A Review of the Candlewood Suites in North Olmsted, Ohio

The Candlewood Suites in North Olmsted, Ohio is an extended stay hotel west of Cleveland. It is conveniently located near I-480, Great Northern Mall, several chain restaurants, a Target and a Wal-Mart. Hotels.com rates it as a 2-star establishment and it is competitively priced. A room for two adults booked through the Candlewood Suites site generally costs anywhere between $60 and $105 depending on room options and length of stay. Staying more than six nights costs less per night than shorter stays. The website guarantees the lowest rate online and charges no booking fees. Even though it is a 2-star hotel, it offers many amenities found at 3-star hotels. This particular Candlewood was completely renovated in 2008. Clean rooms, helpful staff, 24-hour fitness center and on-site convenience store are just a few of the reasons to choose this hotel.

The Candlewood Suites hotel chain appeals to business travelers and vacationers alike. Copy and fax services are available at the front desk, as are safe deposit boxes and a large DVD lending library. The 24-hour on-site convenience store, the Candlewood Cupboard, works on the honor system and the charges are added to the bill at check out. It has everything from razors to frozen dinners at reasonable prices. There is a 24-hour fitness center but no swimming pool. Guests can wash their clothes in the laundry room. Dry cleaning service is available, complete with pickup and same day service. Pets under 80 pounds are welcome for a non-refundable fee which varies according to length of stay. A gazebo and a grill are in the front and there is a second grill in the back of the rear parking lot. Housekeeping visits once a week, but towels can be exchanged at the front desk any time.

The lobby is pleasantly decorated with a seating area opposite the desk. Check-in is efficient and simple. The elevator is prompt and finding guest rooms is easy. There are 125 rooms, eight of which are especially designed for handicapped guests. Every room has a kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator, two-burner stove, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker and place settings for two. There is also a garbage disposal, a dishwasher, dish soap and dishwasher detergent. The hotel offers complimentary high speed internet access (not WiFi at the time this review was published). Two dual-line phones with voicemail are available. All of the rooms have cable TV, a VCR/DVD player, and an alarm clock CD player. An iron and ironing board can be found in the large closet, as can the laundry basket and bags for the dry cleaning service. There is a hair dryer in the bathroom along with the complimentary shampoo, conditioner and hand lotion. The work desk doubles as a dining table for two. The recliner is a great place to relax.

Recent guests reported total satisfaction with their stay. The room was spacious with a comfortable queen size bed. It was very clean and tidy. There was a binder on the desk with directions for connecting to the internet, a listing of the TV channels and DVDs available, and other important information. The bathroom was large, as was the tub, and both were spotless. The door was lockable from the outside which is a bonus when trying to childproof a room. The soundproofing was good because they could not hear anyone walking or talking in the hallways. The guests said the halls never smelled like cigarette smoke and the carpets were clean. There was a trash can at both ends of the hallway. Their only complaint is that the TV channel line-up could be better because it was mostly news channels and ESPNs. They felt the neighborhood was safe but said it was somewhat tricky to navigate during their initial stay. They mentioned that there are no fast food restaurants or gas stations nearby.

When asked to rate their experience as terrible, bad, fair, good or excellent, they said it was definitely excellent. They have stayed at this Candlewood several times and have always been very satisfied. They disagreed with Hotels.com's 2-star rating and stated that it was more like a 3-star hotel, both in quality of the establishment and the amenities. The guests emphatically said they would stay at this Candlewood again and that the room is definitely worth the price, maybe even more.

The Candlewood Suites is an excellent choice for a 2-star hotel west of Cleveland. It is located in a quiet, safe area yet is close to chain restaurants, a mall and I-480. Spacious rooms and 3-star amenities at a 2-star price are only two of the many reasons to stay at this hotel.