We drive a lot between Florida and Texas because we don't like giving all our money to fly the family and we want the kids to keep believing that we live in a free country.
So this time we stopped at the CI&S in Pensacola. We were just there in August and it was all new and clean and smelled great. We stayed at Carlson hotels enough we were upgraded to a suite. When we walked in we realized new is a moment in time. The bed was not made. The comforter was thrown on like the housekeeper had to grab her bug out bag and run all the sudden. The pullout bed had no sheets so we had to ask at the front desk. The room smelled dingy like a basket of laundry that needed to go in the wash. It smelled a little like third hand smoke deposits and we thought we smelled second hand smoke drifting through the vents. (supposed to be a smoke free hotel) The hot breakfast tasted bad and lacked variety. The sausage is pure fat and there are just waffles cinnamon French toast (carbs) and hard boiled eggs in addition to the usual continental items. Better to go to Cracker Barrel next door. Overall, the stay was average, which has moved me from being a fan to being on the fence. Even though the dollar is "officially" worth 25% less than in 2000, I still think $100 should buy a nice clean room. I choose Country Inn when I'm looking for a midrange hotel because they usually don't slap their name across anything. I raised my issues with management and they were attentive. The real test will be when we return they truly demonstrate active listening and improve. CI&S is still a good place to stop and I hope it stays that way.

My fiance and I got in very late and were greeted with friendly quick service. Rates were very reasonable, room was quite spacious and very clean, and we loved the comfy bed and down like comforter!! The breakfast was also amazing with options galore!! We personally loved the waffles! They had the sweetest little old lady working on breakfast...she made our day! : ) Definitely recommend this hotel if your passing through!

Country Inns & Suites have a consistent look across the country. There is a lobby with a fireplace next to the breakfast room. There are cookies and mints on the check in counter. The rooms are very well furnished and modern (nice TV & lots of channels). The fridge has no freezer and the bathroom does not have a vent fan (but it does have an a/c vent). The room a/c works great; it is the single room motel style but with a wall mounted thermostat. The room is comfortable enough for an extended stay. Wi-fi worked fine. Breakfast included some pretty good coffee, and the staff kept things fresh. I forgot a toothbrush, but the front staff had them and offered tooth paste. The motel is exceptionally clean and easy to find from Interstate 10.

My husband and I stayed here for just one night while we moved our daughter into her nearby university dorm. We booked this online at a special advanced purchased price.

Overall, the hotel is an excellent value for the price. Rooms were clean and beds were comfortable. Amenities include a microwave and refrigerator in each room, which is nice. Breakfast included a nice variety of items, including cereal, fruit, freshly made oatmeal with toppings, waffles, and hot items (which on that day were biscuits, bacon, and precooked fried eggs).

The issue of not allowing early check-ins and early check-outs, or allowing people to switch rooms in the case of a problem, is one I read over and over again in reviews of almost every Country Inn & Suites. This leads me to believe that this might be a corporate issue, and not an issue with the particular service being offered at that location. My husband actually tried to get an early check-in, as he had driven during the overnight hours to get our daughter to classes on time and was in dire need of sleep. He was not able to get into a room until around 2:00, which did seem ridiculous, as it was the middle of the week and the hotel, for the most part, was empty. Having worked in the hotel business himself, he knows that being given an empty room should be a possibility, but the hotel chooses NOT to give you that empty room, as the computer has already assigned you to the room that is not yet clean. It seems to me that in these economic times, a business could try a little harder to accommodate its guests.

Country Inn & Suites has always been a good value, but I'm finding (from my own experience, as well as reading reviews) they are very rigid in their room assignment policies. Don't go there if you expect early check-in or late check-out, and just hope you don't have any problems with your room.