Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Willmar, MN

Having a comfortable place to return to after each hard day made a real difference while I was in MN with my dying grandmother. I also appreciated having a good breakfast to look forward to. The room was clean with a comfy bed, and the staff were kind and respectful. There were no issues during my stay, which felt like a lot compared with five-star resorts with worse rooms and unkind staff, or budget hotels with dirty rooms and broken amenities. The price was affordable, and there was a free continental breakfast. Shops and restaurants were an easy walk away, along pleasant paths through a quiet town with flowering trees. My room had a jacuzzi, and the hotel had an indoor hot tub, pool, and giant waterslide. I've stayed in a lot of hotels over 40 years, and didn't expect this one to be my favorite. My only personal regret is that I never got to ride the waterslide. It looked like fun, but I was busy when it was running, and that's not the hotel's fault. As a grown man, it's a funny thing to regret!

The staff, across shifts and roles, are some of the nicest, most welcoming people you'll meet. The rooms are clean, breakfast was great, and there's a great indoor pool with a big twisty slide.

The pool was packed with people who weren't staying at the hotel, so guests couldn't swim. The water was so cold my kids' lips turned blue. In our double queen room there were only three pillows, and when we asked for more, the front desk said they had none. Breakfast was bare necessities, and we had to beg for bread. The hallway carpet was wet, there was no elevator, and it stayed loud until midnight. It was horrible. We won't be back.

This was a safe, clean place with friendly staff, a nice hot breakfast, and coffee available all day. I asked for the room to be cleaned on day four of a stay longer than a week. They clean every third day on longer stays if requested, and the room didn't get done until day five. That's why I rated service four out of five. Otherwise, a great place.