I recently visited a friend in Raleigh while he was there for some extended training for work. Since he was there for a long period of time and wanted to cut costs as he owns his own business, he was staying at the Homestead Suites in Crabtree Valley.

Now, let me make this clear - places like this completely skeeve me out, and I dont trust the cleanliness of the linens, towels, etc. - even if they "look" clean at first glance (as I'm sure they'd look like a rorschach inkblot test if I put them under a blacklight). I highly considered - and almost booked - a room at a "nicer" hotel downtown figuring that it would just be a quick drive to his area. Ultimately, I decided it would be nothing short of foolish to do something like that and risked booking at the Homestead Suites so that we would be at the same location.

We originally booked at the one in "North Raleigh" (its on a street named "Appliance Court.") DO NOT stay at that one. My buddy - being there on business - arrived in Raleigh about two weeks before I did. He switched to the Crabtree address after his first night. He told me the area was really bad and there were crazy people screaming and shouting outside all night. We joked and I told him he should have slept in the bathtub with a German Shepherd and a machine gun like Will Smith in "I am legend." Anyway - he moved out of there immediately. Apparently it was really bad, don't book there. As for the Crabtree location - it suited our needs. I did not bring my wife, it was just my buddy (former college roommate) and myself for a guys weekend as we live in different parts of the country and dont see each other too often. We are in our early thirties. To be candid - the place is a no frills motel. The room itself was clean enough, though showing signs of age (chipped counters, small amounts of peeling paint in places, and an old school TV). They do not provide shampoo (unless maybe you specifically ask for it, but its not in the room upon arrival), but do provide two bars of soap (and I'm sure more if you ask for it). I definitely would bring your own pillowcase and consider sleeping on top of the sheets (I slept under the very thin, seemingly harmless comforter but on top of the sheets). I am sort of a germ-ophobe though, so that was perhaps an overly cautious move.

To make a long story short - good place to simply sleep and shower if you are looking to save money. Its a REALLY good deal - charging you $59.00 a night for a single room with a queen sized bed, kitchenette, and bathroom. However, if you are taking a vacation in the Raleigh region (I have no idea why anyone would ever do that, but whatever) or simply visiting someone for a night or two, its a decent place to stay and cut some costs. Its safe and gives you what you need. That being said, I would never have booked there if I had been staying with my wife - she probably wouldn't have had a problem with it, but I wouldn't have wanted her to have to put up with it. Three stars because you get exactly what you pay for, its not like they are acting like there is an olympic pool and tennis courts out back. The staff that I dealt with (limited interactions) were all very courteous and professional. The place is a motel and will save you some bucks which was fine with me.