Candlewood Suites Atlanta Smyrna by IHG

There was a silent auction with iconic photos going on, which I thought was cool. It wasn't connected to the hotel, and it was nice of the manager to allow it. Check-in was quick and convenient, and I got a good last-minute deal. I didn't spend much time in the room, but the staff were polite and the facilities were clean and nice. There are lots of amenities, and the location is handy for local shops and places to eat. I'd definitely stay again and recommend it.

Allen was absolutely phenomenal. If this review were only about him, five stars wouldn't be enough. My frustration is with the pet policy: the hotel advertises itself as pet-friendly, but it means dogs only and doesn't allow cats. I understand a hotel may choose not to take cats, and that's a valid policy. I always check online before booking to make sure it doesn't say dogs only. But there's no mention of cats being excluded in the online booking policies or the pet policy I had to sign. I only learned this when I arrived to check in after 24 hours of overseas travel. It doesn't seem to be an official policy or listed anywhere.

The room had some good points: it was quiet, the bed was comfortable, the shower pressure was good, and the AC worked. It was also better than a Holiday Inn in some ways, with a full-size refrigerator and cooktop, though I've had a better traveler experience at Holiday Inns. There were some annoyances. Broken Blue Moon bottles sat on a luggage dolly by the entrance with a stale beer smell. There's no complimentary breakfast. Room 309's door lock didn't work, though room 306 had a working lock. The Wi-Fi code they gave me was wrong, and only one of the two elevators was running.

The front desk clerk made us feel welcome, and the place was clean with a pleasant, homey feel for a hotel. I especially liked the outdoor dog area and the tables. Loved our stay and will definitely come back.