Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Knoxville at Cedar Bluff, TN

We arrived at 6 p.m. after driving all the way from New York and found a bad smell in the room, so we had to open the windows. The towels had holes, the toilet paper had been used, the mini-fridge wasn’t cooling, and the sheets smelled strongly of animals. We were exhausted and only needed a few hours of sleep before continuing our trip, so we left at 3:30 a.m. That was enough for us. I hope others don’t have to go through the same unpleasant experience.

The room was quite nice and very clean, and the hotel was quiet and pet friendly. I’d been concerned about cleanliness after reading a lot of the reviews. The decor is a little dated, though I understand a new company may be taking over soon, so I’m guessing the rooms could be upgraded. Staff were friendly and greeted us whatever the time; they were happy to bring anything we needed. The complimentary breakfast was okay, with a decent selection.

The breakfast was good, and the staff were nice. The bathroom and beds were clean, but the carpet and drapes could use a deep clean or replacement. Our door tended to stick and was hard to open. The pool was open, though we didn’t use it.

The room was clean and the beds were pretty comfortable, though there were a few small carpet stains in the room. The place could use an update: the hallway carpet looks old, and the walls need some paint.