Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Big Flats (Elmira), NY

The room was a decent size and looked recently updated, but a lot of things during my stay needed attention. The tub drain was broken, the shower curtain’s metal casing was coming off the wall, and the sink drained poorly. The TV service was out one day, and the front desk didn’t seem concerned. The room phone didn’t work either, so I had to look up the hotel’s number and call from my cell. In three nights, I only saw anyone at the desk when I checked in and out. The parking lot had no working lights, wasn’t plowed until nearly 1:30pm, and the road into the hotel never seemed to get cleared. Breakfast was subpar with very few choices. If the hotel asks guests how their stay was, it should be ready to hear honest feedback.

Bobby Joe was the bright spot at breakfast. She was warm and attentive, kept things refilled, and cleared tables without waiting for someone to ask. The meal itself was less impressive: the dining area felt cramped at peak times, and the layout could be better organized. There was only one staff member handling breakfast over the very busy 4th of July weekend. Although breakfast runs until 10:30 on weekends, the scrambled eggs were gone by 09:30 on both mornings I was there. If you want freshly cooked food, go early, or you may be left with processed sugary options. The room’s air conditioning was quiet and effective during a particularly hot week, the shower was modern and easy to use with great pressure, and the staff were pretty friendly. Overall, I had a comfortable stay, with breakfast as the main area needing improvement.

It was so dark around the hotel that we missed the entrance and had to use a flashlight in the parking lot. The room could use a better layout and furniture arrangement, and there weren’t enough shelves for setting things out. There’s no kitchen, so the only faucet is outside the bathroom.

The pool room was warm, but the water itself was cold. At breakfast, we could’ve used more kid-friendly choices, like bananas or pancakes. Aside from those things, we had a great stay. The beds were comfortable, the shower had wonderful water pressure, and the property was lovely overall, though the outside could use a good cleanup.