Microtel Inn by Wyndham Raleigh Durham Airport

I asked at check-in for the free shuttle to pick me up at 5 am, and it arrived at 5:02. I missed the breakfast that came with the stay, which starts at 5:30, but the room and service made me very happy. I stayed overnight at the Microtel Inn before an early flight from RDU, and the price was excellent. My room felt almost new and was perfectly clean, with fresh linens, a comfortable bed, and a mini-fridge. Light sleepers might notice the airport runway approach nearby. I turned on the AC, and the white noise helped me fall asleep quickly.

Getting to the airport is easy, and that proximity is a real plus for air travelers. The staff were polite, the blackout curtains worked well, the Wi-Fi was fast, and the TV worked. For the price, it's okay, but I'd have given it four stars if the floor had been clean. My white socks got quite dirty on the short walk to the bathroom and back, and picked up a few long black hairs. The AC and heat controls were frustrating. I wanted just the fan, but couldn't turn it on by itself, and the AC was very loud when it kicked in, louder than the planes overhead. Noise doesn't bother me much, but anyone sensitive to it might want somewhere farther from the airport. Breakfast wasn't much: drinks, small muffins, apples, bagels with optional strawberry cream cheese, tiny nonfat yogurts, and a waffle maker. I know most people are happy as long as they get coffee, but that was the selection.

For an overnight visit with people in Raleigh, this was a nice, comfortable, clean place, and the price made the location a little outside the city worthwhile. We booked two rooms through a third-party app for our big group. Both were comfortable and clean, with a nicer atmosphere than most low- to mid-priced hotels I've stayed in. We only spoke with the man at the front desk, and he was very cordial. Breakfast was limited and served in a small area: bagels, muffins, two yogurt flavors, a waffle maker, orange and apple juice, plus butter, jelly, and maple syrup. That's all they had. I'd stay again if we needed to spend the night there.

The staff were friendly, and the hotel has clean rooms with all the essentials. The TV worked well, the AC was good, and there's a shuttle service. It's only about 5-8 minutes from the airport. I'm taking off a star because the complimentary breakfast was limited to waffles, bagels, and yogurt.