Staybridge Suites Merrillville by IHG

Sabrinna, the café hostess, was a delight to talk with: personable, knowledgeable, and a real pleasure. Aaliyssa, who was running the front desk the morning I checked out, was just as warm and friendly. The hotel was filling up again, so there were no late checkout slots, and I can see why. My room was immaculate, cozy, and a little swanky. The staff were attentive and clearly enjoy helping guests. I highly recommend this location, from the easy check-in and comfortable room to the great breakfast spread and warm send-off. They’re also supposed to refurbish the whole property this coming year, as part of a 10-year update. The IHG family is lucky to have these staff members.

The room was clean and newly remodeled, so it didn’t feel like it had twenty years of wear. The building is still being renovated. Suites are large, with a real kitchen that has a stovetop and full refrigerator, though no oven. The workout room was much better equipped than I expected. There’s no pool, which I actually like on a business trip since it means fewer kids stomping and yelling in the halls at 9-10pm. The desk staff were friendly and responsive. Rich was working the evening we checked in and was especially warm and helpful. The location is fine, though not great. I initially thought it was a well-managed, comfortable stay, but I’m lowering my rating because there was a lot of pot smoking. People smoked in rooms, in the halls, and in cars in the parking lot. It involved four or five different groups, not just one. Some people might not mind that, but it made the place feel uncomfortable and not somewhere I could rest. It’s a shame, because the staff were great and the room was nice. I’m not sure we’ll return.

The clean, odor-free rooms and the well-maintained breakfast bar and dining area made for one of the most welcoming stays I’ve had.

The location is great, with restaurants and shopping nearby, and the staff are friendly. We stayed four nights, didn’t have noise issues, and the parking lot was never full. The room was clean, though there was a little mold damage in the bathroom near the tub, the TV screen looked damaged, and the lamp charging ports by the bed were so loose that my charger kept falling out. It’s a nice Staybridge location, but could use a few small updates.