Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham Raleigh

Breakfast was tasty and well stocked, and the woman setting it out was really friendly. The room itself was nice, though warm and a bit odd smelling when we arrived. Once we lowered the thermostat and cooled it down, the smell went away. One downside, the bulb in the public restroom was out, so I had to use my phone light to take care of business. Still, a good stay.

The free breakfast was enjoyable, and having a little kitchenette in the room was handy. I wouldn’t use the bowls or utensils, though, since they were dirty. The bathroom was dated but had the basics, and the sheets had stains. When we mentioned those, staff said it wasn’t their room to clean and told us to call the front desk, so we tucked in the top sheet and slept on top of it. Front desk service was only okay: they weren’t friendly, but they were available when our key stopped working.

The kitchen area was a highlight, with a large refrigerator, microwave, and stovetop burners you could use. There’s no oven. We stayed 3 nights and didn’t get maid service once. My roommate had to ask the front desk for clean towels each day, and staff said they don’t clean on weekends. I didn’t find that convincing. At checkout, they tried to charge us extra, saying we’d received a larger room than requested. We hadn’t, and we didn’t get the room we had reserved.

The breakfast was a pleasant surprise: bacon, eggs, yogurt, fruit, and a bunch of good additions beyond the usual waffle and juice. The room was clean and a great deal, with a full-size fridge, microwave, dishwasher, and two burners. It showed some age, but I liked the hardwood-style floor instead of carpet. I stayed one night while my house was being remodeled and slept quietly, without hearing the nearby road. The hotel is hard to spot from the street, and I’ve lived here 20 years without knowing it was there. Next time I need to be out of the house, it’ll be my first choice.