin. A+ to the Managers - staff - Tanaya Ambrose - and the breakfast crew. Let's not forget the housekeepers, smiling always and keeping the rooms very nice for...

Overall this hotel has an excellent location, but has a few issues. While on a weekend vacation with my family we encountered a few issues that I'm not accustomed to when staying at Marriott properties. The internet TV would not work in the room and after reporting it and their guy coming to try to fix it, he was not successful so we were limited to what we could watch on tv at night. The HVAC in our room was leaking water badly on the floor the last evening of our stay and we were only inches away from it soaking one of our suitcases so that could have been a bad experience, but got lucky. Also one of the night we had some neighbors both above us and next door that were very loud and hitting the doors and floor where for over an hour it was very unpleasant and not what I'm use to at a Marriott property as well. My final issue was with the outside pool. It was on the greenish side and needed a good cleaning. The inside pool was fine and ended up swimming there instead, but would expect better pool maintenance for a Marriott hotel. Now for the good. The breakfasts were good and they used products that had good flavor and many name branded items saving us on having to go our and eat breakfast. They had a little bit of something for everyone and the gentleman manning the breakfast area was attentive and nice and handle any and all requests quickly. The ladies at the front desk were friendly and welcoming too and appreciated that as well. Overall the room was fine other than the issues stated above, but I didn't sleep great and woke up most mornings with mild back pain, but I've grown accustomed to that when sleeping at hotels. The hotel is right across the road from Henderson Beach, but you can't walk over there and have to drive your vehicle and pay the $6 to access the beach there. The hotel is also within walking distance to Walmart and a couple smaller restaurants like Wingstop. There are plenty of restaurants in the area as well. I would return to this hotel due to it's location and overall acceptable stay, but I was expecting more from the Fairfield by Marriott and they do have some things they...

I recommend this hotel to absolutely no one.

I recently PCS'd to Eglin AFB and booked at stay Tuesday 15 Sept, the eve of Hurricane Sally. I woke up to a power outage, and was told there was no telling when the power would be back; understandable. I ventured out in the hurricane to assist a friend in the Ft Walton area during the storm. I arrived back at 1930, just before dark, to be told I could not stay at this hotel tonight. No call/text/email. I was told to pack my things and leave and handed "accommodations" 15 minutes east in Sandestin. (I thought to myself, "Not ideal, driving in a hurricane at night; but at least they're set me up in a new spot and paid for a room for the inconvenience/danger involved.")

On my drive over, I called to confirm that my stay would last the original three more night that I had booked and was informed that there were no rooms available tonight? Excuse me? I am driving in a hurricane at night because I was told there are rooms available, specifically one for me. So what do I do, I asked? The woman responded she couldn't accommodate me.

So now it is 2000, dark, and I am pulled over on the side of flooded Hwy 98 with no place to stay. I stop by multiple hotels eastbound on 98 and all are booked. There is NOWHERE for me to go. I end up driving all the way to PCB for a hotel.

I never write reviews, especially a negative review. Everyone has bad days. I felt compelled to write this review to ward fellow travelers away from this hotel. This situation was DANGEROUS, not inconvenient: dangerous. I fly fast jets for a living and this was the most uncomfortable I had felt in months. When I make a mistake at work or I have to tell someone some bad news, I tell them the truth. I do NOT tell them that they will be taken care of if I cannot provide that support.

Oh, and on top of all of this when I looked at the email receipt I was charged 160 dollars for a stay that never happened. From a hotel I was kicked out of in...