Escape to Paradise: Fairfield Inn & Suites St. Pete/Clearwater Largo Awaits!
Escape to Paradise? Maybe… My Bumpy Ride at Fairfield Inn & Suites Largo
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I just survived… ahem… experienced the Fairfield Inn & Suites St. Pete/Clearwater Largo. And let me tell you, it was a mixed bag. One minute I’m feeling like I’ve stumbled into a slightly generic, but comfortable, slice of heaven. The next? Well, let's just say my inner Monica Geller was screaming for some serious bleach.
First Impressions… (And the Elevator Saga)
Landing in Tampa, I was all smiles, ready for sun, sand, and… well, mostly just a break from my overflowing email inbox. The drive to Largo was smooth, and the exterior of the hotel looked promising. Modern, clean lines, and a welcoming facade. The first hiccup? That blasted elevator. It was slow. Like, molasses-in-January slow. And on more than one occasion, it decided to play hide-and-seek. Eventually, I started prioritizing the stairs for short trips, which, hey, bonus workout! (See? Silver linings!)
(Accessibility - and the Bathroom Blues)
Okay, so, accessibility. This is where things get… complicated. I’m not using a wheelchair myself, but I did take a good look around. The ramps and entrances seemed okay, although I’m not a specialist in accessibility. However, the room I was in (a regular, NOT an accessible room) had some serious bathroom limitations. The space felt tight, and the shower… well, let's just say a wider person would have a very tough time. I genuinely felt bad for anyone needing more space. They NEED to upgrade their bathrooms.
(Cleanliness and Safety - or, the Great Sanitizer Hunt)
Alright, let’s talk cleanliness. The hotel claims to have stepped up its game with all the COVID protocols. They had the hand sanitizer stations everywhere, which was great! (I'm a germaphobe at heart, so these made me happy). They used the anti-viral cleaning products, from what I could tell. The staff wore masks, and there was a lot of talk about rooms being sanitized between guests. BUT… and this is a big BUT… I found a stray hair on the bathroom floor day one. Just one little hair. It was mine. The hair wasn't mine. The hair turned out to be from whoever stayed there before. Which completely killed any fantasies I had of pristine, post-pandemic cleanliness.
(The Room Rundown - AKA, My Temporary Lair)
My room, once I finally got to it, was pretty standard Fairfield Inn fare. Not amazing, not awful. Comfy bed (thank GOD), decent blackout curtains (essential for this light-sensitive vampire), and the coffee/tea maker was a lifesaver in the mornings. I needed the coffee. The free Wi-Fi was a blessing. Fast. Reliable. Saved my sanity. The desk was functional, and I managed to get some work done (hallelujah!). The little details, like the mini-bar, weren't overly impressive, just a basic refrigerator, and that was all. So that worked pretty well - I went and bought my own stuff anyway.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - aka, The Breakfast Buffet Brawl)
Okay, the breakfast. The. Breakfast. It was a buffet. And it was… well, it was what you expect from a hotel buffet. Scrambled eggs that may or may not have been from an actual chicken. (I'm being dramatic, probably. But still…) Some questionable-looking sausage. Toast (thankfully, that was a safe bet). The coffee, however, was actually pretty decent – I'm a sucker for the caffeine. They have the standard international stuff too, like Asian breakfast, for heaven's sake! But, again, it was… fine. Nothing to write home about. I'm a foodie, so it was a bit of a disappointment. And sometimes the buffet line felt like everyone was racing for the last croissant.
(Things to Do & Ways to Relax - Poolside Dreams & Fitness Frenzy)
Now, the pool! Ah, the pool. It was lovely. Especially after a long day of… well, whatever I was doing. Clean, refreshing, and the view… not a bad view, either. Not a breathtaking view, but, you know, pool-y. They had a poolside bar, which was a plus. I definitely availed myself of that happy hour a couple of times. The fitness center? It existed, and I used it a few times. It did the trick. They even had sauna and spa! I didn't avail myself of that, but just the fact that it's an option is pretty cool.
(Services and Conveniences - The Front Desk Follies)
The staff at the front desk were generally friendly, but sometimes seemed a little… overwhelmed. Like, they'd get flustered when dealing with multiple requests. Check-in was quick! But a simple question about local restaurants led to some serious fumbling around with a map. More training, maybe? They did have the essentials: laundry service, dry cleaning, and a convenient little shop. There was also a concierge, but I honestly forgot about it during my stay. They offered an airport transfer, which I didn't need, and a car park free of charge.
(For the Kids - Family-Friendly or Frazzled-Friendly?)
I don't have kids. But from what I could see, it seemed like a pretty family-friendly place. They offer babysitting services! They also have kids facilities. The hotel itself has a great vibe for families, though I didn't see anything specific for children.
(Getting Around - Navigating the Largo Labyrinth)
I had a rental car, so parking wasn’t an issue (car park). The hotel is located pretty close to a lot of things. There's taxi service as well.
(The Verdict? - Worth the Chaos?)
Honestly, the Fairfield Inn & Suites St. Pete/Clearwater Largo is… okay. It's not a luxury experience, and it definitely has its quirks (that elevator!). But it’s clean, comfortable, and the pool is a definite winner. Could the breakfast be better? Yes. Could the bathrooms be more accessible? Absolutely. But for the price, and given its location, it’s a decent option. Would I return? Maybe. If I'm looking for something convenient and affordable, and the mood strikes just right, I probably would.
SEO & Metadata
- Keywords: Fairfield Inn & Suites, Largo, St. Pete/Clearwater, hotel review, Florida hotels, accessible hotel, family-friendly hotel, pool, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, breakfast buffet, travel, vacation
- Meta Description: A brutally honest, funny, and detailed review of the Fairfield Inn & Suites St. Pete/Clearwater Largo. Learn about accessibility, cleanliness, the breakfast buffet, and more!
- Title Tag: Fairfield Inn & Suites Largo Review: The Good, The Bad, and the Elevator (Seriously)
- H1: Escape to Paradise? My Unfiltered Review of Fairfield Inn & Suites Largo
- Image Alt Tags: (Use descriptive alt text for all included images: e.g., "Swimming pool at Fairfield Inn Largo", "Breakfast buffet at the hotel", "Guest room with double beds")
- Schema Markup: Consider implementing schema markup for a hotel review to provide structured data to search engines.
(Rating: 3 out of 5 stars - with a strong recommendation to update those bathrooms!)
Unbelievable Oregon Getaway: Super 8 by Wyndham Lagrande La Grande!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a travel itinerary that’s less "perfectly Instagrammable" and more "utterly, gloriously human." This is my potential trip to Sunny Florida, specifically basecamped at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Largo. Expect some bumps, some brilliance, and a whole lotta me. Here we go:
Day 1: Arrival - Sunshine State of Mind (Mostly)
3:00 PM - Touchdown Tampa! Okay, the actual landing was a bit less dramatic than that. More like, "Ugh, another cramped flight." But hey! We're here! Tampa International Airport, you've got that whole "efficient" thing going on, which is a godsend after the purgatory that is the airport security line. I actually almost lost my ID in the chaos. The sheer panic! Found it in the end, nestled smugly in my worn-out wallet.
3:45 PM - Rental Car Rodeo! (I swear I know how to drive). Picking up the rental car… ugh. The paperwork, the upsell on insurance, the guy trying to convince me that I need a GPS because "Florida roads are WILD." Dude, I have Google maps and a healthy dose of navigational paranoia. We'll see. Fingers crossed I don't end up in the Everglades. Actually, maybe that would be fun…
4:30 PM - The Largo Labyrinth. Driving to Fairfield Inn & Suites in Largo. Okay so, I do not know how to drive in Florida, or anywhere for that matter. But I made it. Finding the Fairfield wasn't too terrible… except for the massive detour thanks to a sudden, inexplicable road closure. This is where my first emotional reaction arrives: Sigh.
5:30 PM - Check-in, and The Room! The lobby is bright, and smells like lemon cleaner. (Always a good sign, right?) Check-in was painless – thankfully. Then, the room! It’s a standard Fairfield room, which for me, the ultimate high-end room. The bed looks comfy and I have a great view of the parking lot. Which is good.
6:30 PM - Taco Tuesday, on a Wednesday. Okay, so it's not Tuesday. Whatever. Found a local taco joint nearby, "Casa Grande" or something. The tacos were… adequate. A little bland, the salsa tasted like it was from a jar. But hey, after a long travel day, carbs are carbs and I ate every single one. I was starving.
7:30 PM - Poolside Blues. The pool! I was SO excited for this. I tossed my luggage aside and immediately went to the pool. It was slightly crowded with screaming kids and a couple of people staring at their phones. I dunked my toes in, then retreated to my room. Maybe tomorrow.
8:30 PM - Settle In and Watch TV It was a long day, so I decided to watch TV. I was really tired. Then, I was fast asleep.
Day 2: Clearwater Beach Dreams and… Pigeon Encounters?
7:00 AM - Breakfast in the Beige Zone. The "complimentary breakfast" at the hotel. Let's be honest, it's a beige buffet. There's rubbery eggs, lukewarm sausage patties, and a waffle maker that seems to judge me. But I love it.
8:00 AM - To the Beach! (Traffic edition). Clearwater Beach here we come! After the detour yesterday I'm expecting the worst. This time, more road closures and more bad drivers. But, I made it!
9:00 AM - Beach Bliss (Mostly). Clearwater Beach is, no lie, gorgeous. The sand is like powdered sugar, the water is that perfect turquoise, and I could instantly feel my shoulders relax. Spent a glorious hour just wandering, squishing my toes in the sand.
10:30 AM - The Pigeon Incident. Ah, yes. The moment the beach bliss took a sharp, unexpected turn. I was enjoying a beachside snack, a packet of chips, when a pigeon (a giant pigeon) swooped down and practically snatched the bag out of my hand. I screamed. The pigeon stared at me, as if in judgment. Then, it strutted off with my precious, salty chips. I am officially scarred. The beach is no longer a safe place.
11:00 AM - Lunch Time. Needed a snack and something to cheer me up. Ate at a restaurant along the boardwalk. The food was good. It made me forget about the pigeon. For a little while.
12:00 PM - Sunbathing: Lay out on the beach for an hour, getting a little bit of sun. No pigeons.
1:00 PM - Shopping: After the beach, I went shopping in a small shop. Bought a souvenir. Nothing special.
2:00 PM - Back to the Hotel: I spent some time by the pool. This time, nobody yelled at me.
3:00 PM - Nap Time: I fell asleep in the room.
4:00 PM - Dinner I had dinner at a restaurant near the hotel.
5:00 PM - TV Time: Watched some TV and then went to sleep.
Day 3: More adventures
7:00 AM - Breakfast: Had the breakfast at the hotel. It wasn't good.
8:00 AM - Driving: I decided to go for a drive out to some random area that everyone said was nice. I drove out to some area that was pretty, with nice people.
10:00 AM - Driving: After a couple hours, I figured I'd drive back to the hotel.
12:00 PM - Lunch: Had lunch at a cafe.
1:00 PM - Swimming: The pool was closed, so I went to the beach.
2:00 PM - Beach: More beach time.
3:00 PM: More beach time.
5:00 PM - Pack: Start packing.
6:00 PM - Dinner: Had dinner at the hotel.
7:00 PM - Goodbye: Watch TV and said goodbye.
So, is "Escape to Paradise" actually a paradise, or is that just marketing fluff?
Alright, let's be real. Paradise? It’s *Largo*, Florida. Think less "tropical island with a personal butler" and more "sun-drenched suburban oasis with a very convenient Publix." Honestly? When you're desperately needing a break, yeah, it *feels* like paradise. After the hellish traffic on the interstate, that first glimpse of the pool? Pure bliss. It's not the Fiji Islands, obviously. But after a stressful week? Fuggedaboutit, paradise activated.
Let's talk location. Is it really close to the beach like they say? Because I *hate* long drives.
Okay, "close" is relative. And traffic, my friends, traffic is a beast. It's not *walking* distance. You're gonna need a car, Uber, or Lyft. The closest beach with the name recognition is Clearwater Beach, and with some of the weekend traffic around there....you may need to plan it. Just sayin'. But look, it's manageable. It's not like you're driving to, say, Orlando in rush hour. But you *definitely* don't want to hit the road to Clearwater Beach at like, 11 AM on a Saturday. That's just masochism. Consider the drive time and don't be surprised by it.
What about the pool? Is it actually swim-worthy, or just a glorified wading pool?
The pool. Ah, the pool. It's...decent. Honestly, it's a solid pool. I'm a pool snob, I'll admit. I've seen pools that are basically glorified puddles. This one's fine. It's refreshing, deep enough to actually *swim* in, and usually not *too* overcrowded. But, and this is a big but, during peak season? Forget about it. Good luck getting a lounge chair. I remember one time, I went down there around 9 AM, thinking I was clever. Nope. Already packed. Found myself awkwardly hovering like a vulture until someone left. Mortifying. So yeah, go early, or embrace the pool's edge, or just don't expect to find a chair. It's a crapshoot.
Is the free breakfast as sad as most hotel free breakfasts? I have high standards for my carbs.
Okay, let's get real about hotel breakfast. It's a gamble. This one? Slightly above average. They usually have the make-your-own-waffle station, which is always a win. Waffles *are* life, let's be honest. The scrambled eggs are…well, they're eggs. Don't expect Michelin star quality. They *do* usually have some sort of breakfast meat situation going on (bacon roulette!). The fruit is usually okay. I've seen worse, much worse. It's enough to get you going. Don't go in with sky-high expectations, and you won't be disappointed. Also, my pro-tip: grab a waffle and a banana for the road. Because snacks are essential, people.
What are the rooms like? Are they clean? Because I'm a germaphobe. (Kinda.)
Okay, cleanliness is *key*. And honestly? The rooms at the Fairfield Inn are generally pretty clean. I'm not going to say "sterile," because, c'mon, hotels. But I haven't had a major issue. The bathrooms are usually spotless, the sheets *seem* clean. Just a word of caution: check under the beds. Always. You never know what lurks in the dust bunnies. But yeah, generally, it's good. No major complaints on the cleanliness front. That said, I *always* bring my own Lysol wipes, just in case. Better safe than sorry. That is also true of the coffee maker, cause, let's be honest, you never know.
Is there anything nearby to... you know... *do*? Besides, like, sit by the pool?
Okay, this is where it gets interesting. Largo isn't exactly a nightlife mecca. But there *are* things to do. The beaches, obviously. Clearwater Beach is the big one, but there are some quieter, less tourist-packed options. The Florida Botanical Gardens are lovely for a leisurely stroll. Restaurants are abundant. So, you won't get bored. But you might need a car. Or ride-sharing. This is not the place to wander and "discover." It's more of a "plan your afternoon" kind of place. I remember one time, I took an Uber to a bar downtown. It was a bit of a drive, and then it was... well, it was a bar. The drive back was long. So, yeah, do your research! Look for local recommendations for restaurants and bars.
Is the staff friendly? I'm a people person. Mostly.
Generally, the staff is friendly. They're usually pretty efficient and helpful. I had a minor issue with my keycard not working *once*, and they fixed it right away. One time, I needed extra towels, and they were on it in minutes. Nothing life-changing, but perfectly acceptable service. It's not like they're falling over themselves to be your best friend, but they're nice. That's really all you can ask for, right? I’ve never seen them actually *un*friendly, not like at that airport hotel in...well, nevermind.
Anything I should *absolutely* avoid? Any hidden downsides? The truth, please!
Okay, the truth. Traffic. Learn to deal with it. Also, try to avoid booking during major events or holidays. Prices skyrocket, and the pool situation becomes even more cutthroat. And honestly? The elevators. Sometimes, they can be a bit…slow. Especially when everyone’s trying to get to breakfast at the same time. Just breathe. And consider stairs if you can. And I’ll be honest, the biggest downside is that it's not actually a tropical island. But, overall, it's decent.
Okay, final verdict: would you recommend it? And why or why not? Come on, be brutally honest!
Okay, here’s the brutally honest verdict. Yes, I would recommend it. For the price point, the location, and the generally decent quality, it's a solid choice. It's not luxury, but itWhere To Sleep In
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