Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Pella, IA

The breakfast was probably the best hotel breakfast we’ve had, and the staff were accommodating and nice. The hair dryer was high-end, too. Still, we expected much nicer rooms for the premium price. You can hear the floors creak, people in the hallway, and water when someone turns on the bathtub shower. Those seem like construction issues, though voices don’t carry. The TV is Dish, so we didn’t have anything to watch.

The second room worked out fine, though it looked a little worn, with chipped paint and some bulbs that needed replacing. We asked to switch because our assigned room had an unlocked door and the bathroom light was already on. The woman at the desk seemed clearly annoyed by the request.

Breakfast was a pleasant surprise, with a mix of hot and cold choices, and the room was clean and nice. The problem was the woman at the front desk. When we arrived, she stayed in the side office and ignored us until someone else asked whether we’d been helped. She came out to check us in looking unhappy about it and made sure we could tell. She was working the next morning too and treated us just as unpleasantly at checkout.

It’s an older place and not perfect, but nothing struck me as worth nitpicking. It was clean and comfortable, the staff were friendly, and we liked the breakfast choices. After being on our feet all day, using the pool and hot tub was a nice way to unwind. I’d stay here again if I’m nearby.