Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Fort Walton Beach-Eglin AFB — Hotel in Shalimar

Dear Marriott Fairfield Inn Team,

I wanted to take a moment to express my utmost appreciation for the outstanding experience I had during my recent stay at your Fort Walton location. As a frequent traveler who traverses coast to coast across the United States, I have had the opportunity to stay at various hotels, including numerous Fairfield Inns. However, my stay at your Marriott Fairfield Inn was nothing short of exceptional, and I felt compelled to share my experience.

From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with warm and genuine hospitality. Your staff's dedication to providing an exceptional guest experience truly stood out. Each team member I encountered was not only kind but also diligent in ensuring that my stay was special. Their attentiveness to guest needs and their willingness to go the extra mile did not go unnoticed. It's evident that your team takes great pride in their work and in making guests feel welcome.

One aspect that truly impressed me was the breakfast service. The breakfast provided was nothing short of perfect. The quality of offerings were outstanding, and it was a great way to start the day. Having a satisfying and hearty breakfast set the tone for the rest of my stay, and I was thoroughly impressed with the options available.

Additionally, I must commend your team for the immaculate cleanliness and maintenance of the property. The attention to detail in this regard did not go unnoticed. It was evident that the premises were well-maintained, and this contributed significantly to the overall comfort and enjoyment of my stay.

I cannot thank your team enough for the exceptional hospitality, the quality of breakfast service, and the pristine condition of your property. Your dedication to ensuring guest satisfaction is unwavering, and it is greatly appreciated. I can confidently say that this has been my best experience at a Fairfield Inn, and I look forward to returning in the future.

Once again, thank you for your exceptional service and for exceeding my expectations. Your team has truly made this Fairfield Inn stand out as the best I've ever had the pleasure of staying in.

Warm...

This hotel was exceptionally bad.

Bedbugs: I got several bug bites on my legs and feet while I was there, and I know they weren't from mosquitos because I never went outside without socks, shoes, and pants on. Got a couple more on my arm/side. I told them about it after I left, and they said, "oh, ok, we'll have someone look into that." Missing items: I was in a hurry to get to the airport, and left behind a ring, a cell phone charger, and a comb in my hotel room. When I called back after getting home, they said nothing had been found in my room. Exploitation of Military: I was traveling on Air Force business, and at the end of the stay I found that they had charged me $8.10 per day of hotel sales tax on top of $135 rent. Military/government hotel use is tax exempt in FL, and with the hotel being on the doorstep of a very large Air Force Base, I'm sure they know this, and are pocketing the tax. I asked them about the tax on the phone afterward, and they said you have to specifically request the tax exemption in advance. Travel was arranged for 19 people at once by an air force travel person, so I know they understood we worked for the military. When I looked at the same hotel online, the listed price for the same exact room was $107. Trip was mid-October, hurricane season, so not exactly peak for this hotel. My companions and I were practically the only people there. Thin walls: some of my travelling companions had the bad luck of getting a room next to a noisy neighbor. They could hear every word that was being said in the adjacent room. I was next to the end of a hall, where a door to the stairwell swings shut and it makes a loud banging noise whenever someone goes through it.

I mean, yeah, the lobby was spiffy, and the breakfasts were good, but given the above there is no way that qualifies them for more...

My husband and I are Marriott Vacation Club members and Platinum Bonvoy members. We usually stay at nice resorts, but during our trip to Florida we decided to stay at the Fairfield Inn in Shalimar, because they had really great reviews. Now I understand why their reviews were great.

We arrived in town early, called to see if we could check in early, and the answer was yes. Around 2pm Tanisha, I believe, checked us in and was so nice and gave us a welcome letter (very nice touch). She upgraded our room to a suite, which was amazing. When we went to the suite we couldn’t see our car from our room’s window, so I asked if we could move to a suite where we could see our car to make sure it was okay during our stay.

Jeannie the manager was so kind to find another suite at the last minute for us. She coordinated with the housekeeping staff to clean the new suite, because the person had just checked out. We were able to wait in the room we didn’t want, and about 45-minutes later the room was perfectly clean.

This is what we have noticed about this particular property, it is super clean inside and out. They had free fresh popped popcorn bagged, fruit in the lobby to eat at any time, and the staff are customer focused. All of the staff go out of their way to say hello, accommodate customers needs, and make you feel valued. It is very rare to find this level of excellent customer service today.

Honestly, I didn’t really think I would like staying at a Fairfield before we came. However, based on our experience at this Fairfield, and how it is run under Jeannie, should we return to the Shalimar area we will stay at this...