Hotel Review: Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

Overview of Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

Marriott’s Fairfield brand may not be as well-considered in the United States, but outside the U.S. it’s possible to find properties that are known for being budget-friendly, yet elegant. Although it might not be considered luxurious, the brand can give you a comfortable and clean place to rest your head.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown was just that for me—a clean and comfortable, yet simple hotel room, in a good location that allowed me to explore Cancun for a couple of days without breaking the bank.

Overall, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown features 108 rooms that are all sleek and spacious. Likewise, they all feature similar decorations, but I’d say it’s more contemporary and elegant.

Since this is a three-star hotel, I’d say it feels like an average run-of-the-mill accommodation. Most things inside the hotel are similar to what you’d find in other hotels, so it’s not necessarily unique. Still, it’s more quaint than a mega-resort. Regardless, you can relax and enjoy yourself without having to worry and it’s a great location for exploring downtown Cancun.

As with many hotels like this, the Fairfield Inn & Suites doesn’t focus on a particular type of person. It’s suitable for families, couples, partiers and those who want a quiet getaway. You won’t hurt anyone if you’re a little noisy, and it’s close to the many attractions downtown Cancun has to offer.

How I Booked Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

I booked a One King Bed Guest Room for two nights for a total of $172 using Marriott’s Friends & Family rate, which I have access to because a friend works for Marriott. I also used suite night upgrade awards, but they didn’t end up clearing ahead of time and were returned to my account.

It’s also possible to book this hotel with Marriott points, which can be earned with the following credit cards:

• Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

You can expect to be able to book a free night at this property for between 15,500 and 22,500 Marriott Bonvoy points, and availability tends to be pretty good at the property.

With relatively low cash rates, this hotel may not be the best use of your Marriott Bonvoy points, but it’s always worth checking both rates.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown Location

You’ll find Fairfield Inn & Suites right in the heart of downtown Cancun on Av. Tulum 220. In fact, it’s a bustling area for visitors, so you’re sure to find other like-minded individuals. Likewise, it’s well-connected to other places in the city, so you can travel and experience all that Cancun has to offer.

There are a bunch of restaurants and shopping within walking distance. You’ll find that you need to take a taxi if you want to head over to the Hotel Zone or the beach, but if you’re looking to experience downtown Cancun, you can probably get away with traveling on foot.

It’s easy to get from Cancun to other destinations in Mexico either by plane or by ADO bus. The Fairfield Inn & Suites is located about 9 miles away from the Cancun International Airport, so it’s easy to get there. Whether you choose to take a taxi, use public transportation or rent a vehicle, you’ll find it all pretty straightforward.

Best Parts of Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

There were many things to enjoy about the Fairfield Inn & Suites in downtown Cancun. Here are the ones I thought were noteworthy.

Close to Activities

If you’re one to go out on an adventure when you’re vacationing, you can’t beat this hotel. It’s pretty easy to get anywhere in Cancun from here, so you’ll likely want to get started on planning your itinerary as quickly as possible. Regardless of what you crave or when, you’ll find it. Nearby attractions include Plaza de Toros Cancun and Crazy Hot Coyote.

Exceptional Front Desk Staff

Though hospitality workers should be courteous, the staff here went above and beyond. They’d always ask how you were and are highly accommodating. Don’t be afraid to ask for anything; you’ll likely get it with a smile.

Impeccable Rooms

While the décor might not be for everyone, the rooms were cleaned thoroughly. There wasn’t a speck of dust or debris anywhere. Plus, the beds looked brand-new, and the bathrooms were full of towels just waiting to be used.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown Drawbacks

While there were many things to like about the Fairfield Inn & Suites in downtown Cancun, I did notice a few drawbacks that I wanted to point out.

Breakfast Selection

I often get a complimentary breakfast with my stay because of my loyalty to the brand and Marriott Titanium status, and this time was no exception. Although there are always variances, they usually come with the same items. However, there weren’t many options. The difference may have been especially notable because this stay was right after my stay at the Hyatt Regency Merida, which had an amazing breakfast spread.

Poor Wi-Fi

I’ll say that most people on vacation don’t care about Wi-Fi. They might use their phone’s current data plan or buy an international one if that applies. However, free Wi-Fi can be a lifesaver when you want to research things to do or download an offline map or directions. We didn’t always have the best Wi-Fi connection in our room, which made working from this hotel a bit of a challenge.

Getting to Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

Once you arrive at the Cancun International Airport, you have many options to get to Fairfield Inn & Suites. It’s only 9 miles away, which doesn’t seem that far unless you’re walking (I wouldn’t recommend this option).

Public transportation is available, so you can always take the city bus. However, it may be best to just take a taxi depending on how familiar you are with Cancun and whether or not you speak some Spanish.

Overall, the best thing to do is hail a taxi as you get out of the airport. You can call ahead and reserve one if you believe your flight will be on time. Another option is to choose one of the many car rental places.

I had been staying in Merida previously, and we took the ADO bus to Cancun. The ADO bus station is within about a 20-minute walk to the hotel, but we arrived after dark so decided to take a taxi instead.

Check-In at Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

The check-in process was easy. I arrived and was greeted by the reception staff. After going to the desk and telling them my name, they looked me up quickly. They mentioned my Marriott Titanium status, which includes free breakfast, but I wasn’t given an upgrade for my stay.

When I initially walked into the hotel, I thought it was sufficient and similar to many other Marriott hotels. Although it wasn’t luxurious, it was perfect for what I planned to do on my trip.

The Room at Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown doesn’t offer many room options. Since I was traveling with my boyfriend, I chose the King Guest Room.

The vibe I got from the king room was welcoming, with an inviting layout. You’ll see the bed first, and there’s a small living area with a window and a chair beside it.

Overall, the room was bright, even without the lamps on. The walls are an eggshell color, and there’s wood trim to help tie it all together. There were multiple lamps to shed more light, which was nice, especially at night. It was quite comforting and comfortable.

I want to point out that the air conditioning worked well. Cancun is definitely hot, especially in the summer, but I wasn’t overheated or sweaty while staying in the room.

However, I felt there could have been more insulation for the room because I could hear other guests outside the room and even out in the street. Although the blackout curtains kept the light out of the space in the morning, they didn’t do much to muffle the sounds.

The bathroom was quite small, but it was sufficient. When you walk in, you notice the toilet, and the décor is pretty simple. However, there’s a nice walk-in shower, plenty of towels for your face and body, and everything else your bathroom at home would likely have.

Although Marriott tried to do away with travel-sized toiletries, it didn’t go well. Therefore, the JW Marriott collection is back, and there were hand soaps, shampoos, conditioners and everything else you could want.

I felt the room amenities were pretty good for the area. There was a mini fridge that you could fill with cold cuts or beverages, a coffee/tea maker and a 55-inch LCD television. Other amenities included:

• Hair dryer
• Dedicated outdoor area
• Cable/satellite television
• Radio
• Complimentary bottled water
• Room service
• Desk
• In-room safe (usage incurred a fee)
• Telescope

There weren’t many outlets available, but they sufficed for what we needed. Overall, I felt they could have had a few more.

In summary, I believe that the room could have been better equipped, but it was still a decent stay.

Food and Drink at Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

A hotel restaurant is available for breakfast, and there’s a “corner market” onsite, which carries snacks, essentials and sweets. Room service is available, but it’s limited, and I didn’t use it.

Still, Cancun has many options available if you’re hungry. The top choices nearby include Icaza Cocina de Herencia, which is about 1 mile away from the hotel. It features international foods with a local touch.

There’s also Los Tarascos, which has plenty of taco options (and is one of my favorite places—don’t miss the chicharron de queso), and Irori Cancun is a Japanese restaurant with a full sushi bar. If you’re into Italian, Rolandi’s Restaurante Bar & Pizzeria is a great choice and has been around since 1979.

Amenities at Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

The amenities aren’t as exciting as other hotels, but you will find a fitness center you can use to stay in shape. Likewise, the hotel offers a meeting space, wake-up calls, turndown service and daily housekeeping for those who need or want it.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown Family Friendliness

Though there’s an option for children when booking, I wouldn’t say Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown is all that family-friendly. Most of the people there are romantic couples or partiers, and there isn’t much for kids to do while at the hotel.

Final Thoughts on Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown was a decent place to stay, but it wasn’t as luxurious as some of the other places I’ve been. I often prefer to remain outside all the action, so being that close to the hustle and bustle of the city would have been too much for me on a longer stay, but it was perfect for a quick few days in Cancun.

Still, it’s easy to find from the airport, is relatively quiet and is close to the many attractions Cancun has to offer. Although I experienced a few drawbacks, it’s a great, and affordable, place to stay if you’re going to Cancun.