I had to stay in the area for 2 weeks and after researching locations, price and reviews, I chose this Candlewood Suites and I'm happy I did. Some of the reviews I read raised some questions about the upkeep and condition of the hotel so I'll try to be as fair as I can.

I paid $55/night so it isn't cheap but they do give you everything they say. I was greeted at the front desk by a knowledgeable and friendly staff member who was helpful with all my questions. The property has 2 entrances (front & back) with an elevator about midway midway between the two. There are 2 luggage carts available on the first floor. Entry through the back door requires your room key. I was happy to see that smokers are asked (and there were no problems)to stay at least 15 feet away from the door entry. The door otherwise stays closed for security. This is NOT to say that smokers are shunned away because the hotel caters to smokers. In fact, there is a comfortable bench and ashtray outside provided for smokers.

The part about the reviews which scared me was some reviewers reported the smell of smoke like it was a huge problem. Although there may be an occasional smoke odor in the hall or stairway, this hotel must have a very good ventilation air exchange system because it dissipates quickly. The good news was that I never detected the odor of smoke in the room at any time and I am sensitive to it. In fact, I found the room fresh and clean. It would be a good time to note that you get your room serviced once/per week here. I thought the cleaning crew did an excellent job in cleaning, replenishing and freshening the room without using harsh chemicals to mask odor. They clean how you would in your own home; dust, vacuum, scrub, etc.

In the room, you'll find thermostat controlled AC, queen bed (very comfi), table, bedside table with drawer, TV (30 inch tude) sitting on top of 3 drawer chest of drawers, roomy closet with wooden hangers (12), iron/ironboard, extra pillow& blanket, kitchenette, partitioned bathroom with a couple of drawers for toiletries, toilet, bathtub with shower, sink. Connectivity includes 2 phones, LAN, wireless at no extra charge. Contrary to some reviews, I found the wireless signal and speed to be more than adequate and very reliable.

The kitchenette is small but they make good use of space. There are 2 electric burners, 4 cup coffee maker (#8 Mr. Coffee filters), toaster, microwave, sink, small dishwasher, full size refrigerator, basic utensils (2 forks, 2 butter knives, 2 spoons, 2 steak knives, large spoon and fork for food preparation, small & medium saute pans w/covers, tall pot for making pasta or boiling potatoes, etc., and a 12 inch skillet. There was some Pyrex to store food (small,medium,large), past strainer, 2 standard plates, 2 saucers, 2 coffee cups, 2 large glasses, 2 small glasses, 2 "to-go" Styrofoam cups, salt/pepper/sugar/sweetener, extra cabinet space for storage.

The room could be bigger so but everything is situated so you do not feel cramped. Although the room would work for 2 people, you might find the space a bit cramped depending on how you share space.

The hotel has a laundry facility with 6 dryers and 5 washers which all worked when I arrived but one broke down before leaving. I found access to the facility to be very easy. The room where they are located is also home for a small store with some refrigerated sinks and basic stuff, all seemed to be priced very fairly. There is also an air conditioned small gym with some basic apparatus for workouts. They also have an updated treadmill and stair stepper but the stair stepper was out of order while I was there. This room would normally "feel" cramped but they have mirrors for walls which fool your mind into thinking you are in a larger room. This combined with a nice 40 inch flat screen TV w/remote combined for a pleasant environment to get a workout in on a pinch.

Finally, the overall condition of the property both outdoors and indoors is well kept. Other than what I already noted, EVERYTHING worked fine. The staff is helpful. There was no problem parking. I was able to park next to my room every night. The hotel is conveniently located near I-25 for North/South. If you only need a room for one night, this may not be the location for you. However if you need an extended stay, I would recommend this location.