Bitter Sweet Experience
The location was convenient, with easy access to I-5, making day-to-day travel relatively quick. There were plenty of restaurants nearby offering a wide range of multi-cuisine fine dining or fast-food options. Several were within walking distance, including Jimmy John's, Domino's Pizza, a Mexican food truck, The Meltdown, Burger King, Denny's, Starbucks and Shari's Cafe. A gas station was conveniently located next door, and downtown was about a 5–10 minute drive depending on traffic. The hotel had abundant on-site surface parking, and the rooms were reasonably spacious and comfortable. We booked rooms with two double beds, so I can't comment on the single-bed rooms. The 24-hour pool and gym access was convenient, although the 24-hour pool access also created some issues, as noted below. The breakfast selection was decent, with fresh eggs, sausage, breads, bagels, waffles, fruit, cereal, orange juice, drip coffee, and oatmeal. There was only one waffle maker, however, so there were often long lines during busy periods.
Cons The hotel was undergoing renovation to become a Fairfield by Marriott, which was not disclosed during booking. The main lobby was closed, with entry through a makeshift side door and a temporary front desk that was not always staffed. We were initially given the wrong room key and had to return to the desk to correct it. The bathroom had no body wash; we were told they had run out and were only given a bar of soap the following day. The 24-hour pool resulted in consistently wet and slippery lobby/elevator areas, with wet-floor signs throughout. We stayed three nights in two rooms, but housekeeping cleaned the rooms only once. One room also had a faulty roller blind that barely opened. Despite the website stating that pets were not allowed, several guests had dogs, including in the breakfast area, which made some of our group uncomfortable. We also noticed some people who appeared to be homeless on the property, including individuals with shopping carts and squatting overnight in their parked vehicles. The breakfast was decent, but with only one waffle maker, there were long waits during busy periods. Overall, the renovation, temporary facilities, housekeeping and maintenance issues significantly affected our stay. Although presented as a higher-rated property on Booking.com, I would realistically rate it closer to a 3-star property; its 2-star Google Maps rating felt more consistent with our experience.