Econo Lodge Kannapolis - Concord

After another stay, this is my go-to hotel in the Cloverleaf area. It’s very clean, and not having to worry about bugs is a big plus for me. It was a nice surprise to find they serve breakfast now, since they didn’t before. I had a delicious waffle this morning. The hotel is also really easy to communicate with.

For 51 bucks, I got what I expected. Clean room, small breakfast bar, no problems. Nothing fancy.

We booked two rooms for three nights, eight weeks ahead, for a car event in Charlotte, with a request for king beds and accessible rooms in both. Instead, we were told there were no accessible rooms and only one king room, on the second floor. The other couple got a first-floor room with two queens that wasn’t accessible; we got the second-floor King "Suite." That room was dusty and smelled musty and smoky. The sofa was torn and filthy, and the bed cover didn’t look clean. The door didn’t seal properly, so smoke from someone outside our room came in strongly. We could also hear an infant crying and an adult man yelling. We asked to move, not to judge anyone, but because this wasn’t the stay we wanted. The first-floor room we were moved to was supposed to be non-smoking, but it reeked too. Its bed cover had burn holes, the toilet seat was broken, and there was only a harsh wall light between the beds. The chair was a worn-out rolling desk chair, and the room wasn’t much better. We only needed a clean place to shower and sleep since we’d be at our event all day. Even that basic need wasn’t met. We stayed one night and moved to another hotel. I wouldn’t trust reviews above two stars, as I suspect they may be fake or from people who never saw the rooms. Most room photos aren’t current, and the renovation attempt looks unsuccessful. The only real plus is the location, convenient to the Interstate and Charlotte Motor Speedway, though there’s lots of foot traffic around the building and parking lot. The front desk clerk was kind and seemed to want to help, and we worked through language barriers, but he didn’t seem to have the knowledge or resources to address our concerns. Coffee in the lobby wasn’t available all day as advertised. At 7 a.m., breakfast offered a waffle maker, apples, white bread for toast, corn muffins, and maybe yogurt. I saw Fruit Loops, but another guest was told there was no milk. The coffee was barely lukewarm, and the powdered creamer wouldn’t dissolve, so I had to heat it in the tiny microwave. We had low expectations, but the hotel failed even our basics.

The staff at Econo Lodge in Kannapolis were friendly, professional, and ready to help whenever I needed something. They made me feel welcome throughout the stay. My room was comfortable, clean, and well kept, so I found the visit relaxing. I’d recommend the place to anyone visiting the area.