Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Ames, IA

Our room smelled like dirty socks. We were in town for a football game and everything was booked, so we didn’t bother asking to switch rooms. The staff were really friendly and accommodating. If that smell isn’t typical of every room, it seems like a fine place to stay, pretty much what you’d expect from a lower-tier Marriott Courtyard. They’re never the best, but it’s okay. I’ll probably look at the newer Springhill Suites down the street next time I’m in Ames. Fifty thousand points for two nights seems a little steep here.

It was clean and handy for business in Ames, but several little things felt off. My 6:45 a.m. wake-up call came at 5:50, and the front desk attendant didn’t seem to know what was going on. The beds were oddly tall, leaving the nightstands too low, and it was strange not to have clocks in the room. There was also a vague old-person smell. Nothing terrible enough for a really bad review, just a lot of small oddities.

The staff were super friendly and seemed to be doing what they could, but so much of the property was out of service. The treadmill was completely broken, the elliptical worked but was stuck at incline one, and there was no AC in the fitness room. The pool and hot tub next door were closed, as was the first-floor ice machine. The hotel itself was clean. Ownership needs to put money into maintenance.

The Fairfield was clean and a bit better than a budget hotel, but I expected more for the higher price. Marriott Bonvoy has made its hotels feel like a quality step up in my experience, with nice smells, clean rooms, and plenty of space. My first Marriott had that whole package but nickel-and-dimed guests, like charging for parking at the Courtyard in Springfield, MO. Then I had a great stay at Spring Hill Suites. Here, everything except the dining area, which felt at least tier two, seemed like a standard budget hotel. Maybe this is Marriott’s economical option, and I can live with that, but it could smell fresher and the bathroom fixtures should all work. The AC was broken and kept cooling no matter what I set it to. I think I woke up to temperatures in the 40s. Still, the fridge and microwave were clean, the bed was clean and well kept, and there were plenty of outlets. Decent hotel, did the job, but it could’ve been better. Definitely not a five.