Baymont by Wyndham Cedar Rapids

The neighborhood had some unusual people wandering around, which made for interesting people-watching, but I didn’t see anything dangerous. The bathroom door looked like it had been kicked in, though that almost added to the place’s character. I stayed ten days, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. Housekeeping removed wet towels and trash each day without me having to ask, and both my room and the shared areas were reasonably clean and put together. The hotel sits just off the highway among about a dozen others. Fast food, a couple of restaurants, and convenience stores are right nearby, and a larger shopping strip is about two miles down the road. There are several walkable breakfast choices too. I skip hotel breakfasts, though they did have one available.

The breakfast was the biggest disappointment. Eggs and sausage sat in crockpots and weren’t appetizing, the bagels and toast were stale, and the cereal was off-brand despite the branded containers. The coffee tasted weak and off, and the juices were like tap water. My room’s cleanliness was decent, around a 7 out of 10, but the key card reader on the door never worked right. The night shift at the front desk, a Black woman and a Middle Eastern man, were consistently rude and made even simple requests feel like a nuisance. It was a disappointing stay, and I wouldn’t recommend the hotel.

The location was convenient, about five minutes from the highway, with plenty of restaurants and gas stations nearby. We had a great stay: the room was clean, breakfast was nice, and the service was excellent.

For the price, I expected more. This is an older building that needs maintenance and updating, yet it costs about the same as a brand new Wyndham hotel elsewhere.