Residence Inn by Marriott Winston-Salem University Area

I stayed for a week and the staff were good and very helpful. The rooms have ovens, which not every Residence Inn has, along with a full-size refrigerator, stovetop, and decent knives. Most Residence Inns only have a stovetop. UPDATE: I'm back five years later, and it's still a great hotel. The rooms have been updated with a more modern look, and breakfast has improved a lot. Theresa, who works the morning breakfast buffet, is the sweetest lady in the world. She's always smiling and ready to help. I'll post another update next time I return.

It was a quiet, lovely stay. The hotel sits back from the road, so it felt peaceful, and the room was very nice. Cleaning wasn't thorough, though. There was hair in the shower and garbage in the room corners, and the trash cans outside our room were overflowing. I don't know whether that was due to Covid-19 staffing issues or if it's usually like that.

The rooms looked really nice inside, and everyone I met was kind. It was hard to spot the hotel from the road, though, and there were a lot of stairs. I put up a do not disturb sign, but housekeeping came by twice anyway. I get that they were just doing their jobs.

We’ve stayed here for years, and it works especially well for families with older kids: there are three separate sleeping areas and two bathrooms. The hot breakfast is free and changes from day to day, and there’s a sports court. It’s also easy to get to the main roads. It feels like home, though the room starts out clean, so you’ll have to make your own kitchen mess if you want that lived-in look.