Candlewood Suites Athens

What People are saying

Good for what it is -- kind of a boarding house for travelers

TedinTakpkon 30/06/2017 21:09

Compared with other hotels in the Holiday Inn and Hilton chains, this is an average place, but I'll give it a "very good" compared with other Candlewoods -- Holiday Inn's "value" brand.

Here are the strengths (don't worry, warts to follow):

-- After passing on a ground floor double -- way too small for us and all our stuff -- we settled in a third-floor king suite that is enormous and comfortable, with a full kitchen far and away better than those at Homewoods and Staybridges. It's fully equipped, everything works, there are plenty of pots and pans, knives, folks, bottle openers, large and working kitchen, etc. A pleasant surprise.

-- There are four washer-dryer combos -- all free!

-- The staff is helpful and engaging

-- there's a big fitness room if you need it

-- the luggage carts are large and have hard-rubber tires, making them usable for heavy loads. But there are only two of them.

Now the downside:

-- the place is like a boarding house without the "board" part of room and board. There's no meal service, including no breakfast, and even a banana costs a buck. The coffee, though, is good and free.

-- because it's an extended-stay kind of place, housekeeping is a once-a-week deal. You can empty your own wastebaskets, go get the next roll of toilet paper, and lug your dirty towels down to the desk for replacement.

-- don't expect much of a staff beyond the front desk. I reported crushed dog food (or maybe a sugar cone) ground into the floor of the elevator and out into the third-floor hallway, and it took four hours and a couple of reminders before anyone got around to sweeping things up.

-- and there is no porte cochere, so if you arrive on a "rainy night in Georgia" -- and many are -- prepare to unload in the open. Unlike similar situations at many Homewoods and Staybridges and other Candlewoods, however, one is able to drive close enough to the door to get at least a modicum of an overhang under which to unload much -- though not all, of one's stuff.

-- finally, don't be fooled by the hotel's "Athens" address. It may have an Athens zip code, but it's a good 10 miles out of town on the OLD "Atlanta Highway," which in our time here has been busy every time we've ventured out.

Summarizing, if you check in with your eyes open, enjoying the "value" part of the deal (it is 50 bucks a night cheaper than most other brands), this Candlewood deserves its "very good" rating.

Good price, WONDERFUL staff!

Shannon Eon 22/06/2017 05:55

I was the chaperone of a group of high schoolers in town for a conference this past week. I chose this hotel since it had a small kitchen in case the kids were hungry. The hotel is located about 15 minutes outside of town and wasn't a bad drive. Paying for parking each day was a bit of a hassle though.

The room was non-smoking but did smell like cigarettes when we arrived. The space was good and otherwise comfortable.

The staff was phenonmenal. They were all helpful and friendly, patient and kind. I would stay at this location again because I had such a wonderful experience with the staff. Thanks for a nice stay!

Home away from home only FRIENDLIER!

506kandersonon 28/04/2017 04:04

Travel for our job is a weekly thing, we have been to a LOT of hotels because we move around location to location. Candlewood Inn (so far) is the NICEST place we have stayed!

We travel with our dogs and they had a nice CLEAN place to walk, dodo bags were provided for us to clean up after them.

The room itself was so modern, clean, quiet, and just comfortable upon arrival and through our stay!

The refrigerator is full size, not a little dorm model and the microwave is very modern and clean. There was no oven but there are 2 burners---which is no big deal because you can borrow appliances at the front desk as needed---which is VERY nice! There are also DVD's to borrow and a lending library in the lobby. We love the pantry as well.

The laundryroom was clean----no dust no lint no dryer sheets all over! and no charge!! This was very nice as we do our laundry on the road and it gets very expensive.

on a scale of 1-10 I give Candlewood Inn a 20~

Lack of breakfast availability is a deal breaker.

ThomasGordonon 12/04/2017 14:50

Stopped here for an event at U Georgia for our daughter.

The property is nice, very clean and bedding quite comfortable. Room small.
Smiling accommodating staff.
There is no breakfast available, no continental breakfast offering to get guests on the road, nothing.
There is a pantry like store if one wishes to prepare something frozen . Very little selection .
When traveling, getting on the road in the morning is hindered by need to go out and hunt down a restaurant, traffic etc.
We had to drive about 5 miles to a suitable breakfast restaurant.
They had on line email for comments. I wrote that the lack of breakfast was an issue. They answered , bringing up their kitchen in the room : (Two burner stove, frig and micro. )
Not sure how many guests are looking forward to going to a grocery store , buying food and cooking there ?
Just doesn't work for our family.
For $186.00, small queen room, no breakfast, no value...a hassle.

Two night stay

LaurieannLon 04/04/2017 20:35

Was bumped from my original hotel because of nine billion conferences going on in Athens the same week. I was promised I'd have a king suite, and it was ten dollars or so cheaper--but the main thing, I needed a room!

I was pleasantly surprised. HUGE room-full sized fridge, cooktop and everything you'd need. They have a check out locker for cooking tools, games, etc in the lobby. I was at a conference, so I spent very little time there.

Bed was very comfortable; bathroom was clean (a MUST)-no outside noise. Bed was comfortable and clean; large flat screen tv. Free wifi.

There were several HS groups there for a competition--teenagers, apparently, who have never lived in an apartment and were clueless that people were under them. The first night, they were LOUD-banging on the floor. I finally was tired and was falling asleep (around 1:30 am) and they began banging--I debated calling downstairs or going up to them, but didn't feel like moving LOL I was tired enough and fell asleep.

Thankfully, the next night they were quiet.

My stay was comfortable and convenient. I would stay there again.