Fairfield Inn & Suites Charlotte Arrowood: When Free Still Isn’t Worth It

Sometimes, a hotel stay is just a place to lay a head for a few hours. After dinner with Airica, I drove about an hour and a half from Columbia, South Carolina, to the Fairfield Inn & Suites Charlotte Arrowood. The plan was simple: get some sleep and keep going in the morning.

I used Marriott Bonvoy points for this stay, so my out-of-pocket room cost was $0. Sounds like a win, right? Well, not every free night is a good deal.

Finding the Hotel and Checking In

The hotel sits back from the main road, and I actually missed the entrance on my first attempt. A quick trip around the block got me back on track.

Parking was easy. There were six accessible parking spaces, and when I arrived around 9 p.m., three were still available. I took one, leaving two for other guests who might need them.

Check-in was equally straightforward. One person was ahead of me, and the front desk staff member was friendly and efficient. She covered the usual information about Wi-Fi, breakfast, and coffee. I didn't get to experience breakfast because I left before it started at 6:30 a.m.

She wasn't particularly knowledgeable about the surrounding area, explaining that she drove about 40 minutes each way to work and wasn't from the neighborhood. Fair enough.

However, one thing immediately caught my attention: the glass partition between the two sliding entrance doors, with a pawn shop and a Chinese takeout business visible on the other side. In all my years of hotel stays, including some questionable properties, this was a first for me. It certainly wasn't the welcome I expected.

The elevator was conveniently located near reception. The hotel has three floors, and I was assigned Room 304 on the third floor.

The Cigarette Smoke Problem

Unfortunately, the experience began to go downhill before I even reached my room.

There is only one elevator, and as soon as I stepped out onto the third floor, I smelled cigarette smoke. When I opened the door to Room 304, a hearing- and wheelchair-accessible room, the odor was even more noticeable.

I wasn't interested in spending the next part of my evening negotiating for another room, so I decided to deal with it.

To give credit where it's due, the room itself was reasonably comfortable. Unlike some hotel rooms I've reviewed, this one was well lit. The bed was comfortable, the HVAC worked properly, the television functioned, and I had no trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi.

Those were the positives.

An Accessible Room That Missed the Mark

As a right above-the-knee amputee, I pay particular attention to hotel accessibility. I've written before about how businesses can technically meet accessibility requirements while still falling short of what disabled guests actually need.

This room was another example.

Yes, there were grab bars. Yes, the doorway was wide enough for wheelchair access. But accessibility involves more than checking a couple of boxes.

The bathroom had a bathtub rather than a roll-in shower. It had no removable handheld showerhead, shower chair, or stool. The bath products were mounted in the middle of the tub area, and there wasn't even any body wash.

Think about that for a moment.

Getting into and out of a bathtub can be particularly challenging for someone with a mobility disability. Without a shower chair, it becomes even harder. A handheld showerhead can also make bathing safer and more practical.

These aren't extravagant luxury requests. They're practical accommodations that can make a meaningful difference in someone's ability to use a bathroom safely and comfortably.

The room was labeled accessible, but the bathroom left me questioning how well the actual needs of disabled guests had been considered.

Checking Out Before Sunrise

I left around 5:30 a.m., well before breakfast was available. Nobody was at the front desk, so I walked out and left the checkout process to the hotel.

I've encountered this situation before, and I generally don't make a production out of it. The property can process the checkout when staff is available.

There were no major problems with the bed, television, climate control, or internet. If I were judging the room solely on those basics, the stay might have been perfectly adequate.

But the cigarette smoke and, more importantly, the shortcomings in the accessible bathroom overshadowed those positives.

Was It Worth the Points?

The room cost me $0 out of pocket because I redeemed Marriott Bonvoy points. Unfortunately, that doesn't automatically make it a good redemption.

I value my points because they can buy stays that are comfortable, convenient, and worth the effort of traveling. This experience didn't meet that standard.

The friendly front desk agent, comfortable bed, good lighting, and working amenities deserve credit. However, the smoke odor and the lack of essential bathroom features for someone with mobility limitations were significant negatives.

Would I stay here again? No. Would I pay cash for a room here? Absolutely not.

A free hotel room should still provide a reasonable experience, and an accessible room should offer more than the bare minimum.

This stay reminded me that the lowest price isn't always the best value, even when it’s zero.

Until next time, safe travels—and remember that accessibility is about more than a label on a reservation.

A Weekend Stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Columbia

This past weekend, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, arriving Friday and leaving Sunday afternoon. I was in town for an event at the University of South Carolina’s Rice Law Building, directly across the street. I was also part of a large group of more than 100 people. The Hilton Garden Inn shares several facilities with the neighboring Home2 Suites, including the pool, lobby space, restaurant and bar, and parking.

Check-in was easy: my key was ready, and I was in my room in no time. The property is clean, bright, and modern. The front desk staff was friendly and helpful throughout my stay. The manager, whose name I didn’t catch, was especially kind and attentive.

A comfortable room, with a lighting drawback

My room was clean and well appointed. The bed was comfortable, and the HVAC system kept the temperature steady with very little fluctuation. The bathroom was spacious, too.

The room did feel quite dark, though. The switch near the door turns on a light by the entrance, but there isn’t a convenient light closer to the sleeping and living area. A little more lighting would make the room much more comfortable.

A helpful response to an accessibility issue

After checking in, I realized I hadn’t been assigned an ADA room with a roll-in shower and bench. I had a traditional shower with a door, and asked the front desk whether the hotel had a shower chair. It didn’t.

The event organizer arranged the room block, so I don’t blame the hotel for the original assignment. The manager offered to move me to a room with a roll-in shower and made sure I was comfortable with the change. She gave me new keys for the new room, along with a replacement key for my previous room, and offered to come upstairs to make sure everything worked. I told her I was fine, and the move went smoothly.

I appreciated how thoughtfully she handled the situation. At the same time, the accessible room itself could be more usable. The mounted body wash, shampoo, and conditioner were under the showerhead and out of reach from the bench, especially for someone with short arms. Towels weren’t placed near the roll-in shower, and the room was far from the elevator. The room was accessible, but these details made it feel as if the design met a minimum standard without fully considering how guests would use it.

Parking, housekeeping, and dining

Parking can be difficult when the shared lot is nearly full, though several ADA spaces are available. On Saturday night, during torrential rain, I temporarily parked close to the Hilton Garden Inn entrance. Later, the manager noticed I had moved my car to a spot much farther away and told me I could have left it closer. I appreciated the gesture—and told her I didn’t want to take advantage of her kindness.

There was no daily housekeeping during my stay. I’m not sure whether that’s standard or related to the group booking. After I spilled something on the bed, I called down for fresh linens. The “0” guest services button on the room phone didn’t work, but once I reached the front desk, the linens arrived in about 20 minutes.

I also ordered a salad from the hotel restaurant and ate it there. The salad was acceptable, though serving it in a plastic takeout box felt a little tacky.

Would I stay again?

The hotel’s location was excellent for my event; the property was clean, and I slept comfortably. The staff—especially the manager—made a strong impression with their helpfulness and kindness.

I may stay here again. I’d be glad to see the hotel improve the practical details of its ADA rooms, particularly the shower setup and placement of toiletries and towels.

Thailand Update: Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin Responded—Now I Need a Date

Well, that was fast.

After writing about my plans to potentially spend about 30 days in Hua Hin, Thailand, I emailed the Hua Hin location of Bangkok Hospital to ask what I would need to do to continue my hemodialysis treatments while I'm there.

I expected to wait.

Instead, it took only a few hours for Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin to respond.

They sent me a detailed list of the medical records, dialysis information, and laboratory results they want me to provide before arriving in Thailand.

Suddenly, this little Thailand experiment feels considerably more real.

What Bangkok Hospital Needs From Me

The hospital wants my current hemodialysis prescription, including information such as my dialyzer, dialysate settings, blood-flow and dialysate-flow rates, dry weight, treatment duration and temperature, vascular access and anticoagulant. The prescription needs to be from within three months of my dialysis appointment in Hua Hin.

They also want my recent dialysis information, including any complications I've experienced during treatment, my blood pressure before and after dialysis, and medications administered during or after treatment, such as IV iron or erythropoietin.

Then come the labs.

They require recent testing for HBsAg, hepatitis C antibodies, hepatitis B antibodies, hepatitis B core antibody IgG, and HIV. Most of those results need to be from within six months, while the HIV result can be from within one year.

They noted that if I arrive without the required information, they may need to repeat blood testing before my first dialysis treatment—and there would be an additional charge.

They also want a list of optional information, including my medical history, recent dialysis treatment information, medication list, and additional lab results such as CBC, BUN, creatinine, electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, and other tests.

It looks like a lot on paper.

Fortunately, I shouldn't have to assemble all of this by myself.

I Talked to My Dialysis Provider

Most Mondays, either my nephrologist or his Physician Assistant checks in with patients at the dialysis center.

Today, I told him what I'm planning.

I think he was a little surprised when I told him where I was thinking about going—and that I was considering staying for about a month.

Thailand wasn't exactly the answer he was expecting.

I showed him the information Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin requested. He told me that my dialysis clinic should be able to obtain most, if not all, of it.

That's a pretty big hurdle potentially taken care of.

And that's exactly why I contacted the hospital before booking a trip. A beachfront condo with an ocean view sounds wonderful, but none of that matters if I can't safely continue dialysis three times a week.

The Pieces Are Coming Together

In a relatively short time, I've gone from thinking about Thailand to working through the logistics.

I've connected with an expat who may be able to help me find a furnished beachfront condo, work through the visa process, arrange transportation from Bangkok to Hua Hin, find temporary accommodations while I get settled, and potentially help arrange a caretaker for Mom.

Now I've heard directly from Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin about what they need for my dialysis.

My dialysis provider believes they can supply the medical information.

So what's the next major item on the Thailand checklist?

I need to pick a date.

That's where I am now.

No plane ticket yet. No condo lease yet. I'm not packing a suitcase tomorrow.

But each question I answer removes another reason this couldn't work.

A few days ago, dialysis in Thailand was one of the biggest unknowns.

Today, I have a list.

And apparently, my dialysis clinic has most of what's on it.

Now I just need to figure out when I'm going to Hua Hin.

Thailand Is Starting to Feel a Little More Real

For a while, Thailand has been an idea. Lately, that idea has started turning into actual planning.

I've been in contact with an expat in Thailand who can help me work through the logistics of getting to Hua Hin and figure out whether this could realistically work for me—and potentially for my mom as well.

There are a surprising number of moving pieces.

He's offered to help me find a condo in Hua Hin. I've already started looking at what is available, and my wish list isn't exactly small. I want something furnished, preferably three bedrooms, beachfront with an ocean view, and reasonably close to the hospital.

I'm discovering that those places actually exist without necessarily costing what a comparable beachfront condo would cost in the United States.

He can also help me figure out the appropriate Thai visa. That's one of those things where I'd much rather have someone familiar with the process help me than spend hours bouncing around the interwebs trying to figure out what is current and what was accurate three years ago.

Then there are the immediate arrival logistics.

He can arrange transportation from Bangkok airport to Hua Hin, which matters because I'd prefer not to land after a very long flight and start negotiating transportation in a country I've never visited.

He can also help arrange a temporary place for me to stay while I get situated and look at condos in person.

That makes a lot of sense to me. Pictures on the internet are wonderful, but I'd rather walk into a condo, look out the window and confirm that "ocean view" actually means I can see the ocean—not that if I lean over a balcony, look between two buildings and squint really hard, there's a tiny patch of blue in the distance.

There's also Mom.

We've discussed the possibility of eventually having her in Thailand, and this expat may be able to help arrange a caretaker. That would require more research and planning, but knowing resources are available makes the idea less overwhelming.

He even mentioned helping me get a Thai driver's license.

I'll pass.

I don't have an urge to drive in Thailand. I think I'll be perfectly happy using ride-share services, taxis, and other transportation. Somebody else can navigate the traffic while I sit in the passenger seat and look out the window.

Then There's the Big One: Dialysis

Everything else is secondary if I can't work out dialysis.

Today, I emailed Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin to ask what I'd need to receive hemodialysis there during an approximately 30-day visit to Thailand.

For me, this isn't optional travel planning. I need hemodialysis three times a week, so before I start getting too excited about beachfront condos and ocean views, I need to know that my medical care can continue safely and reliably while I'm there.

I want to know what records they need from my dialysis provider in the United States, how far in advance treatment must be arranged, scheduling, costs, payment requirements, and anything else an international dialysis patient needs to do before arriving.

Now I wait for their response.

If Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin can accommodate me for a month, that's a pretty significant piece of the puzzle.

Maybe 30 Days Is the Right Test

I'm not talking about getting on an airplane tomorrow and permanently moving to Thailand.

A roughly 30-day stay would give me a chance to experience Hua Hin as more than a vacation destination.

Can I comfortably get around without driving?

Can I find a condo I'd actually want to live in?

How easy is it to get groceries, go out to eat, and handle normal daily life?

Most importantly, what is it like going through my normal dialysis routine in Thailand?

Those are questions that YouTube videos, Facebook groups, blogs, and beautiful real-estate photos can't completely answer.

I need to experience it.

For now, many questions remain unanswered. But there are also fewer unanswered questions than there were a few weeks ago.

I've found someone on the ground who can potentially help with housing, visas, transportation, temporary accommodations, and care for Mom.

I've contacted the hospital about dialysis.

I've started looking at beachfront condos.

And apparently, someone is even willing to help me get a driver's license that I have absolutely no intention of getting.

One piece at a time.

Thirty days in Hua Hin might tell me whether Thailand is simply a place I'd enjoy visiting—or somewhere I could actually see myself spending a significant part of my life.