Brookstone Lodge & Suites

The rooms were okay and quiet, parking was good, and the cleaning staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast was adequate. The coffee was weak at first, but a worker quickly made a stronger pot when I mentioned it.

The location works well for me, and there's plenty of parking for larger vehicles, but the hotel needs changes before I'd consider it a good stop. My heater kept getting too hot, then wouldn't come on for hours until the room was freezing. I was up and down all night trying to manage it. When I reported it, the front desk said some heaters were a little wonky and chuckled. She wasn't sure whether they'd fix them. Heat is a basic need in an Iowa winter or early spring. The hot breakfast was poor quality and cold, so people relied on the microwave. The room smelled bad at first, though opening the window in a stiff breeze cleared it. The carpet needed vacuuming and had bits of stuff on it, and the desk chair looked very dirty, with little black chunks on the seat. The bathroom looked spotless, which was nice, but smelled strongly of urine, and there was no fan to clear odors or steam. The front desk was somewhat professional when I arrived, but not friendly. I was very unhappy with nearly everything else. The one bright spot was that, after my vehicle broke down, the friendly and accommodating staff let me switch my booking night without an extra charge. I really appreciated that.

I slept well and could wake up on my own time since it was quiet in the morning. The room was spotless, modern, comfortable, and had everything I needed. The recliner felt like sitting on a cloud, and the stay was worth every penny. The bed was a bit too firm for my sciatica, and the iHome clock charger was broken, so I couldn't charge my phone. I'll be back.

For the price, I came away with a favorable impression. The rooms were spacious, clean, and quite nice, with decent amenities. Outside noise wasn't an issue, but the in-room heater and mini fridge were loud. Beds were okay, neither especially comfortable nor uncomfortable. Breakfast had a generous selection and was about what you'd expect from a hotel. Water pressure was low and the air was very dry.