Escape to Hazleton: Fairfield Inn & Suites Awaits!
Escape to Hazleton: Fairfield Inn & Suites Awaits! (Or Does It?) A Very Honest Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Hazleton, PA. And lemme tell you, the experience was…well, it was certainly an experience. Trying to cram all of the hotel’s listed amenities into a review is like trying to herd cats, so I'm just gonna ramble and tell you how it felt, alright? Let’s dive in.
SEO & Metadata (Because Apparently, That’s a Thing):
Keywords: Hazleton Hotels, Fairfield Inn & Suites, PA, Accessibility, Wheelchair Accessible, Free Wi-Fi, Hotel Review, Spa, Pool, Fitness Center, Cleanliness, Dining, Hazleton Travel, Family-Friendly Hotel, Pet-Friendly (if applicable), Business Travel, Meeting Facilities.
Meta Description: A brutally honest and hilarious review of the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Hazleton, PA. From accessibility to the questionable allure of the pool with a view, discover if this hotel is your escape or a descent into slightly above-average hotel-ness, all while getting some real-world perspective on its many features.
First Impressions - The Arrival and the Elevator of Doom (Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Front desk [24-hour], Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Non-smoking rooms)
Look, Hazleton isn’t exactly the French Riviera, and the Fairfield Inn, with its exterior corridor, doesn't scream luxury. The check-in was… well, efficient. Definitely express, which is fine, but I felt like I was participating in a hotel speed-dating session. I didn't catch my greeter's name, and now I'm questioning my memory of the room number. The elevator, however, was a whole other kettle of fish. It felt like it was making questionable decisions about its next floor choice. Thank God it worked! Being on a high floor (the 3rd, I think?) was nice – maybe not with a view that screamed 'postcard' but it did keep me from the outside noises (Soundproof rooms). At least they had a 24-hour front desk - that's a big comfort, even if I didn't need it.
Accessibility - Mostly Present (Facilities for disabled guests, Wheelchair accessible)
Right, so the website says it's wheelchair accessible, and I saw a few ramps around. I didn't need a wheelchair myself, but it seemed… generally ok? I couldn’t spend hours investigating every nook and cranny. Just be sure to actually call and confirm the specific needs beforehand. It felt like the kind of place that tries, which is better than nothing, but the devil's in the details!
The Room - A Study in Beige (Air conditioning, Air conditioning in public area, Alarm clock, Available in all rooms, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens):
The room itself? Well, it was a room. Beige, brown, and predictably… beige. The bed was comfy enough – the extra long bed was a lifesaver. I love a good long bed! The desk was functional, the Wi-Fi was thankfully free and worked pretty well (that's the most crucial thing of all, right?). I used the laptop workspace and the complimentary tea. It had all the basics (coffee maker, iron, the usual suspects). And the blackout curtains? Amazing. Slept like a baby. The bathroom, though…the toiletries were… meh. Generic hotel stuff. A few more towels wouldn't have hurt, either. But hey, I had a decent shower (separate from the tub! Score!).
Internet & "Smart Room" - The Digital Realm (Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!) The free Wi-Fi was a blessing. Seriously. Nowadays, if the Wi-Fi sucks, the whole experience is ruined for me. Did I try the LAN? Nope. We're in the year 2024; Wireless is queen. The Internet was fast and stable. I was able to get things done from my laptop workspace.
Food Glorious Food (Or, More Accurately, Food, Somewhat Glorious) (A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant):
Okay, let’s be real. I didn’t exactly expect Michelin-star dining. The advertised options were plentiful. The breakfast buffet was the usual suspects – scrambled eggs that were… well, they were there. Coffee that tasted vaguely of coffee. But the breakfast takeaway service was handy. A quick "grab and go" option is perfect when you're in a hurry to get out exploring. I didn't try the Asian breakfast or cuisine. I didn't see any dessert either! My stomach was too full of the breakfast buffet!
The fact that there was a restaurant and a bar was a plus. I didn't partake, but it's a good option to have, especially if you aren't in the mood to venture out. I mean, 24-hour room service (24-hour and on-demand movies) is the ultimate hotel luxury! That's gold!
Relaxation Station - Spa Day Dreams and Poolside Reality (Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]):
This is where things get interesting. The website touted a spa and fitness center. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited. Now, the fitness center did exist. It looked clean, with the usual treadmills and elliptical machines. I swear I saw a pool, too – with a view!. I didn’t get to try the sauna or the spa.
Cleanliness and Safety - Sanitized, but Was it Clean? (Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment):
They tried. The hotel had hand sanitizer everywhere, and the staff was wearing masks (though, hey, not everyone was doing the same!). I saw them disinfecting areas. My room seemed clean enough, and I wasn't too worried. They seemed to be taking things pretty seriously, especially with the rooms sanitized between stays. It felt safe enough, I guess. I didn't see a doctor or nurse on call, but there was a first aid kit.
Services and Conveniences - The Little Things That Make a Difference (Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center):
There were definitely a lot of services available. Did I use them all? Hell no. The daily housekeeping was a godsend, and I appreciated the elevator. They had a convenience store (for those last-minute snacks!), and I'd like to think that the safety deposit boxes were useful (I didn't use them, though). The front desk was pretty responsive to my questions.
For the Kids - Family-Friendly Vibes? (Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal):
I don't have kids, so I didn't use any of these services, but I did see a few families, so…probably?
**Getting Around - Parking and
Killeen Courtyard Escape: Your Texas Oasis Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get a real look at a potential adventure based out of that… well, let's just say it, comfortable but not exactly thrilling Fairfield Inn & Suites in Hazleton, PA. This isn't your glossy travel brochure, kids. This is… me, wrestling with a weekend in the Keystone State.
The Great Hazleton Hustle: A Messy, Emotional, and Probably Slightly Under-Planned Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and That "Oh, God, I'm Here" Feeling
1:00 PM: Arrive, bleary-eyed, at the Fairfield Inn. The drive from… wherever I'm coming from (TBD depending on my actual life situation! Let's say Philly, just for drama) was a soul-crushing slog. My GPS, bless its digital heart, kept trying to route me down dirt roads. I think it wanted me to experience the true Pennsylvania. Shivers.
1:30 PM: Check-in. The staff, bless their hearts, are nice. That's a major win. My room? Standard. Clean. Beige. You could film a commercial for "Generic Hotel Room" here. The kind of place where you immediately dump your bags, exhale, and wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. This is the "Oh, God, I'm Here" feeling. It hits hard.
2:00 PM: Unpack. Okay, deep breaths. Find the coffee machine. Survey the landscape from the window. What am I even doing here? (Okay, maybe I've got a work thing… or visiting a friend's family… or, okay, fine, I need a break from certain people in my life). Whatever the reason, welcome to Hazleton!
3:00 PM: Mandatory "Get the Lay of the Land" Drive. Time to explore! …or, you know, drive aimlessly until I stumble upon something interesting. I'm thinking a quick jaunt through downtown Hazleton. Prepare for a driving tour of… what should I expect, a town in the grip of time. I mean, every town like this has its charm – the kind you find after you've looked past the initial… meh.
4:00 PM: Snack time! My stomach's growling already. I'll have to see what the local offerings are. Gas station hot dog? (Maybe I'm brave). A quick run to the grocery store to load up the room with snacks? The latter seems safer.
5:00 PM: The Search for Food. Here's where things get dicey. Yelp, Google Maps, the good ol' internet - my guiding stars. Do I want pizza? (Always a strong contender). A local diner? I'm craving a greasy spoon experience. This is where the real adventure begins.
6:00 PM: Dinner & Reflection. Whatever I find, I eat. Savor. Judge. Assess. "Is this truly the best Hazleton has to offer?" I might even try to journal! (I always say that and then… Netflix.)
7:30 PM: Back to the hotel! Time for the obligatory evening news or whatever happens to be on tv. Maybe a quick swim in the (probably chlorine-scented) pool? Oh, the existential delight of hotel pools.
9:00 PM: Attempt to sleep. The beige walls mock me. "You're here. Embrace it." My internal monologue is always that dramatic. Sigh.
Day 2: Deep Dives and Unexpected Treasures
8:00 AM: Wake up feeling either surprisingly refreshed or utterly defeated. This will depend. Coffee is non-negotiable. And maybe a little pep talk to myself in the mirror. "You can do this. Hazleton is waiting!"
9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel - a standard setup of waffles, hard-boiled eggs, and sadness? Or, if I'm feeling ambitious, I’ll try and find a local breakfast spot. This really depends on the vibe.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The Big Adventure! This is where the plan probably goes off the rails. Potential options (pick one or two, or none, who knows):
- Option A: The Anthracite Heritage Museum and Eckley Miners' Village. (Serious history call, I know)
- Option B: Drive to Jim Thorpe. Quaint mountain town with shops, history, and potential for a fun scenic drive. This is the tourist trap that will be a blast.
- Option C: Explore the Area. Get a map, get in the car, and just… wander. See what I find. The "serendipity" route.
12:00 PM: Lunch. Wherever I end up. That local diner? The Jim Thorpe options? The possibilities are endless (and by "endless," I mean probably a decent selection).
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: More Adventures or, You Know, Things. Depends on the previous activity. More museum-ing? More wandering? Time to lean into it. Maybe I’ll even buy a souvenir. Or not. I’m not a souvenir person.
4:00 PM: The Great Room Re-Assessment. Back at the hotel. I might need a nap.
5:00 PM: Dinner. If I'm back in Hazleton, I'd like to give a different restaurant a try, maybe a place I didn't notice earlier.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Relax. Maybe a movie? Or maybe another swim in the pool (shudder). The possibilities are… there.
8:00 PM: Pack. The inevitable "Oh God, I Have To Leave Tomorrow" feeling.
9:00 PM: Last look at the beige walls. Reflect on my amazing weekend. Or, you know, just go to sleep.
Day 3: Departure and the Aftermath
8:00 AM: Breakfast, the final one.
9:00 AM: Check out, and get back in the car to make the long drive home. I'll probably have a good podcast.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: What will I remember?
So there you have it: a slightly manic, probably overly optimistic, and utterly imperfect itinerary for a weekend spent in the heart of Pennsylvania. Hazleton, here I come! Or… maybe not. Depends on my mood. But hey, at least the Fairfield Inn will be clean, right? Right? Wish me luck! And send snacks.
Escape to Paradise: Springdale's Best Airport Hotel Awaits!
Escape to Hazleton: Don't Expect Disneyland, But... Fairfield Inn & Suites Awaits! (Seriously, FAQs)
Okay, Hazleton... Why the heck Hazleton? And Fairfield Inn? Is this some kind of joke?
Alright, look, I get it. Hazleton isn't exactly, like, *Paris*. My initial thought? "Hazleton? Are you kidding me?" But then life threw me a curveball (let's call it "family obligations" because that's less embarrassing). And the Fairfield Inn? Well, it was the "least offensive" option within a reasonable radius. My expectations were subterranean. I envisioned stained carpets and vending machines stocked with stale chips. I was wrong. Okay, not *entirely* wrong, but… it was… fine. Surprisingly fine. It's clean, the staff is (mostly) nice, and the breakfast buffet...well, let's just say the waffles are a highlight. And after a day of dealing with… *ahem*…"family," the waffles actually mattered. A lot.
The Breakfast Buffet... Spill the Beans. Is it a Disaster? 'Cause I'm a Breakfast Person.
The breakfast buffet. Ah, the breakfast buffet. Okay, deep breath. It's not a five-star gourmet experience. Don't go in expecting artisanal everything. Think… solid, dependable, maybe even *comforting*… breakfast. The yogurt's… well, it's yogurt. The fruit is… fruit. The scrambled eggs are… scrambled eggs. But the waffles, people, the waffles! They are fresh, they're fluffy, and the syrup dispensers… well, they're a little sticky, but they *work*. I may or may not have gone back for seconds… and thirds. Yeah, okay, I definitely went back for thirds. Don't judge me. After that whole… Hazleton… situation, I deserved those waffles. And the coffee? Okay, it’s hotel coffee, but they keep it hot, and sometimes… sometimes, that's all you need to face the day... and another round of… I'm not saying. Waffles.
What about the Rooms? Are They as Bleak as My Ex's Apartment?
The rooms... okay, the rooms are… standard. Think beige. Think slightly-too-thin walls. Think… "they've seen better days, but they're clean." Honestly? After a day of dealing with *a certain relative's* opinions, the beige actually felt… calming. There was a comfortable bed, a decent TV, and, crucially, *air conditioning that actually worked*. That's a big win in my book. The bathroom was… cleanish. The water pressure was… adequate. I've stayed in *far* worse. My memory of the room is mostly a blur of exhaustion, a half-eaten bag of chips, and the faint scent of… well, I'm not sure what it was, but it wasn't actively offensive. So consider that a win.
Is There a Gym? 'Cause I Need to Work Off the Waffles… and, You Know, Stress.
A gym! Yes, there's a gym. It's… compact. Think "room-sized closet with treadmills." It had the usual – a treadmill that looked like it might explode at any moment, a slightly-wobbly elliptical, and some weights that looked like they’d been rescued from a garage sale. I briefly considered using it. Then I remembered I was on… well, *in* Hazleton. And the thought of exercising after that whole… experience… just felt… wrong. Let’s just say I prioritized waffles over treadmills. Several times. Oh, and it also had a TV. So if you were inclined you could keep up with the elliptical death-trap while watching... CNN? I can't remember. My brain was waffles-centric. You know what? I'm okay with the gym existing. Hope you like it better than I did.
Location, Location, Location! Is it Convenient to… Everything?
Location… Well, it's in Hazleton. So, convenience is… relative. It's near… *things*. Restaurants, gas stations, and… other things I'm sure exist in Hazleton but didn't particularly capture my attention. You're not, like, steps away from a bustling nightlife scene. Unless your idea of a bustling nightlife scene involves a 24-hour diner and a gas station that sells lottery tickets. But, it *is* easy to get to. Parking is plentiful. Which, after everything… was nice. And you could probably walk to a few things... but that's Hazleton in a nutshell... maybe a car would be better. So… okay. The location is… functional? Okay, I'm just going to breathe. Hazleton. Fairfield. Waffles.
The Staff! Are They… Normal? Grumpy? Secret Agents?
The staff… Okay, the staff were… generally pleasant. Efficient, friendly enough. They didn't, like, *jump up and down with excitement* about my arrival, but they weren't actively trying to poison me either. Which, after the day I'd had, was a definite plus. They answered questions, they smiled (sometimes), and they kept the place clean. One particularly cheerful woman at the front desk even remembered my name. I found that oddly comforting. So, yeah… the staff… they were… fine. Not going to win any awards for personality, but they got the job done. And, you know what? Sometimes, "fine" is *absolutely* good enough. Especially when you're escaping… well, you know.
Okay, spill. Would you go back? Like, *really* go back?
Would I go back? Hmm. Look, I’m not going to lie. Hazleton and the Fairfield Inn aren't exactly a romantic getaway destination. But if I *had* to go back to Hazleton? If the universe conspired to force me into another… family situation? Yeah. I'd go back. Because, despite everything, it was… okay. It was clean, the waffles were good, and it provided a temporary escape from… well, everything. It's not a luxury resort, but it’s perfectly functional. And honestly, sometimes, functional is all you need. Plus, those waffles. Damn those waffles. Maybe I *would* go back… purely for research purposes, of course.
One Final Thought? After all of that…
Okay, one final thought. Look, Hazleton isn't pretty. It's not glamorous. It's… Hazleton. But the Fairfield Inn? It's clean, the staff is decent, and the waffles... well, the waffles are a small, delicious victory. And sometimes, you just need a small, delicious victory. So, go in with low expectations, embrace the beige, and eat the wafflesHotel Search Site
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