Escape to Utah's Hidden Gem: Fairfield Inn & Suites Midvale
Escape to Utah's Hidden Gem: Fairfield Inn & Suites Midvale - My Wild West Review!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on the Fairfield Inn & Suites Midvale – a place I just escaped to and, let me tell you, it was a trip. This ain't your sterile travel blog review, folks. This is real life, with all the chaotic, caffeine-fueled glory that entails.
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- Title: Fairfield Inn & Suites Midvale Review: The Good, The Bad, & the Surprisingly Clean Pool! (Utah Getaway)
- Keywords: Fairfield Inn Midvale, Utah Hotels, Midvale Hotels, Accessible Hotels Utah, Free Wi-Fi, Pool, Spa, Cleanliness, Family-Friendly, Breakfast, Reviews, Utah Adventure, Budget-Friendly, Disabled Access, Accessible Rooms, Best Midvale Hotel.
- Meta Description: Honest review of Fairfield Inn & Suites Midvale in Utah. Find out about accessibility, facilities, dining, and if it's worth the stay! Includes personal anecdotes, quirky observations, and straight-up opinions. Prepare for a wild ride!
Accessibility: The Elevator Saga and My Knee's Rebellion
Okay, first things first: Accessibility. This is a big one for me (and my dodgy knee, which basically declared war on me during this trip). The hotel claims to be accessible. And, from what I saw, they mostly are. The elevator? Worked like a charm. No grinding metal or death-defying drop-offs – a major win!
My room, thank the heavens, was on a lower floor, which made me wonder if it was due to the hotel not being overly packed. The hallways seemed wide enough for a wheelchair, and the bathroom… well, the bathroom was actually a good size. The grab bars were there. The shower had the right kind of faucet for a person with disabilities.
However, there were some issues. The doors to the rooms, well, they weren’t quite automatic. I had to do a little jig of balancing luggage and the door, which led to a minor (and very loud) expletive escaping my lips. More on that and the need to adjust the way the doors are opened later.
On-Site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: The Great Breakfast Buffet Battle
Alright, let's talk about the breakfast. It was a buffet. A buffet in the era of COVID and all its little germy ways. Now, they DID take precautions, which I appreciated. Hand sanitizer stations everywhere. Individually-wrapped food options (bless those tiny, pre-packaged muffins!). And staff were, generally, pretty good at managing the flow. The breakfast buffet itself really came into its own.
But… the layout was a bit of a cluster. Trying to navigate the buffet line with my knee screaming in protest, while wanting to eat everything was a workout. I’m not sure if it was overly so. I can only imagine how challenging it would be with a wheelchair.
Wheelchair Accessible: A big 'thumbs up' overall, but with caveats. See above on doorways and the buffet.
Internet: My Digital Addiction, Unfettered (Mostly!)
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hooray! And, even better? It actually worked. Not like some hotels where the Wi-Fi is slower than a sloth on sedatives. I got a decent connection throughout the hotel, including the Wi-Fi in public areas. It was a lifesaver for a workaholic like me. And, in times of this pandemic, being connected means the world!
Internet [LAN]: Never used it. Who uses LAN anymore? Right? I live in the present!
Internet services: No complaints. It was there. It worked. That's all I ask, really.
Things to do, Ways to Relax: Poolside Bliss (and a Minor Panic Attack)
The Swimming pool [outdoor]… oh, the pool. It had a view! Actually, the view was more of a "meh" sort of a view. It's Utah, everything is surrounded by mountains. I dipped my toes, though, and it was surprisingly clean.
Here's where the story gets interesting. Or weird, depending on your perspective. There was a group of kids cannonballing in, while I sat by the edge of the pool. At one point, I had a brief (and, I admit, irrational) panic attack about getting splashed. I’m not sure why. Maybe it was the combination of sun, chlorine, and my general anxiety. Probably.
Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: I’m not going to lie. I didn't make it to any of these. My knee and my laziness won out. They were listed as amenities, though, so take that as you will.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Sanitization Symphony (Mostly!)
Cleanliness and safety: This is a big deal post-pandemic, right? And the hotel definitely tried. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Rooms sanitized between stays? Check. They even had hand sanitizer stations everywhere, which I appreciated.
I did notice staff in mask. The Safe dining setup at breakfast was good. They had Professional-grade sanitizing services taking place when I was there.
Rooms sanitized between stays. It looked like they were doing a good job, too. It's just… you know… I was there for a whole week, and things can go amiss.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast, The Only Meal
Breakfast [buffet]: See above. The highlight was definitely the tiny muffins. And the slightly sad-looking scrambled eggs. But hey, it was free, people! Free breakfast is a win.
Coffee/tea in restaurant: Decent coffee. Not the best I've ever had, but it did the trick.
Snack bar and the Poolside bar: Nope. Didn’t see ‘em, didn’t use ‘em.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
Air conditioning in public area: Definitely appreciated the chill factor, especially after a day of exploring.
Concierge, Cash withdrawal, Convenience store, Currency exchange: All, thankfully, available.
Facilities for disabled guests: Good. See above. But always, room for improvement, yeah?
Dry cleaning, Elevator, Ironing service, Laundry service: All available.
Safety deposit boxes: Useful.
For the kids, Family/child friendly, Kids meal: The kids seemed happy. Enough said.
Getting around: The Car Conundrum (and Free Parking!)
Car park [free of charge]: Woo-hoo! Free parking is a blessing! Car park [on-site]. Yep.
Taxi service: Didn't use it, but I'm sure it's available.
Available in all rooms: More on the rooms, more on what was available, is below.
Available in all rooms: The Room - Cozy, Clean, and… Standard
My room wasn’t exactly palatial, but it was clean, which is the most important thing.
Additional toilet: Nope. It was just a standard hotel room.
Air conditioning: Necessary, given the Utah heat.
Alarm clock: Yes, it was there. But I used my phone.
Bathrobes: Nope.
Bathroom phone: Nope, thankfully.
Bathtub: Shower only.
Blackout curtains: Very effective. Slept like a log.
Carpeting: Looked clean.
Closet: Adequate.
Coffee/tea maker: Yes! Essential for a caffeine addict like myself.
Complimentary tea: Nice touch.
Daily housekeeping: They did it. The room was always tidied up.
Desk: Useful for working.
Extra long bed: Always a plus.
Free bottled water: Yay! Hydration is key.
Hair dryer: Yup.
High floor: I didn’t get a high floor.
In-room safe box: Didn’t use it.
Internet access – wireless: Worked flawlessly.
Ironing facilities: Yes.
Laptop workspace: Covered.
Linens: Clean.
Mini bar: Nope.
Mirror: Fine.
Non-smoking: Yes. And I appreciated it.
On-demand movies: Nope.
Private bathroom: Yes, of course.
Reading light: Okay.
Refrigerator: Yes! Perfect for keeping my water cold.
Safety/security feature: Seemed safe.
Satellite/cable channels: Standard fare.
Scale: No.
Seating area: There was a small sofa.
Separate shower/bathtub: No.
Shower: Fine.
Slippers: Nope.
Smoke detector: Yes.
Socket near the bed: Bless them.
Sofa: Quite comfortable.
Soundproofing: Pretty good.
Telephone: Yes.
Toiletries: Basic.
Towels: Clean.
Umbrella: Nope. But I didn
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Okay, buckle up Buttercup, because this ain't no glossy brochure itinerary. This is the REAL DEAL, my stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Midvale, Utah, filtered through the glorious mess that is ME.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Salt Lake City Midvale: My Week of Existential Dread and Questionable Decisions (Mostly Fun, Though!)
Day 1: Arrival and the Pizza Predicament (Plus, a Mild Panic Attack)
- 1:00 PM: Touchdown in Salt Lake City. Ugh, airports. The chaos, the smells, the sheer number of people who apparently decided today was the day to wear Crocs. I swear, I saw a guy juggling luggage while wearing them. It was unsettling.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Shuttle to the hotel. Bless the hotel shuttle. I can't remember the last time I rented a car and drove in the US. The driver, a cheerful dude named Earl, regaled me with tales of Utah's "great snow," which, as a Californian, I understood to be code for "avoid driving in the winter."
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Check-in, a surprisingly smooth process. The front desk lady, bless her, seemed genuinely pleased to see me. Gave me the "suite," which, honestly, felt like a small apartment. Already, I'm regretting not packing more snacks.
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Unpack, survey the room. I swear, hotel rooms all have the same smell: a blend of cleaning solution and existential loneliness. The bed looked comfy, though. I fought the urge to just dive in and binge-watch something. I mean, I contemplated it. But adventure awaits! Kinda.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The Pizza Predicament. Okay, so I desperately craved pizza. Like, a primal, must-have-pizza craving. I googled local pizza places near the hotel. Too many choices! I froze. Panic began to set in. All the options, all the toppings, all the possibilities… I needed to keep it "simple," so I googled "best pizza near me" and took the first result, even though it was a chain. I stood there, agonizing over the menu, feeling like the fate of the entire world rested on my pepperoni-to-cheese ratio. And then, the ultimate horror: they were out of my preferred draft beer. It was one of those situations where you know you're overreacting, but you can't help yourself.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Eat the pizza. It was… fine. Not life-changing, but pizza-shaped and warm, which, at that point, was all that mattered.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Recover from Pizza Predicament and the beer-related disappointment, watch dumb TV, and fall asleep.
Day 2: Temple Square and the Great Coffee Quest
- 8:00 AM: Wake up in a state of "what is life." Breakfast, which I had preselected the night before, was the usual continental stuff. The waffle maker was broken. Seriously?
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Temple Square. Okay, yes, it's beautiful. I am not someone who's ever been to a Mormon temple. The architecture is stunning, all that brick and those flowers. I wandered around, feeling very much like an outsider, which I was. It was a bit sterile.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch at a sandwich shop near Temple Square. Average, but fuel is fuel.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The Great Coffee Quest. I needed caffeine. Desperately. I wandered the streets, searching for a decent independent coffee shop. Starbucks? No thanks. I want character. I found one! A small, quirky place with fantastic coffee. I sat there for an embarrassing amount of time, people-watching and feeling vaguely superior to the chain coffee drinkers. My pretentious side came to life.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Worked a little. Napped a lot. Started and scrapped an article idea about the existential dread of choosing a hotel room.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner. More pizza! Okay, I didn't learn my lesson. The pizza here was even more underwhelming than the night before, which made me question my life choices. More draft beer disappointment.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Sleep… no dreams.
Day 3: Hiking (Sort Of) and the Museum of Incredibly Weird Stuff
- 9:00 AM: I set out, and I thought I could hike… The "hiking" turned out to be more of a gentle stroll on a paved path near the hotel. I didn't hate it. Fresh air is nice, even if it's not exactly mountain air.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Museum of Natural History. This was honestly, and I mean it, incredible. The hall of dinosaurs. The taxidermied animals. It's so grand! I even tried to read the information displays. Turns out, museums can be overwhelming.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch. Again, a sandwich. I'm starting to question my dietary habits.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Back at the hotel. I napped. It was a long nap.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Dinner at a… well, let's just say it was a place that wouldn't win any Michelin stars. But it got the job done. I needed a break, so I had their signature cocktail.
- 6:00 PM - ???: I might have accidentally watched 10 hours of television.
Day 4: More Caffeine, Thrift Shopping, and Existential Crisis
- 9:00 AM: Coffee Round 3. This time, I found an amazing coffee shop near the hotel. I spent an hour sipping, reading a book, and contemplating whether I'd ever become a functional adult.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Thrift shopping. I found a truly hideous vintage sweater. I bought it. My life is now complete.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch? Meh.
- 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Existential crisis. Contemplated all my life choices. Decided I'm doing fine.
- 6:00 PM: Left the hotel.
Overall:
This hotel was fine. Clean, convenient, and the front desk folks were lovely. But the real adventure, the real mess, was all me. This isn't a perfect trip, or perfectly written. But it's real. It's honest. And hey, I survived and got some good pizza.
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Fairfield Inn & Suites Midvale: The *Real* Deal FAQs (and the Rambles That Come With It)
Is this place *really* a hidden gem? Because, let's be honest, "hidden gem" is thrown around a lot...
Okay, okay, let's rip the band-aid off. "Hidden gem" *is* overused. And frankly, Midvale, Utah? Not exactly the Maldives. But listen, for the *price and convenience*, and the fact that you're NOT stuck in a soulless chain hotel in, say, Salt Lake City proper? Yeah, maybe it *is* a little gem-ish. Think of it more like a polished, affordable pebble in a river of overpriced rocks. The location's great if you're hitting the slopes or hiking. You can get to Brighton, Snowbird, or Solitude, and that's amazing. Especially given the cost comparatively. And for a place to crash after a long day, it's exactly what you need.
The Free Breakfast... Is it worth getting out of my comfy bed for? Be honest.
Alright, here's the *truth*. Don't expect a Michelin-starred breakfast. This is standard-issue, but the quality can be slightly better or slightly worse each day, sometimes dependent on how many people are staying at the hotel. You've got your usual suspects: eggs (sometimes questionable), sausage links (probably not gourmet), waffles (from a machine, but hey, waffles!), cereal (the sugary kind), and maybe some fruit (often looking a little...sad). The coffee? Let's just say it'll *wake you up*. But, and this is the crucial part... *it's free!* And after being on the road for hours, and possibly making some questionable decisions the night before, an easy breakfast can be a LIFESAVER. My personal strategy? Grab a waffle (because, waffles!), fill up on coffee, and supplement with granola bars I brought from home. Pro Tip: If you're REALLY ambitious, sneak a bagel for later.
The Rooms: Are They Clean? That's the big question, isn't it? And what's the deal with the beds?
Okay, let's get real about the rooms. Cleanliness is ALWAYS a concern, right? Honestly, the rooms are generally pretty darn clean. I've never encountered anything truly horrifying. They're well-maintained, but they're not luxurious. Think "clean and functional." The beds? Surprisingly comfy! I'm a bit of a princess when it comes to mattresses, and I’ve slept pretty well here. No complaints. The pillows are fine, nothing mind-blowing. I always bring my own pillowcase because, you know... comfort is king. Bathrooms are definitely functional, always clean, and the water pressure is perfectly capable of rinsing off the day's dirt, but sometimes the caulking isn't perfect. Little things, you know?
The Location: Is it a pain to get around? I'm planning on seeing *stuff*.
The location's actually a *huge* selling point, in my book. Midvale itself is a bit... well, it's not exactly a tourist hotspot. But it's incredibly convenient. You're close to the freeway, so getting to Salt Lake City for museums and dining isn't a hassle. And, like I said before, the ski resorts are easily accessible. You can be on the slopes in an hour or less. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants and stores nearby for grabbing essentials or a quick meal. I once forgot my toothbrush (don't judge!), and a quick trip to a nearby pharmacy saved the day. Seriously, it's way more convenient than staying *inside* the city. Plus, I find the local restaurants WAY better than downtown.
The Staff: Are they friendly? Because grumpy staff can ruin a whole vibe.
The staff is generally *really* friendly. I've always found them helpful and accommodating. I've had some really long drives in the past and arrived hours before check-in, and almost always the front desk tries to do something for me. One time, I accidentally locked myself out of my room at 3 AM (don't ask!), and they were still incredibly patient *and* efficient in getting me back in. They seem to genuinely want you to have a good stay, which is more than you can say for some places. Plus, you know, a friendly face after a tiring day? Priceless. Although once I walked by a housekeeper wearing a t-shirt that read "I hate Mondays". LOL. But I can relate, I think.
The Pool/Fitness Center: What's the deal? Do you have to share the pool with a million screaming kids?
Okay, the pool situation is... variable. It's an indoor pool, which is great because honestly, weather in Utah can be unpredictable. The pool is usually clean and usable! The fitness center? Uh... it’s there. Like, a few treadmills and some weights. Don't expect a full-blown gym. It does for a quick workout, but if you're a serious fitness fanatic, bring your own equipment, or prepare to be disappointed. As for the screaming kids... it *depends*. Weekends and school holidays? Prepare for splashes and shrieks. Weekdays during school hours? You might have the place to yourself. It’s a gamble, but hey, what's a vacation without a few unexpected sounds? Personally, I prefer an early morning swim, before the little ones descend.
Value for money? Is this place actually worth it?
Absolutely. *YES*. For what you get – clean rooms, friendly staff, a convenient location, and a (mostly) decent breakfast – the Fairfield Inn & Suites Midvale offers excellent value. I've stayed in far worse places for far more money. It's not a luxury hotel, but it delivers on the essentials. I'd rate it a solid B+. Honestly, I'd pick it over some of the more expensive options in the area, especially if I'm just looking for a comfortable basecamp for exploring. You're not paying for fancy frills; you're paying for a good night's sleep and easy access to the action, which is priceless. And let's be real, more money for beer and food is always a win.
Any quirky experiences to share? Something that made you go "Whoa"...?
Okay, fine, I’ll share *one* story. This isn't exactly a quirky experience, but it's the most memorable. One time, I stayed there during a massive snowstorm. Like, the kind of storm that shut down roads and made everything a whiteout.Boutique Inns
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