Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Jacksonville I-95 South

Breakfast was a letdown. With more than an hour and a half left in service, there was hardly anything to eat, so we went elsewhere. At checkout, the breakfast server was on her phone while empty containers sat there and guests waited. The free cookies at the desk were the same ones throughout our four-day stay. The first impression was nice, and the strong cleaning smell made it seem like the room would be clean. It was clean, but it looked like an older hotel dressed up to seem newer. The tub surround had been painted, while the carpet was still old and grimy.

The bed was comfortable and the front desk staff were honest from the start that renovation work was underway, even though the listings hadn't mentioned it. They offered a refund, but at that late hour it would've been a big inconvenience, so I made do. My grandbaby had just been born, and I wasn't going to spend much time there anyway. The room smelled like urine, and the bathroom could've been cleaned better. I would've liked a hot breakfast, but I understood they weren't up to par while the work was going on. I have faith the place will be great when it's finished, as long as the front desk staff stay.

The friendly staff were the bright spot, but this wasn't one of my better hotel stays. Dust had clearly been left behind, the carpet and general cleanliness need attention ASAP, and we didn't feel comfortable using the shower. The refrigerator had been left unplugged and smelled nasty when we opened it. With so many other hotels in the area, I think they should sort these issues out quickly.

I checked in Monday for a week, and every time I came back to the room that musty, maybe mildew smell was still there. I sprayed the room down every day, but it didn't help. The carpet felt nasty too. The location was good and quiet, and the beds were really comfortable. The shower water didn't get hot until nighttime, which sucked.