OverviewLocated a 1-minute drive from the nearest Interstate 440 on-ramp in midtown Raleigh, the Residence Inn Raleigh is geared towards business or vacation travellers who require short- or long-term accommodations with a full kitchen, easy highway access and a free breakfast.
This smoke-free hotel has 144 air-conditioned suites, each offering free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a full kitchen, a coffeemaker, a fireplace, a desk, a sitting area with a sofabed, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Suites with a separate bedroom, an extra bathroom and two levels are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms.
The hotel also offers an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness centre, a tennis/volleyball court, a business centre, laundry services, BBQ facilities, grocery shopping services, vending machines, 24-hour coffee in the lobby, free parking and a free breakfast. A complimentary reception Monday through Thursday evenings is also offered, and includes a light dinner, beer, wine and other beverages. Pets are permitted for an additional $75 per pet, per stay.
Raleigh's city centre is roughly a 10-minute drive away, while Costco Raleigh can be found 15 minutes away on foot. North Carolina State University is 10 minutes away by car and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is a 20-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets permitted for $75/pet/stay, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: September 5, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's rooms, breakfast, location and staff.
Many reviewers enjoyed the hotel's accommodations. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, well equipped, quiet, nicely decorated and well maintained, with comfortable beds. It should be noted, however, that a few guests had complaints about their rooms (see below).
The hotel's breakfast was the source of numerous compliments by patrons, who described it as very good, delicious, frequently restocked and well tended, with a great variety of hot and cold items and excellent staff. One lodger remarked, "the free breakfast buffet is light-years ahead of other extended stay and 3-star hotels". A few reviewers did mention the breakfast area was crowded at times, however.
Several guests were pleased with the hotel's location. They found it to be close to restaurants, highway access, shopping, downtown Raleigh, Costco, Trader Joe's and Duke Raleigh Hospital.
The hotel's staff were praised by several lodgers as well. They were characterized as attentive, friendly, accommodating and professional.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms.
Although the majority of lodgers enjoyed their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few guests had complaints about their accommodations. They reported worn carpet and furniture, dated decor, noise transfer from the highway and noisy in-room air-conditioning units.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.4 out of 5 with an 88% recommendation rate from 159 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #
25 of 80 Raleigh hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 110 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 9.3 out of 10 from 8 reviews.
The author called the hotel on September 5, 2013 to verify some information.
