Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Northfield, MN

I usually have good experiences at Country Inn and Suites, but this hotel didn’t live up to the name. Though the place was nearly empty, they put me on the ground floor facing the railroad tracks, about 30 yards away. I counted six train passings during my stay, late at night and early in the morning. The bathroom smelled strongly of sewer, so I had to keep the door shut, and there were cobwebs throughout the room. I’ll drive farther to stay somewhere else next time.

We arrived at night with a big group, and no one had told the event organizers that the hotel had no elevator. The person in charge didn’t want to help, so we had to organize a team to carry 19 big, heavy bags upstairs. There weren’t any bottles of water in the room. I wouldn’t stay there again.

Friendly service, and I liked having coffee available in the lobby. The room was clean enough and the bed was comfortable, though an extra pillow would’ve been nice. Breakfast was mixed: not much luck with the potatoes, but the eggs, sausage, and yogurt with strawberry compote were very good. At least there was a nice variety. The pool area was disappointing, with an overheated room and a hot tub that wasn’t warm enough.

All four rooms we booked for graduation were clean, and the staff were friendly. The location felt nice and safe, with Taco Bell and Caribou Coffee close enough to walk to. There’s no elevator. We chose to drive to Ole Store Restaurant for breakfast, and it was worth the quick trip. Train tracks are nearby, and a few trains came through before 5 am. We could get back to sleep easily, but a light sleeper might find that a deal breaker.