We drive through Illinios a few times a year to visit family, and never can seem to get a decent hotel by just walking in, so this time we made a reservation. This hotel was clean, with a great bed and fair enough free continental breakfast in the morning. I found it a bit pricey for a quick night's sleep, but they do have a pool and a hot tub, as well as a fitness center which we just didn't have the time to use. I would stay here again. The desk staff could be a bit friendlier, though.

First impression:

At the reception desk she was putting out a fire....not litereally...
there had been a screwup with the couple ahead of me...something about rewards I thought I was gonna be there awhile. Then she said something about were giving you a suite.. they walked away smiling...she welcomed me aksed me for my credit card..the phone rang ...while explaining to her superior how she gave the couple the suite she was simultaneously punching stuff into the computer keyboard...oh, oh another interruption...but no...quickly she slid my plastic key across the counter.as she ended her phone conversation...told me how to find my room all the time with a large smile on her face. All this in less than 5 minutes from the time I walked into the lobby of the Fairlfield Inn, Marion.

It isn't everyday I get so see proficiency and professionalism (not to mention warm hospitality) in multitasking.

I have a hard enough time patting my head and blinking my eyes at the same time.

I had en enjoyable 2 night stay at this rather new facility.
My room was very nice...had a good nights sleep.. Didn't hear any of the guests even though the place was crawling with kids that weekend and my room was right next to the elevator.
The complimentary breakfast was adequate, fruit, breads, bagels, juices, waffles, tea, coffee hard boiled eggs., microwave breakfast sandwiches, pastries...probably left something out.

The indoor pool and hot tub looked inviting.
There was a soccer tournament in town and the families were having a good time splashing around.

The Fairfield Inn has a convenient location near restaurants, shopping and the freeway.

If you are a baseball fan..the brand new Southern Illinois Miners ballpark is a stones throw ..or ...should I say ...a 95 mph fastball away.

Couldn't find anything I didn't like about the Fairfild Inn

I'm not even sure where to start. Great Staff, One of the cleanest rooms I've ever encountered. Every Amenity that you would ever want and a Great Breakfast in the morning. This hotel is also close to a minor league ball park that was just built and many restaurants including an Applebee's and a Steak N Shake. I wouldn't stay anywhere
else in the area.

Since the two decent hotels in Carbondale were booked for the Memorial Day weekend, I checked out Marion's offering. The Fairfield Inn & Suites looked fine - right off I57 and Highway 13. It was also booked full by the time we arrived, but it wasn't obvious anywhere but in the parking lot. The toilets were extraordinarily loud (water-saving commodes) and we could hear our neighbor flush, but we never heard anything through the walls or in the hallways.

The rooms were clean and suited our needs. No refrigerator or microwave, but there was a coffee-maker (stayed in a $290/night hotel in San Diego earlier in the year where you had to ask the desk clerk if you needed a coffee-maker!). The continental breakfast was satisfactory (the usual carbs, cereals, waffle-maker, sausage/egg/cheese biscuits and boiled eggs - large seating area with lots of newspapers.

For the price, it was fine. And, it's only 14 miles from Carbondale.

Only drawback was the real lack of interesting restaurants in the Marion area. Yes, there were the chain restaurants and fast food joints, but local joints were hard to fine (the b'bque restaurant next door was jammed pack). Ended up going to old haunts in Carbondale.