Holiday time is packed for my family located in Champaign, so this year my husband, daughter, and I opted to stay in a hotel to free up some room for other travelers. Our eight-year-old enjoys a hotel pool immensely. It's like giving her an extra Christmas gift.

The room is very clean. The king bed is comfortable, the bathroom spotless, and there is a full kitchen with full sized fridge, microwave, cooktop, dishwasher, and sink. The fold-out couch was a perfect spot for our daughter.

The free breakfast is very good quality. It's a large variety of good food. Lots of fresh fruit and healthy options as well as eggs and sausage and a waffle bar. Good coffee. No Truvia, but there is Splenda - a key consideration when I travel. I hate having to supply and carry around my own sweeteners.

The staff is very friendly. I had no trouble securing a later check out, and maintenance was very responsive when I requested extra towels. The pool area is well maintained and attractive. The only drawbacks are very minor ones. They are not, in my opinion, enough of a big deal to detract from my 5 rating. The wifi is much slower in the rooms than in the lobby. When you're working from your hotel room, this is a consideration. The second minor drawback is the amount of chlorine this pool uses. Our visit may have corresponded with freshly shocking the pool, but the smell of chlorine was a bit strong.

I bought a pre-paid deal through Homewood Suites website and got the room for $78 a night. I felt this was an excellent value for the quality of the room, the convenience to my family's homes, and the quality of the breakfast. I will most definitely stay here again for busy family gatherings.