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.

Friendly staff great free cont. breakfast with make your own waffles! The rooms were clean and the beds were comfortable. The indoor pool and outside sitting area were really nice. Would stay here again.

Maybe since this was our first Fairfield Inn, thats why we think this one was so fantastic. We can't compare it to other FIs like other reviewers here can. But we can compare to other chains since we have stayed at a number of them.

Alot of detail to the room and bedding. Room wasn't huge but not that small. This room however was CLEAN! I mean C L E A N! Even the corners which is a giveaway as to how good housekeeping is.

A very secure hotel with interior corridors. Walls must have very good insulation because it was quiet. No hallway noise either. The pool wasn't huge but bigger than some motel chains. Also a nice jaccuzi. The lobby is very pretty. They had an internet/business/desks area for business people. The breakfast area seating was big compared to other motel/hotels we've stayed at. HUGE assortment of breakfast items and not just the basic items. If a normal item was there, it had several choices.

We had a carryout order from the 17th Street BBQ place at the bottom of the hill that was really good. Staff wasn't too friendly there but hey, as long as the food was great, no biggie to us. But mentioning it cause I know some folks can't stand a non-friendly place to stay or eat.

The hotel staff was very friendly. We used a coupon rate room (coupon books at welcome center for Sun-thurs nights) and was treated with the same professional attitude/friendliness as if we had paid twice that. We highly recommend it and would stay there again. Happy Traveling!!

As it is will all Fairfield Inns, this is a good basic, no-frills property. Room was clean. Staff was friendly. There is a nice BBQ restaurant next door. I would definitely stay here again.