WOW… Excellent visit.

They have just finished a very, very complete renovation here. I stayed here a year or two ago, and decided not to visit again, as it was pretty run-down. In fact, subsequent visits to RDU have been at Hyatt Place or further North.

This property, though, has recently (perhaps VERY recently) completed a reno, and it looks great!

Fully spruced up lobby, comfy seating, excellent wifi. Room was great, both hard and soft goods all replaced. I like the new Courtyard lobby design, and they did a great job here. The owner has dropped some serious dollars, and it shows.

Staff in restaurant very friendly/helpful, strong wifi signal across lobby and rooms

Here’s the question: Is it worth $189 vs. the Hyatt Place across the street? Probably not. Marriott junkies will pay it, but I’m not sure I can price a Courtyard (even an airport property) that far above a full service Marriott… and there’s one about 3 miles down the road from here.

For the GM: Good news: you’re not a $99 hotel anymore. You’re a $129-149 hotel. For travelers with a rental car, you’re not an alternative to the Marriott down the road... $189? NO. Not happening.

All that said, I'd return happily if the need/room rate intersected correctly.

This is another courtyard clone, they are basically exactly the same all of the country. Everything is what you would expect. Many people like the same experience everywhere they go, I find it boring. The Cambrian is nicer and modern.

I travel around the country and abroad many times during the year but I have never had an exceptional service like this before. The stay starts with a very newly updated hotel very spacious lobby, modern, clean and appealing. The room was very new all updated from top to bottom including TV, coffee maker, furniture, and all. Clean, extra pillows, towels, etc… and yes the thermostat on the wall is new and it works. But this is not the end of this experience. After staying for two nights (Oct. 28 – 29), we had to check out early on the 30th to catch our 7 AM flight to Hartford, CT. So woke up 5 AM got ready and returned the rented car and went to the airport only to find out that the flight had been delayed till 10Am and then cancelled all together at 9:30AM. By the time made other travel arrangements it was 10:30AM.
I called back the hotel and asked if the shuttle could pick us up although we had already check-out and explained what happened to our flight. Not only they sent the shuttle on a special trip to pick us up, but they kept the food service bar open especially for us so we can order breakfast. (They close at 11AM). They drove us back to airport on a special shuttle trip that they normally will not do. They let hang around the lobby with free internet access, and all the front end staff came by from time to time asking if we need anything. To me this absolutely exceptional. Thanks to everyone at this hotel especially Lacy. Will definitely recommend it and stay here again.

This Courtyard is like all the others you've stayed in before. They have the new lobby but the old rooms, but the rooms meet the same good standards that you expect from Courtyard. Rooms have a digital thermostat so you don't have to tweak the temp all night.
The property lies right under the south approach to the RDU airport, which is conveniently close and right across Interstate 40. My only complaint was hearing all the aircraft launching at exactly 6:00AM when air traffic is allowed to begin for the day. Other than that, it's a good location for either the airport or any business you may be doing at RTP.