Candlewood Suites Bethlehem South by IHG

This felt like a stay where management and staff were calling it in. Maybe the holidays played a part, but I wasn’t happy with the experience. The elevator and nearby area were quite dirty and needed more frequent or more careful cleaning. My room wasn’t cleaned well either: there were toe clippings on the carpet by the bed, a lot of dust on top of the refrigerator, and brown marks on the tub that looked permanent and were gross. The small things were missed too. There was no sugar for coffee, no fruit out the next morning until I asked, and no towels in the gym that morning, so I had to interrupt my workout to request some. It’s a budget hotel, and the price sets that expectation, but these basics should be easy to get right. My experience didn’t live up to the reviews.

The beds were extremely comfortable, and those pillows, wow. I slept like a baby and would love to know where to buy them! I was traveling with a large group, around eight rooms, and the staff went out of their way to help with all our needs. Everyone was so kind and friendly, and customer service was outstanding. The rooms were clean, fresh, and roomy. Extra thanks to the head of housekeeping and the GM for taking such good care of our group.

The staff were amazing, from the GM to the head of housekeeping. They represent the kind of people Bethlehem produces and wants, and deserve every bit of recognition they get. Thanks for a wonderful stay.

The night shift woman, whose name I think started with M, was wonderful. She was welcoming, friendly, and fun to talk with. I wish the rest of the staff were more like her. We also got attitude whenever we asked for fresh towels. We loved the suite’s space and storage, and the woman who booked our room over the phone was great. I was able to upgrade using my status points. We were displaced by a fire at home and had stayed at a CW elsewhere for months for work, so I know these hotels aren’t five-star or new. Still, our cupboard had an old, nasty, hard bagel, the furniture looked like it had white-out all over it, and the table was scratched. We booked and paid ourselves, so I didn’t want to commit for a long stretch when I didn’t know what would happen, though we stayed at least a week and a half. Then we were told we had to leave for one night because a large party was coming in. My adjuster and I tried numerous times to confirm, since they’d be losing several weeks of guaranteed business. We were told the manager would call, but she never did. How unprofessional. We left and went somewhere else, then heard there had been cancellations because of the snowstorm. This experience was less than desirable.