Candlewood Suites Bellevue by IHG

The location near the highway and a walmart was the only part that felt worth more than one star. The snack shop had decent prices but not much stock. The hotel calls its housekeeping “light touch,” and for extended stays it only comes once every seven days. For a place that welcomes pets, the lack of cleanliness was especially appalling. My accessible-room reservation went wrong from the start. I was put on the third floor in a room that wasn’t accessible, and no one ever figured out why. Their suggestion was to go next door to another hotel, which wasn’t an option for me. They moved me after the first day. Both rooms had stains, dirt, and dust. In the first, some bulbs and thermostats didn’t work, and cabinets were broken. In the second, lights and curtains were broken too. The heavy metal room doors were hard to open from a wheelchair, though I appreciated the double locks, accessible peephole, and outside doorbell. The kitchenettes were poorly lit, the faucets leaked, and at least the microwave was reasonably clean. The accessible room’s bed was hard to transfer to, though the bed itself was comfortable and mostly clean. I personally liked the low desk height in both rooms. They cleared the snow promptly, but cars often stuck out over the sidewalks, making luggage hard to move. The front desk didn’t seem to care, even though it made things difficult for nondisabled guests too. Some attendants were friendly but dragged out check-in, with each one taking over 30 minutes and leaving a line. Others were openly rude on the phone about guests’ reservations, then talked about those guests to people waiting. I also saw guest information left out in full view.

The place is gorgeous, but on my first night I found no sheets or blankets on the bed, no pillowcases, and no shower curtain. That’s okay, I know how to put those things on. It’s still very nice.

The kitchenette is really nice, and the rooms feel up to date. It’s very animal friendly, with a handy little area to buy extra things. If you’re traveling, check it out. I think it’s well worth the money.

Thomas and the whole staff were warm, helpful, and friendly. We stay at a lot of hotels because of my husband’s work, and this is the best staff anywhere. Definitely a must-stay.