Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Ottawa Starved Rock Area

The rooms were nice and the staff very friendly

Very nice and quiet hotel! Close to highway and Starved Rock!

Nothing particularly unique.

Wonderful pillows and great mattress

Probably the worst Fairfield Inn we have stayed at. Check in went well, room was clean. Breakfast area was poorly managed. They were out of yogurt and orange juice. Waffle batter dispenser was plugged up. My husband thought it was out and had to ask 3 times before the attendant even acknowledged him. Then they ran out of plates. Attendant looked in all the cupboards, mumbled something to the effect of "she probably didn't order these either" (which is what was said about the yogurt). She went off somewhere else and came back later with a few plates. Even upkeep around the hotel. Places that once were likely flowers or plants are now overgrown with weeds & grass. Very poorly managed. Surprised Marriott allows this as it does affect a person's opinion of the brand.

My 3rd-floor room had what looked like brand-new carpet. The sheets and bedding were clean and comfortable. The shower was hot and had good flow. Those are the main things I was looking for as my stay was only about 8 hours long. I would also like to compliment whoever was on Front Desk at 9pm as my check in process was above average. Another plus, the room had better lighting than many mid-range hotels. I also appreciate that the pool area is open until 11 so I could get in a quick dip before bed. The hot tub was working and at a perfect temperature. The minuses: the windows are screwed shut so you can't open them, and the heat/ac are those obnoxious noisy under-window units. I had to run the noisy AC all night because the room was so hot even though it was 40 degrees outside. Would have preferred to just open the window a crack.

As a loyal Marriott guest, I typically find Fairfield Inns to be clean, consistent, and well-managed among budget hotel brand offerings. Unfortunately, the Ottawa, IL location was a letdown across the board. The hotel clearly hasn’t been remodeled since it opened in 2010—the rooms and common areas feel dated, and maintenance issues reflect that. My first room lacked basic amenities like hand soap and had a toilet that overflowed. I was moved to another room, but that one was missing body wash. The entire check-in and room-change process was inefficient and far longer than it should’ve been. To make matters worse, I was told there would be a fee for early check-in—even as a Marriott Bonvoy member—despite the hotel being nearly empty. That’s not a practice I’ve encountered at other Marriott properties, including those at higher price points. Breakfast was minimal and poorly stocked; the waffle mix was running out and wasn’t refilled during peak time. Staff were polite, but the overall experience didn’t come close to meeting the standards I’ve come to expect from Marriott-branded hotels. I wouldn’t rule out staying again, but only if improvements are made in both upkeep and guest service.