Candlewood Suites Baltimore - Inner Harbor by IHG

There are shops and a food court around the corner, and the Hippodrome was about a ten-minute walk away, which worked well for our play. The rooms were clean, the beds comfortable, the amenities good, and the building seemed well maintained, with some recent renovations. But it was extremely noisy late at night, and the whole place, along with Baltimore, smelled like weed. There’s no on-site parking, though a few garages are a couple of blocks away. It’s decent value for a quick one- or two-night weekend trip, but the area can feel sketchy at night, so be careful.

Kadrik at the front desk made a rushed check-in before my conference smooth and stress-free. He was kind, quick, and made sure I had what I needed without me having to ask. It felt like he cared about making things easier, which made a real difference on a tight schedule. The rest of the staff were also welcoming and helpful throughout my stay, and the team seems to work well together. I really appreciated the experience, and it left a lasting impression.

The neighborhood is down, but the hotel is up. It’s simple, straightforward, and well kept. My room was basically an efficiency, with a full kitchen and full-size fridge. The on-staff manager was kind and attentive, and I enjoyed the solid gym and cafe area. This place was a real diamond in the rough during my visit. The area isn’t outright unsafe, but after sundown you should know exactly where you’re going and how to get there and back.

For nearly $600 for two nights, we got a room that smelled bad throughout, a noisy refrigerator, a dirty tub I wiped down myself, and a bathroom door that never shut properly. There was no shower curtain at first, and when someone brought one up, he had nothing to say about the door. The coffee packet and counter were greasy and wet, one of the two forks had old food on it, and there wasn't a sponge in the kitchenette. I asked for one and got a dish towel. The pillows for the pullout bed were stuffed into dirty drawers. Even the stairwell smelled of old urine, though the elevator itself was fine. Everything felt worn out. Street noise woke us several times, although the location was handy for walking to the convention center. There was no parking at all. I complained to the hotel and told them they shouldn't display the IHG "Clean promise" decal in the lobby. At check-in, they said they were fully booked, so another room wasn't possible. I also contacted IHG. They first offered 10K points, then another 10K, but never gave me either. After I asked them to escalate, they emailed to say the hotel claimed I hadn't complained and would have been offered another room. I did complain, and another room wasn't available. IHG took the hotel's account over that of a loyal customer who'd never complained about any of their hotels. They also said the property wasn't their hotel and told me to contact the hotel directly or dispute the charge with my credit card. I emailed the hotel and got no response. I canceled a future reservation right away and told IHG, but heard nothing back. An update about their response: it's nonsense. I've called twice and nobody has called me back. They're just trying to look like they care. Avoid this hotel. I'll avoid IHG hotels if I can.