Candlewood Suites North Platte by IHG

Kelli made check-in feel personal. She was kind and thoughtful, asked about the recent natural disaster near our home, offered milk for our toddler at bedtime, and remembered our dog's name. The hotel itself felt safe and was conveniently located, with free WiFi and good value for the price. Our room was quiet, spacious, and very nice, and the clean property looked newly built rather than remodeled. Breakfast was included, with eggs, bacon crumbles, potatoes, cereal, oatmeal, bread, bagels, muffins, pastries, yogurt and toppings, milk, juice, and coffee. We had a very positive stay at Candlewood Suites and would put it high on our list next time we pass through N. Platte.

I was in town for business for a couple of weeks, and the surprise $4.87-per-day “LNK energy fee” came out of my own pocket because my employer has strict reimbursement rules. I couldn't find it on the hotel's website, it wasn't disclosed while booking through IHG, and colleagues at other local hotels didn't have the fee. That's on top of the acknowledged 14.5% in taxes, which is why service gets a low rating from me. The room was good, though the modern Candlewood layout had less floor and desk space than older properties. Traffic noise was fairly low.

The front desk staff were friendly, and I don't blame them. The newer hotel itself is nice, but there may not be enough housekeeping staff to get rooms ready, and I'm unsure whether that's down to management. A week ago, after a long drive, my husband and I arrived to find the room we'd reserved hadn't been cleaned because the cleaning staff had quit. I was lucky to arrive early and get a different room, though it wasn't the suite we'd booked. As the evening went on, at least 15-20 families were turned away despite the website showing rooms available. My husband is traveling through again, so I called to ask about a room. They said none were available even though I could book one online. When I asked if rooms weren't ready because of the housekeeping shortage, the attendant said yes. Travelers should know a booking may not mean they'll get a room.

I keep coming back to the peaceful lobby and breakfast area. The TVs are quiet and show things like the Weather Channel, financial news, ESPN, or Food Network. I'm glad guests aren't greeted by loud political talking heads. If I want that sort of echo chamber, I can pull it up on my room TV or phone. Plenty of people probably don't want to be blasted with one side's commentary, and I hope more hotels realize that. It makes for a calmer arrival and breakfast. The staff have been great. Desk clerks offer informed local suggestions and genuine conversation, while also cleaning the lobby and restocking. The morning attendants cheerfully and efficiently clear tables, replenish the food, and help with requests. This place seems very well run. I've read complaints about cleanliness, but that hasn't been my experience. My kitchenette dishes, refrigerator, and dishwasher were spotless when I arrived. The Lead Housekeeper has stopped me more than once to ask how my room was serviced that day. They seem to take earlier concerns seriously despite the hospitality industry's labor shortages. One housekeeper, who I believe was named Naeli, has been especially attentive and hardworking, and takes pride in her work. As someone who's been on the road for work for more than 20 years, I find this property a refreshing change. It's newly built and combines IHG's Avid brand with the extended-stay Candlewood Suites. The shared setup means breakfast is offered at one of the few Candlewood Suites in the country that has it, and it's quite good. I'm looking forward to staying here again when work brings me back to North Platte.