This is pretty much like every other Fairfield that I have stayed in...which means it totally met my expectations. Reasonable price, clean, comfortable. Indoor pool, flatscreen TV, decent breakfast included, parking outside the front door (though limited; don't come in late). Computer in the lobby. Good locale right across the street from the new Marriott on the river, though not much available for food right next to Fairfield.

One area where this hotel exceeded my expectations: The Staff. Becky and Andrew greeted and assisted me with impressive enthusiasm and unwavering professionalism. They seemed like people who will be very successful in this industry and are certainly a credit to Marriott.

I noticed that many of the other Iowa City hotels in this categegory/price sounded a little old and rundown. Everything in this facility seemed modern and clean, but coming from a construction background I noticed was that the builder of this structure did not do a great job with fit and finish. I saw a room number that was crooked, and wall heater with a big gap under it, etc. Also, as noted above, the parking lot is a little cramped and probably not big enough for a full house.

Would I go back? Defininitely. Comfy beds, nonsmoking modern facility, friendly staff, etc. All the things that make me a repeat Marriott customer.

The staff is very nice. Hotel was nice and quiet. They keep the hot tub at a good temperature and the pool was reasonably warm for December. Pretty good inexpensive stay. I wish they have oatmeal for breakfast though.

We reserved this hotel more than 3 months in advance, using a credit card to guarantee the booking. We booked a king bedroom suite, with fridge/microwave and sleeper sofa (3 adults...husband, myself & adult daughter.) It was a weekend AAA deal, and we notified the hotel we would be checking in between 9 & 10 p.m. Our emailed confirmation guaranteed the room reservation regardless of the late check-in because the room & rate were covered by the credit card. Let me say we have booked rooms like this in the past, the same way, through Marriott website. We have never had any problem with this until now.

When we got there (between 9 & 10), our first glimmer of problems was that there were only 3 parking spaces in the parking lot -the place was packed. Then our key cards did not work to open the door to our room. When we got cards that did work, the room was just a king bed room...not suite, just a room! One bed for 3 adults (we were all standing there at the check-in desk...our print-out confirmation showed 3 adults also...the clerk knew when she gave us that room it was wrong.) So back down we go...the clerk claimed that someone on the previous shift had "given away" our guaranteed king suite. And they had no other suites available. Even though we had actually already paid for ours. So we got a very crowded room with 2 double beds instead...no fridge, no micro, no extra space for 3 adults. The clerk did knock the price down to $50 for our inconvenience (but only after we questioned paying full rate for a second-rate room.)

But honestly, the room wasn't worth the $50: the place was so shabby...linens worn out (pillowcases actually frayed & tattered edges, bedspread/blanket stained & fuzzballs.) Carpets worn out, walls dinged up, furniture scratched & stained. This place is in sad shape.

Breakfast was awful-very limited selection on cold items, and baked goods were rock-hard...obviously left over from previous days & not stored in airtight containers. One of the reasons we have liked Fairfields in the past is they always have the good egg/sausage biscuit, so you can have a hot protein for breakfast (those sausage biscuits are even pictured on their websites.) This place did not have those...had something that looked like a corndog instead (was some sort of pancake/sausage on a stick...bleh!) The area set aside for breakfast was very small (once people sat down at tables, no one could get through between tables. So basically once you were seated, you were stuck until everyone else between you & the door moved.) Ridiculously small & crowded.

Very small pool, no exercise facility.

What a waste of money. Marriott should remove this hotel from their list.

The Fairfield in Coralville is pretty typical of the chain. My business travel experience show these are better than average hotels with a 2 star rating, and I wouldn't hesitate to bring my family. The overall appearance always seems to be very neat and clean without appearing sterile. The rooms are basic, yet spacious, clean and comfortable.
A nice swimming pool and whirlpool are available but unfortunately, no exercise room at this point. There is a very nice, serve yourself breakfast ,with much more than the usual coffee, juice and donuts, including enough healthy faire that the average vegetarian would not go hungry.