Review: Fairfield Inn Atlanta Downtown

Fairfield Inn Atlanta – Location and Booking

For the Family Day long weekend, I went to Atlanta (Georgia) for a little history lesson and to check out the city and the history of two of its most famous citizens, Nobel Peace Prize winners Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Former President Jimmy Carter. I stayed at the Fairfield Inn Atlanta Downtown, located at 54 Peachtree St SW, and easily accessible via the Atlanta Marta Subway System’s Red Line. Conveniently, the hotel is right by the Five Points station, making it an easy stop for travellers looking to avoid the cost of an Uber, which ranges from $30 to $40. A one-way subway fare is just $3.50, making it an economical option.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown

Unbeknownst to me, the CheerSport Cheerleading Championships were being held that weekend, so the hotel was fully booked. Due to this, I didn’t receive an upgrade, but I did secure a great rate: three nights for $398. I took advantage of a Marriott and Amex promotion, where spending $300 earned me $100 back. Additionally, I paid the remaining $98 using gift cards I purchased at a 20% discount. Effectively, my total was $279 or $93 per night.

I opted to pay cash instead of points because of Marriott’s annual double elite nights promotion. This promotion grants 1,000 bonus points and an extra elite night per night stayed. As a result, I earned over 11,000 points and six elite nights, doubling my usual stay rewards.

Fairfield Inn Atlanta – King Suite

What makes this hotel particularly unique is its history. The building, originally constructed in 1916 as the Connally Building is a registered heritage structure. This history is visible from the outside, where the original structure meets the modern red brick extension of the hotel. However, the age of the building brought some challenges. When I checked in, one of the two elevators was being upgraded, leaving only one functional during a busy weekend. Additionally, the air conditioning and heating system were down, which wasn’t too much of an issue since it was February and the weather was mild.

Hotel Exterior

Lobby and Check-in area

Hotel Lobby

One of Two Elevators – Work in Progress

My room, a King Suite on the 17th floor, offered a pleasant stay. The suite layout included a spacious living room and kitchen area separated from the bedroom by a sliding door. The king bed was extremely comfortable, and there were two flat-screen TVs—one in the living room and one in the bedroom. The ensuite bathroom, though small, featured a combined shower and tub. The kitchen area included a microwave, mini fridge, and sink, while the sofa in the living room could convert into a sofa bed.

Fairfield Inn Atlanta – King Suite

King Suite – Living Room

King Suite – Bedroom

King Bed and En Suite bathroom

Despite the broken AC, given the mild Atlanta weather in February, I had no trouble with the temperature. While I didn’t receive a room upgrade due to the hotel’s full occupancy, the suite was still quite comfortable and spacious for my stay.

Fairfield Inn Atlanta – F&B and Service

The hotel’s second-floor houses both the breakfast room and gym. The breakfast space is more than adequate in size, and during my stay, the offerings included hard-boiled eggs, egg quiche, waffles, bagels, bread, English muffins, and spreads like peanut butter, jelly, cream cheese, and butter. Fresh fruit, yogurt, juices, coffee, and tea were also available. Surprisingly, despite the hotel being full due to the cheerleading competition, the breakfast area never felt overcrowded.

Breakfast Area

Breakfast Area – more seating

Breakfast – Juice Machine

Breakfast – Oats station

Bread options

Breakfast – fresh fruit options

Hot food option

Breakfast – Hard boiled Eggs

Breakfast – packaged Quiche

Fairfield Inn Atlanta – Other Amenities

The gym was basic but functional. It had two treadmills, an elliptical machine, an exercise bike, and free weights. It was open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., which provided plenty of time to work out.

Hotel Gym

One useful feature on the second floor was the coin-operated laundry room, which I found convenient for longer stays. On the main floor, near the reception area, there’s a business center with two computers and a laser printer for guests who need to work or print documents.

Business Centre

Though the hotel does not have a pool, these amenities and overall service met my expectations for a mid-tier hotel.

Fairfield Inn Atlanta – Takeaway

One downside to the otherwise excellent downtown location is the presence of a significant homeless population around the hotel, as it is right by the Five Points Marta Subway station. While I didn’t feel unsafe walking around during the day, this might be something to consider if travelling with family. On the upside, many of Atlanta’s main tourist attractions are within a 30-minute distance from the hotel.

Overall, I’d rate the Fairfield Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown a 7/10 for a 3-star hotel. The broken AC, the elevator upgrade (during a fully booked weekend), and the lack of a Titanium Elite upgrade were notable drawbacks. However, the excellent staff handled my Marriott Gift Card purchase without hassle. The hotel’s central location near the Marta system is a definite plus for travellers exploring Atlanta without relying heavily on Uber.