OverviewLocated a 1-minute drive from the nearest Highway 280 on-ramp and about a 17-minute drive from Birmingham's city centre, the Candlewood Suites Birmingham is suitable for travellers who require short or long-term accommodations with extended kitchen amenities, a fitness centre and easy highway access.
This hotel has 97 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a full kitchen (with a dishwasher), a DVD player, a desk, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Rooms with a separate bedroom and a living room with a sofabed are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Please note housekeeping is only offered once per week. Hotel amenities include a fitness centre, a convenience store, guest laundry facilities, a business centre and free parking. Pets are permitted for an additional $15 per pet for the first night, and $10 for subsequent nights, not to exceed $150.
Walmart Supercenter is located about a 6-minute drive from the hotel, while Birmingham Jefferson County Convention Center is roughly 20 minutes away by car. Birmingham Zoo is a 15-minute drive away and Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is a 25-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets $15/night & $10/subsequent nights, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: August 30, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's rooms, staff, value and location.
Numerous reviewers were pleased with their lodgings at the hotel. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, well equipped, tastefully decorated and quiet, with large, comfortable beds and good Wi-Fi signals. A few guests had complaints about their rooms, however (see below).
The hotel's staff were the source of many compliments by guests, who characterized them as efficient, helpful, friendly and accommodating. One patron remarked, "The staff seemed genuinely happy to be there and were all so kind. Anything extra that you needed you could get easily at the front desk".
Several lodgers praised the hotel's value. They described the room rates as reasonable, great and affordable, and cited the extended kitchen amenities as adding to the hotel's overall value.
The hotel's location was enjoyed by several reviewers, who described it as safe and easily accessible, as well as close to the highway, restaurants, shopping and grocery stores. A few guests did mention heavy traffic on Highway 280 on their way to the hotel, however.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few complaints about noise transfer and the rooms.
A few reviewers complained of noise disturbances during their stay. They reported noise from guests in adjacent rooms, rooms overhead and the hallways.
While the majority of reviewers were pleased with their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few guests had complaints. They reported cigarette odours in non-smoking rooms, low water pressure and musty odours.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.3 out of 5 with a 94% recommendation rate from 126 reviews.
Hotels.com guest reviews rated the hotel 4.3 out of 5 from 76 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #21 of 81 Birmingham hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 59 reviews.
The author called the hotel on August 30, 2013 to verify some information.
