Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rancho Cordova Review

Booking & Stay Details

Originally, I was planning to stay at the Hyatt Place across the street. Unfortunately, it was sold out for the time I needed a room there and booked a room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rancho Cordova instead. I stayed here a few months before but the hotel was undergoing full renovation and I wanted to wait until the renovation is complete before reviewing it anyway. Back then, the hotel website did show that it was undergoing renovation and you didn’t walk in on that fact and got surprised once you got there. 

Location

The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rancho Cordova is located just off exit 17 of U.S. Route 50 when heading to South Lake Tahoe. The Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova is just one exit east from the Fairfield Inn. From the hotel it is about a 15-minute drive to downtown Sacramento. There are a lot of hotels in the vicinity. If you are looking for a hotel closer to downtown Sacramento, you might want to check out The Exchange or the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.

Parking

There is plenty of on-site parking all around the hotel. Parking at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rancho Cordova is complimentary and also no parking pass is required.

Check-In

As I walked in, I was very positively surprised by the new lobby space and front desk. Before check-in was done at a counter in the middle of the room, now you have a nice front desk area with plenty of space. I was the only person checking in early afternoon, even before the official check-in time, but I was hoping this would increase my chances of getting a suite for my four-night stay before they give it all away to other guests checking in. My plan panned out and I was able to get upgraded to a King Suite. However, the “suites” here are nothing fancy. It’s just a little bit bigger room than a standard King room for example and the layout inside the room is slightly different. All the rooms here are a great choice, and you don’t necessarily have to spend the extra money on the “suite”.

1 King Bed Suite (Room 425)

The whole hotel underwent extensive renovation. All rooms were renovated and updated, and you can see that when you walk in and look at the carpet.

This room is set up like a studio suite and split in two sections with short divider walls on either side of the room to give a visual point of view.  First up is the bedroom area. This area is in the center of the room and the King-sized bed is against the wall on the right. On one side of the bed, you have an actual nightstand which is mounted to the headboard of the bed. It comes with power outlets and USB ports. The other side has only a small circular table but no power outlets. Because the hotel just underwent a renovation, they should have added the same nightstand with power outlets on both sides of the bed. However, both sides of the bed have lights mounted to the headboard. Opposite the bed is a large wall-mounted TV with a cabinet underneath it for extra storage.

On the outside part of the room is the living area. On the left side of the room is a large sofa bed with a cocktail table. On the opposite wall is another large wall-mounted TV and a work desk with an office chair right below. The window in this area of the room faces out to the front of the hotel towards the parking lot. The air conditioning unit is located underneath the window and can be controlled with the remote mounted next to the bed.

The bathroom is located to the right as you enter the room. Inside is a vanity with a single wash basin and a large wall-mounted mirror. On the other side of the room is a shower/bathtub unit. There are wall-mounted dispensers for shampoo and such inside the shower area. The toilet itself is at the far end of the room. There is enough space in the bathroom to comfortably close the door and move around in the bathroom. Outside the bathroom, next to the bathroom door, is a large wall-mounted dressing mirror. On the opposite side is a wall-closet which also holds an ironing board and iron as well as a luggage rack. Next to the closet, in a niche, is a good-sized refrigerator underneath a countertop. On top of it is the coffee maker and on another shelf above that is a microwave.

Public Areas & Amenities

Lobby

The lobby was renovated as well and now features a bar area opposite the front desk. Other than that, the lobby consists of the dining space for breakfast with lots of dining tables. There are a few chairs in the main lobby by the front desk.

Business Center

A small business center is located next to the new bar. It’s a little bit hidden, which is actually a good thing. There are two workstations and a printer available for you to use.

Fitness Center

The fitness center is located next to the elevators. You need your room key to get in. Inside the fitness center you find the usual equipment which you would expect in a fitness center. It will do the job and I am sure you can find something to work out with.

Pool Area

The heated pool is located outside at the back of the building. The pool area is fenced in, and you need your room key to get in. You will also need the room key to get back into the hotel or you must walk all the way around to the main entrance at the front. The pool is a decent size and there are a few pool chaise loungers as well as pool tables and chairs spread out around the pool. The whirlpool is located inside the same area but more towards the hotel building.

Pool Hours: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Guest Laundry 

The guest laundry facility is located on the third floor. The washer and dryer are coin operated, and the front desk can give you change in case you need any. Alternatively, the hotel also has a dry-cleaning service set up, where you just put your clothes in a bag, fill out a paper form and drop it off at the front desk. 

Dining

Breakfast

Breakfast is in the lobby area and is complimentary for all guests. There is a large buffet area with the usual continental breakfast items. Overall, the buffet is nothing special but it’s not bad either. Staff were quick to replenish items, only the apple juice was out of stock during my stay. Lots of dining tables are available in the breakfast area, which should make it easy to find a spot in the morning. But as always, show up for breakfast early as it can get crowded if the hotel is fully booked and people tend to sleep in, especially on weekends. Coffee is available in the lobby 24 hours a day.

Breakfast Hours
Monday – Friday: 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 7 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Bar

The newest addition to the hotel is a bar area which is located directly opposite the front desk. During my stay, the bar wasn’t operational yet as there were still final changes to be made.

Market

Right next to the front desk is a small marketplace where you can buy snacks and drinks. They offer alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages as well as snacks like chips, microwavable food and even ice cream. The market also has some over-the-counter medicine for purchase if in need.

Conclusion

I can’t make a direct comparison before and after the renovation of the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rancho Cordova. When I stayed here, most of the rooms were already renovated and construction was still going on in the lobby space. 

Overall, I have to say the renovation brought that hotel back up to current standards and expectations. Especially of frequent travelers who would like to have a consistent experience throughout the Fairfield Inn brand of Marriott.

I liked the newly renovated rooms. WiFi is fast and complimentary, which is always good. For a freshly renovated hotel, the prices didn’t seem to have increased much. They are currently high anyway, but compared to other places nearby, this hotel was actually cheaper.