Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Seneca Clemson Univ Area — Hotel in Seneca

We usually stay at the Hampton Inn when we are in the area, but we decided to try this newer Fairfield on our most recent visit this weekend. We discussed later (my husband and I) whether we preferred the Fairfield or the Hampton, and, if the prices were equal, we'd say it is probably 50-50. We had a king room on the lake side of the hotel, so we did have a pretty view of a little sliver of Lake Keowee, so that was nice. The lake view feature makes the hotel unique in Seneca (at least as far as I know). Our room was clean and comfortable, the breakfast was good, and the service was friendly. There were only a few small "hiccups" which made me give the review 4/5 instead of 5/5. First of all, the room itself was surprisingly small. We were only there to sleep, and there were only two of us, but we were both taken a bit aback when we opened the door to see the room was quite small. Second, there is a lovely outdoor area overlooking the water which we did not use, and the reason we did not use it is that our room key (which was supposed to be used to unlock the door to come back into the hotel) would not unlock the door to come back inside from this area. When we first walked out there, my husband quickly thought to check that before we both walked out and ended up locked out, so we didn't use the area. (We also did not tell the front desk and give them a chance to solve the issue, so I can't really complain.) Another minor issue was the bathroom. I really like the typical Fairfield bathroom which this was. The big walk-in shower with the premium bath products are one of my favorite things about Fairfields, and I usually prefer them to Hampton and Holiday Inn bathrooms. This one, while in that style, had mold growing in the shower (which I have never seen in a Marriott hotel) and no lotion. The shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower were a very nice luxury brand, but I'm pretty sure there is usually some kind of lotion in a Fairfield bathroom, and this one had none. Again, I didn't alert the front desk since we were only there to sleep, have breakfast the next morning, and leave by 8:00 AM. I always travel with my own pillow and a sound conditioner, and I'm glad I had them on this trip. While I have had extremely comfortable beds in other Fairfields, this one was fine but nothing special, and my husband said the pillows were not good at all (too thin, loose, and unsupportive.) Also I was surprised to hear a bit of road noise from the room seeing as the hotel is not on a major interstate. Also, since the hotel is right beside a cove with a lot of boat docks, I was awakened before sun-up by people starting up their boats. Overall, I am glad to have another hotel option to consider when we are in the area. If you think you'd like to have a view of the lake at a budget friendly but nice hotel in Seneca, then you should consider...

I'll start by saying the lobby was visibly dirty with food on the tables and chairs left where people walked away from their mess unbothered. Bed passed the bug bed check and the sheets had no visible stains. I always wipe all surfaces down prior to unpacking and what my multipurpose white wipes found were hairs/tons of dust/ and occasional grime. A family member had helped me get my items to my room and used my bathroom with a reasonable amount of toilet paper. This clogged the toilet. They do not provide plungers in the bathrooms. I called down to the desk and was told they had no way of coming up to assist. I came down from the 4th floor and was made to wait then handed a plunger after a while once she called a manager and found found the SINGLE plunger on hand in an entire hotel, and a white plastic trash bag in front of other guests who were then also left waiting.... I asked if there was anyone who could come and service my bathroom and was told no, as she was the only employee working and was told "If he clogged the toilet he can unclog it."... I was told to return it back to the desk after I rinse it off in MY SHOWER! The same shower I wanted use this evening as I've been on the road all day and would not have disinfected or cleaned again tonight.... WHY IS THIS ROOM $200 A NIGHT? WHY DOES THIS HOTEL NOT OFFER A $2 PLUNGER IN THEIR BATHROOMS? WHY DOES A BRAND NEW HOTEL NOT KEEP MORE THAN ONE EMPLOYEE ON AT NIGHT? WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE PLUNGER AVAILABLE IN AN ENTIRE BRAND NEW HOTEL? I have so many questions. To end things please know that there are tons of other hotel and motel options in the area that offer what I can only assume is the same clean bed with hopefully more stable plumbing, and around the clock customer service. We are clearly out in the middle of nowhere SC... DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE BRAND NEW, they have plenty of kinks to work out here, especially their dry, lacking customer service. Will not be back unfortunately due to the fact that this hotel is perfectly placed next to the lake.. I paid the money assuming newer meant cleaner, better quality, and more fresh, eager or helpful and kind...

Let me tell you about my stay at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Seneca, SC. I walked in and felt as welcome as a hotdog at a baseball game—just the kind of place that hits you right in the feels! The lobby was so inviting; I half expected to see a friendly bear in a checkered shirt flipping pancakes.

Let’s talk about the room. It was as roomy as my dad jokes during Thanksgiving dinner! I mean, I had more space than a kid with a new bike on Christmas morning. The bed? Oh boy, it was like sleeping on a cloud made of marshmallows—if you catch my drift. I was out like a light faster than you can say “Dad, stop telling jokes!”

The bathroom was clean and shiny, making me feel like I was in a commercial for soap. I even did the ol’ “splash water on my face” routine, and let me tell you, it was like a scene from a movie—except I wasn’t wearing a cape.

Breakfast? Oh man, they had a spread that could make a Sunday brunch jealous! Waffles, eggs, pastries—you name it, they had it. I was so happy, I could’ve done a little jig right there in the dining area. But then I remembered my “dad dancing” is more of a hazard than an entertainment option.

The staff was friendlier than your neighbor who always offers you the last slice of pizza. They were eager to help, whether it was with directions or just sharing a laugh. It reminded me of the good ol’ days when you could actually talk to people without swiping right!

You can't forget the location. It’s perfectly situated near all the attractions. I felt like a kid in a candy store—except, you know, with fewer cavities.

If you’re looking for a place that feels like home (but with fewer dad jokes), the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Seneca, SC is the place to be. I’d stay there again in a heartbeat—just don’t ask me to tell...