Candlewood Suites Mooresville/Lake Norman,NC by IHG

The room was never cleaned, and there was hair all over the bathroom. The service was curt, so I didn’t expect anyone to help. The exit only lets you turn right, even though there’s hardly any chance you’ll need to go right. A horrible stay on every level. I’ll never stay here again.

We ended up here at the last minute because our original booking wouldn’t take dogs. Candlewood suites did, for $50 per pet. The room had been renovated and was really nice, with a full-size fridge, cooktop, and microwave. There was construction around the hotel, which blocked access to some parking along the side and left fewer spots available. The staff were friendly and accommodating, and helped divide our charges between two credit cards.

The room was comfortable and good. We’re now disputing what look like extra charges for our dog, above the amount we were originally quoted. When we asked for the manager at checkout, we were told nobody was there then. I guess we’ll let Amex duke it out with them.

The room and service were fine, but the renovation situation needed a much better heads-up. After an eight-hour drive, I found the elevator terrifying with my kids along. I also hadn’t expected two separate holds on my card. I know hotels can do that, but having $235 tied up while traveling is a real hardship for some people. I called to ask about the holds and the gentleman gave me the information I needed. Still, he didn’t seem to understand how inconvenient it was. I wasn’t expecting him to fix it, but a kind, even slightly apologetic tone would have made ending that call feel different. We stayed at three hotels that weekend, and this is the only one I’ll avoid next time.