Escape to Dayton: Fairfield Inn & Suites Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a review of the Escape to Dayton: Fairfield Inn & Suites Awaits! Experience. Let's just say, I've seen some hotels in my time, smelled some hotel-y smells, and this one…well, it's not bad. Let's just leave it at that. My expectations were middling; I was just needing a place to crash in Dayton, and the name "Fairfield Inn & Suites" evokes, like, a perfectly acceptable, forgettable experience.
First, the Basics (Let's Get This Over With)
Accessibility: (Okay, this is important. I'm just going to say it up front) The website says they have accessibility. I'm not personally testing this, so I'm relying on their claim. So, for my readers who need it, it should be wheelchair accessible. I’d recommend calling ahead and confirming, just to be 100% sure. (That's my lawyer voice, in case you can't tell.)
Internet Access: Free Wi-Fi. That's a win. In all rooms. Double win. (I can hear the sighs of relief across the internet…because, seriously, who wants to pay for Wi-Fi in 2024?)
Cleanliness & Safety: Yeah, they’re advertising all the usual COVID stuff. Anti-viral cleaning, staff trained, etc. Good. The world needs to feel safe again. Thank God. I didn't see any, you know, obvious signs of "abandonment" or "biohazards." That's always a plus.
Services & Conveniences: Elevator (thank the heavens!), daily housekeeping is a MUST, 24-hour front desk, and oh, a convenience store! (Because, let's be honest, we've all needed a midnight Snickers bar.) They also have a business center with a Xerox/fax – which, honestly, feels delightfully retro in this digital age.
Available in All Rooms: Okay, standard fare. Air conditioning (thank you, sweet baby Jesus!), alarm clock (remember those?), coffee/tea maker (essential for survival), free Wi-Fi (again, good!), and other staples of modern hotel life.
Okay! Glad that's out of the way. Now we can get to the real stuff.
The Heart of the Matter: Did I Enjoy It?
Alright, let's get real. This wasn't a life-altering experience. I didn't discover some hidden gem. But it wasn't bad. That, in itself, is a victory in the hotel game.
The Room: Standard. Clean. Bed, soft (important). The vibe? Generic. But, hey, sometimes you want generic. You're just needing a place to sleep, not to have an existential crisis about the meaning of life and wallpaper patterns. My room did have a window that opened, which felt like a tiny rebellion against the climate-controlled, artificial world of many hotels. I appreciated that. It’s the little things.
Dining & Snacking (or, The Buffet Battle): The hotel advertises a buffet breakfast. (Oh brother. Here we go.) So, with a hopeful heart, I ventured forth. Let’s just say, it was… adequate. Cereal, fruit, some sad-looking pastries, and the usual suspects. The coffee was… well, it was coffee. The idea of a buffet is exciting, right? All-you-can-eat potential! The reality is often a minefield of lukewarm eggs and vaguely rubbery bacon. I'd recommend going there with very low expectations. I had a mini-meltdown, but only because a certain egg was slimy.
Things to do? Not much, honestly. Dayton isn't, like, the epicenter of nightlife or entertainment. But the hotel does have a "fitness center." If you're into the gym, it's there. (I'm not.)
The Pool: (Oh, the pool. I'm making this a whole thing.) The website promised a Swimming Pool [outdoor] and it advertised a Pool with view. Now, I am a sucker for a pool, especially a pool with a view. So, I hauled myself down to the outdoor pool on Day Two. It overlooked a parking lot. (Okay, technically a "view"… but not the kind I was hoping for.) The pool itself was… alright. Clean-ish. Not too crowded. But… the view. The parking lot. Come on, Fairfield, come on! I needed to chill, and now I'm just feeling the parking lot. It didn't ruin my life, but it was a slight letdown.
Wheelchair Accessibility Revisited: Because this is something that matters a ton, I'm going to say it out loud. I still couldn't test-drive this, but the hotel website claimed to have it. I think it's a good idea to call ahead.
The Verdict: Is it an Escape?
Look, the name "Escape to Dayton" is a bit much, isn't it? Escape from what? Like, am I escaping a tyrannical regime? Or just the monotony of my own life? (Probably the latter.)
Who should book?
- Budget-conscious travelers: It’s probably not breaking the bank.
- People needing a basic, safe place to stay: If you're just looking for a clean room and a place to recharge, it's perfect.
- Anyone who really, really needs a midnight Snickers bar: Convenient store = win.
- Anyone hoping to escape from the kids, perhaps? Because, you know, there is babysitting service. (wink)
Who might want to look elsewhere?
- Luxury lovers: This ain't the Ritz.
- Foodies looking for a culinary adventure: The buffet is best enjoyed with low expectations.
- Those seeking a "wow" factor: This is more of a "meh" experience.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's fine. It's perfectly serviceable. It's a place to lay your weary head.
Here's My Messy Honest Offer to Persuade You To Book This Hotel:
Tired of the same old grind? The Fairfield Inn & Suites in Dayton won't reinvent the wheel, but it's convenient. Safe. and, hey, affordable. What do you really need? Do you need to feel the parking lot? No, you don't. But you need a room.
Here's my personal guarantee (sort of): If you book, I promise you won't encounter any major disasters. You'll get a bed. Hot water. Free Wi-Fi. (And hopefully a pool that doesn't actually overlook the parking lot).
Book Now, and Get:
- A Free Bottle of Water: (Because that's the kind of edge this place has!)
- The quiet. (A good thing for a hotel)
- The chance to finally finish that book you’ve been meaning to read.
Click here to book your escape – or at least a decent night's sleep – in Dayton! You might not find pure bliss, but I promise, you won’t be completely disappointed. Happy travels!
Escape to Paradise: Kokomo's Turks & Caicos Luxury Awaits
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-manicured itinerary. We're going to Fairfield Inn & Suites Dayton South Centerville, OH, and frankly, things could get weird. Prepare yourself. This is going to be less "polished brochure" and more "slightly caffeinated journal entry."
Day 1: Arrival, Mild Disappointment (and a surprisingly good burger!)
- 1:00 PM - Arrival/Check-in: Okay, let's be real. Airport parking was a nightmare. Like, a full-blown, circling-the-cul-de-sac-of-despair situation. But hey, we made it! Check-in at the Fairfield Inn. The lobby is… well, it's a lobby. Clean, vaguely beige, but… lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. The receptionist seemed genuinely happy to see us, which, after the parking ordeal, was a welcome surprise.
- 1:30 PM - Room Inspection & Mild Freak-Out: The room! Alright, it's… functional. Two queen beds. Standard hotel fare. I'd hoped for a view, but we got a lovely vista of… the parking lot. Sigh. The bathroom, however, is surprisingly spacious. And clean! Score!
- Anecdote Alert: I swear, I always have this thing when I first enter a hotel room. I check everything. Do the lights work? Does the AC blast arctic air? Is there some weird, suspicious stain on the carpet? I'm basically a professional hotel room inspector, even though I'm not.
- 2:30 PM - Lunch & Burger Salvation: Bunkers Bar and Grill: Hunger pangs hit hard after the travel. Found Bunkers Bar and Grill about a 10-minute drive - the GPS was a little wonky, which led to a moment of "are we SURE this is the right way?" We had burgers. Glorious, juicy burgers. The kind that make you forget your parking woes and the slightly underwhelming lobby. Seriously, the burger was an absolute triumph. Best freaking burger I've had in ages. I think I might actually dream about that burger. Seriously.
- 4:00 - 6:00 PM - Unplanned Downtime/Nap: See, this is where the "real life" kicks in. We were supposed to go to something. Maybe a mini-golf course. But after the burger coma, a nap happened. And you know what? It was glorious. Guilt-free, pure, unadulterated napping.
- 6:00 PM - Exploring Near the Hotel I decided to get some snack shopping at the local grocery store. Then I found a pharmacy and got some stuff to take in case I get the stomachache.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner: Another burger. (Kidding, mostly.) We wanted to try something different, so we did a local place, and it was… fine. Perfectly edible. Nothing to write home about. But hey, we tried! And the conversation was better than the food, which, honestly, is the most important part, right? Right?
- 8:00 - 10:00 PM - Unwinding/TV/Panic Scrolling: Back to the hotel. TV. Channel surfing. Mindlessly scrolling through social media. Suddenly realizing you are 30 years old and not doing what you thought you would. That's pretty much sums up my evening.
- 10:00 PM - Passing Out.
Day 2: Museum, Retail Shenanigans, and Questionable Coffee
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast (Free, But Let’s be Honest…): Ah, the complimentary breakfast. I love to hate it. It's the hotel breakfast. Waffles. Cereal that tastes suspiciously like cardboard. But hey, it's fuel, and it's free. And thank God for coffee, even if it tastes like week-old sadness.
- Quirky Reaction: There was a guy hovering around the waffle maker like he was guarding the Holy Grail. Seriously. I swear, he made like, seven waffles. Seven! The waffle obsession is real.
- 10:00 AM - National Museum of the US Air Force: Okay, now we're getting somewhere. This museum is AMAZING. Absolutely incredible. Planes GALORE. The size of the hangers is mind-boggling. History! Technology! Pure, unadulterated "whoa" moments. I could have spent an entire day there. I wanted to spend an entire day there. I am so glad we visited.
- Emotional Reaction: I got genuinely choked up looking at some of the exhibits. Seeing the history of flight, the sacrifice. I got emotional. I did. And I’m not afraid to admit it.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch: Ate at the museum's cafe. Honestly, it was about what you'd expect. Standard museum food. Not awful, not fantastic. Just, you know… food.
- 2:00 PM - Retail Therapy (and a Near-Spontaneous Purchase): Found a cute little shopping area. Window shopping turned into actual shopping. I almost bought a ridiculously expensive purse I absolutely don't need. Thank god for common sense (or at least, some sense).
- Messy Structure Alert: Okay, this is where things get a little hazy. There was a lot of wandering around. A lot of indecision. A lot of "do I really need this?" Thankfully, the answer, most of the time, was "no."
- 4:00 PM - Back to the Hotel: Rest time. We watched TV. I had a sandwich while checking the time on my phone.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner: Another nearby restaurant. It was pretty good, this time! Not burger-good, but definitely worth remembering.
- 8:00 PM - Attempted Relaxation/More TV: Attempted. Keyword: attempted. The hotel TV situation is… let's just say it's not ideal. There are so many channels, yet nothing good is on. I eventually gave up and read a book.
- 10:00 PM - Bed:
Day 3: Departure & Unexpected Moments of Zen (with a side of post-travel blues).
- 9:00 AM - Another Breakfast: Sigh. Coffee. Waffles. The usual.
- 10:00 AM - The Hotel's Gym: I try to work out every day but the gym was closed.
- 11:00 AM - Check-Out: Simple. Quick. No major dramas. Though I did briefly consider “accidentally” taking a few of those tiny hotel shampoo bottles. Just for the memories, man…
- 11:30 AM - A Moment of Zen, (In a Parking Lot, of All Places): The drive home. Surprisingly, the traffic wasn’t horrendous. The sun was shining. And, for a brief moment, I actually felt… peaceful. Like, the stress of everything just melted away. It lasted about five minutes. But hey, I'll take it.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch on the Road: Gotta eat.
- 2:00 PM - Arrival Home & The Post-Vacation Hangover: The unpacking. Laundry. Reality hits. The post-vacation blues are setting in. But hey… at least I ate that burger.
This itinerary? It's not perfect. There were moments of boredom, of mild disappointment. There were times when I questioned all my life choices. But it was also the moments of joy, the unexpected laughs, and, yes, that damn burger. That, my friends, is what makes a trip, well, a trip. And sometimes, those imperfect moments make the best stories. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go look on my phone to find a burger place nearby.
Escape to Paradise: ABACO BEACH RESORT, Marsh Harbour, Bahamas
Okay, spill it! Is this "Escape to Dayton: Fairfield Inn & Suites Awaits!" thing… actually worth it? Seriously?
Alright, alright, hold your horses. "Worth it" is, like, the million-dollar question, isn't it? Depends. Depends on your expectations, your budget (duh), and your tolerance for... well, Dayton.
Look, let's be real. You're not flying to Bali. You're going to Dayton, Ohio. That in itself sets the bar, shall we say… *modestly*. BUT! And this is a big, squishy, slightly-stained BUT, the Fairfield Inn & Suites? Yeah, it’s...fine. Really, it is. Don't expect a Four Seasons, but it’s a darn sight better than some of the *other* options I've stumbled across in my travels. (Shudders, remembering a motel in rural Iowa... Let's not go there.)
The price is right – usually. I've seen some killer deals. Check those! You know, sometimes you just need a clean bed, a hot shower, and a free breakfast (more on that *later*).
What's the *deal* with the free breakfast? Is it actually edible? Because hotel breakfasts are notoriously... dodgy.
Ugh, the breakfast. The breakfast! Okay, deep breaths. Let's be honest, it's not gourmet. Think: a buffet of lukewarm scrambled eggs that may or may not resemble actual eggs (you take your chances!), rubbery sausage (same deal), toast that’s either rock-hard or so soggy you could wring it out, and sugary cereals that'll give you a sugar rush that lasts all of five minutes.
But... here's the thing. I've been *starving* before. You know, arrived late, didn't eat dinner. And that breakfast? Suddenly, it's a freaking *miracle*. I'm talking a little bit of protein, a caffeine infusion from the industrial strength coffee maker, and enough carbs to fuel a marathon (which I'm definitely not running, but hey, options!). Sometimes there are waffles! Waffles are a blessing, even if they *are* a little sad.
Pro tip that I learned the HARD way: Go early. Like, be there when they open. That way, you get the freshest *possible* approximation of breakfast. Bonus points if you grab a banana or two for the road. That's life-saving. Trust me. And avoid the "fruit," it's always sad.
The rooms... Are they clean? Because nothing ruins a trip faster than, you know, *creepy* stuff.
Okay, important question. Cleanliness is, like, Priority One. And, I’m happy to report… generally, yes. Generally. Let's be real, it's a hotel. You're not at your immaculate, perfectly-maintained home where you're practically afraid to breathe on the furniture, but from my experience, the rooms *tend* to be clean. The beds are usually made, the bathrooms are usually sanitary-ish. I haven't spotted anything *too* alarming. (Knock on wood, furiously.) I’ve stayed in some places that made you want to take a hazmat suit just to use the loo. This isn't one of those. Hooray!
Now the *real* key is checking your bedding, and also, if you are afraid of bugs, you should always bring some spray, better safe than sorry, right? I always check under the covers, and around the bed, mostly in the morning, when I have more time. And if it *is* a mess, make a fuss! Complain! They’ll usually sort it out. (Or, you know, give you a free coffee, which I can't refuse.)
Also... try to avoid rooms near the ice machine. Seriously. That thing is like a siren call for late-night snackers and, well, a noise nightmare.
Okay, what's *actually* in Dayton to see and do? Besides, you know, the hotel itself.
Alright, here's where the "Escape" part comes in. Dayton itself… is... well, Dayton. But! There's stuff to do, seriously. You can’t just hole up in your hotel room the whole time, watching endless cable (though, hey, no judgement).
The big draw is the National Museum of the US Air Force. Seriously, it's *massive*. And free! You could easily spend a whole day there, wandering around, gawking at planes. I'm not even a huge aviation buff, and *I* was impressed. The sheer scope of the thing is mind-blowing. Just wear comfy shoes—you’ll be doing a LOT of walking. (I made the mistake of wearing cute shoes and ended up hobbling for days.)
Then there is the Dayton Art Institute, which is nice, especially if you like impressionism. And the Wright Cycle Company Complex, for aviation history and some nerdy stuff. Also, there are some cute downtown restaurants... but honestly, I have done that, and frankly didn't think much about it. Mostly because I was always looking for the nearest coffee shop.
What *about* the other hotel amenities? Pool? Gym? Do they even *have* those things?
Ah, the amenities. This is where things get... variable. Usually, the Fairfield Inn & Suites has a pool. Indoor, usually. This is good. Sometimes it’s even clean! (Sometimes it isn't. Sometimes there are shrieking children. That's the gamble.) I always pack my swimsuit, just in case. You know, for a *therapeutic* dip. Or to at least *pretend* to exercise.
They *usually* have a gym. The gym. Ah, the gym. The gym is a small room with treadmills that look vaguely… functional. Maybe a couple of weights. Honestly, it's not a place to go if you are seriously into fitness. But if you just want to get some cardio in and pretend you're not spending your entire trip eating breakfast waffles and watching TV, it’ll do the trick. I mean I never do it. But I *could*.
And the free Wi-Fi. It's usually… adequate. You know, good enough to check emails, doomscroll on social media, and maybe stream a movie. Don’t expect lightning-fast speeds if you're trying to download a whole season of *The Crown*. You know, the important stuff. I once ended up with a buffering nightmare trying to watch a documentary and nearly lost it. Just be warned. Prepare for occasional frustration.
Parking? Is it a nightmare? Because I *hate* parking garages.
Thankfully, the Fairfield Inn & Suites usually has decent parking. It's usually free, and it's usually right there. I hate parking garages too. That constant circling, those creepy little spaces... Ugh. No worries.
However. Sometimes the parking gets tight. Especially if there's a convention or a big event going on. I remember *one* time, I circled for, like, twenty minutes. Finally,Where To Sleep In
