MainStay Suites Cedar Rapids

Amanda was a big help and suggested places to explore nearby. The room was lovely, comfortable, and really clean. The fridge was so cold it froze my water, lol! Those two one-star reviews I saw must have been for somewhere else. I love this place, and with my new Choices App, I plan to use it all the time.

I chose this place for the kitchenette so I could avoid eating out all weekend. I slept in and cooked for myself, so I can't comment on the included breakfast. The stay was perfectly fine, and I'd recommend it or come back. It was clean and comfortable, a little shabby around the edges, with no major complaints. One stove burner didn't work, which was inconvenient but not a big deal. I wish there'd been a list of kitchen supplies, so here's what was in the single queen room: two dinner plates, two smaller plates, two bowls, two juice glasses, two mismatched tall glasses, two mugs, two forks, two spoons, a butter knife, a steak knife, a paring knife, a can opener with built-in bottle opener, a spatula, a cooking spoon, a 1/2 tsp measuring spoon, a dry 1/2 cup measure, a 2 cup liquid measure, a colander, a small saucepan, a skillet, a small cutting board, a pitcher, a toaster, and a 1 cup coffee maker that takes teabag-style pods, not K-cups. There was also a sponge, dish towel, hot pad, mini bottle of dish soap, and a single-use packet of dishwasher powder. No basic salt, pepper, cooking spray, or other edible basics. A fridge magnet said other things you'd use at home could be borrowed from the front desk, but I never checked what they had. Some loud, probably drunk guys made a racket outside late Saturday night, though that's not really the hotel's fault. Nothing exceptional or above and beyond, just a serviceable stay.

The key card wouldn't work, and I noticed other people going to the front desk with the same issue. I lay down on the couch because something felt off, then fell asleep and woke up with BUG BITES ALL OVER MY NECK, plus bites on my legs and ankles. I was so disgusted that I had to sleep in my car, which cost $125. Someone had also lit a cigarette in the lobby, so the clientele was great, apparently. While I was in my car, I saw people soliciting for service. How do I know? If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Our TV didn't work, so we had no TV on the first night. The front desk person worked really hard to get it going, and the next morning the owner came and ended up putting another TV in the room. The staff are great, though the rooms are just okay.