Candlewood Suites Memphis

I slept well once I managed to get the AC and shades set. The thermostat took several tries, and the room only got comfortable when it was set much higher than the reading suggested: 65 on the control for about 69-70 in the room. The spacious room was fine, the bathroom was clean by typical standards, and there was hot water, though pressure was low on the upper floor. The bed had a newer pad but low-grade Choice linens. The TV was already on when I arrived, which gave me the feeling someone had been watching it and left. It had a digital service package but very few channels, and I eventually gave up trying to make it work. It was a strange stay for a Choice property. I couldn’t tell whether it was a new hotel that had been poorly cared for or an older one renovated badly. I booked online and wasn’t acknowledged as a Choice member at check-in. The elevator looked defaced, and I noticed a shredded US flag when I arrived. Breakfast was typical for this class of Choice, with lower-grade outside products, and hadn’t been restocked by 8:30. I called at 10 a.m. to request a late checkout; it took two attempts to get an answer, and I was allowed only 30 extra minutes. Choice members normally get an hour, and I’ve often been given 1.5 to 2 hours. This property needs better management.

The renovations look beautiful, and the hotel was VERY clean. Shanika was the best, so nice and even offered to help with my laundry. She went above and beyond for us, and we appreciate it. We’ll definitely return.

It looks new and is a nice hotel, but I ran into a few small problems. The shower door wouldn’t shut all the way, so water got on the floor, and the room phone didn’t work. I was on the first floor, where the ice machines and doors closing all morning sounded like loud booms. I checked out with a headache. Staff were okay.

The kind breakfast staff were the one bright spot. We arrived late Friday night. The lobby was clean enough, but the woman at the front desk talked on her phone through the whole check-in. She had no uniform or name tag, so at first I thought she was another guest. The second-floor hallway reeked of cigarette smoke. My first room smelled of men’s cologne, the sheets were haphazardly put on, and both sheets and pillows had tiny hairs all over them. The bathroom hadn’t been cleaned, and the toilet hadn’t even been flushed. I went downstairs and got moved to another room around 1:30 a.m. That one looked cleaner until I saw a silver fish and long strands of hair in the shower. We were too tired to ask to move again, so I used the cleaning supplies I had with me and cleaned it myself.