Hotel Route Inn Sendai Nagamachi Inter

My smoking room was comfortable and well kept, with no noticeable smell. The large public bath had plenty of room, and the water was just the right temperature to ease my tiredness. I also left breakfast feeling very satisfied, there was a wide selection at the buffet. The hotel is just east of a major intersection, right after you get off the highway. There's plenty of parking, and it's free. Thanks, I'll definitely stay here again.

The room was clean, and I liked being able to adjust the lighting. The TV was large, and the cups were a good size too. Getting into the room was a problem at first because the card key I received didn't work. I called the front desk, then waited about 10 minutes for a bellboy to come up the staff stairs and bring another one. If I were waiting for a guest, I would've preferred he take the elevator. There was a constant faint swaying. I couldn't tell if it was from the building or all the traffic on the national highway nearby. The same background music playing throughout the building also got annoying. It felt like being brainwashed. Breakfast was split into three time slots to reduce congestion, which sounded reassuring, but it was incredibly crowded. My slot was 6:30, and a group, a little league baseball team, had already been let in, so breakfast was busy before my turn. I guess they had a game. Can't be helped, but if I'd known how packed it would be, I would've chosen a later slot. Front desk staff, please let guests know when you can predict a rush. Nobody collected the breakfast tickets, they just went into a box, so I wondered if the time limits were useful at all. The bath area was about what you'd expect, and a little lukewarm. Since it's small, if it takes a while to warm up, that probably slows down turnover. The men's changing room was the worst part: depending on when the entrance door opens and closes, people outside can see the whole room. What were the designers thinking?

I hadn't stayed here in a while, and I was surprised by how small the communal bath felt. The route to breakfast was a little awkward too, and I nearly bumped into people. Still, those things weren't a big deal. I'm really fond of Route Inns because they're so comfortable! (^^) That's what I said in my review of Route Inn Sendai Higashi.

The free breakfast was a nice extra, though the choices were limited. For something included, I thought it was reasonable. I also found the parking tricky: there are three lots, but the first one at the hotel was full by 5 PM. After driving to a convenience store at night, I came back to find it still full and used the second lot. If you're driving, the location is convenient, just off Nagamachi Interchange. But the nearest station isn't walkable, and restaurants outside the hotel are quite a walk away. I wanted to take the train into Sendai Station for beef tongue and beer, and enjoy the nightlife, but that didn't work out. The facilities felt pretty old, and the air from the AC smelled a little musty. The bath was what I'd looked forward to most, but it was small, with only five washing stations and room for about four bathers at most. I expected a sauna and open-air bath, and instead it felt like a student dorm bath. I regret getting my hopes up. A slightly bigger bathroom would've made the stay feel much better.