Boise's BEST Riverside Hotel? Cottonwood Suites Review!

Cottonwood Suites Boise Riverside Downtown Boise (ID) United States

Boise's BEST Riverside Hotel? Cottonwood Suites Review!

Cottonwood Suites: Boise's Riverside Gem? Okay, Let's Get Real.

Okay, buckle up, buttercups. I just got back from a stay at the Cottonwood Suites in Boise, and you know what? I'm still trying to process it. The website paints this picture-perfect image of riverside bliss, all gleaming smiles and sun-drenched pools. But life, as we all know, is rarely a perfectly filtered Instagram post. So, let's dive in, shall we? This review is gonna be less "corporate press release" and more "honest-to-goodness human experience."

Accessibility - The Good, The… Mostly Good?

First things first, accessibility. This is important to ME, and I appreciate a hotel that tries, so let’s be honest. Cottonwood Suites seems to get it mostly. They advertise facilities for disabled guests, which I always appreciate seeing. I spotted an elevator. The website’s descriptions are detailed enough to make me confident about the layout. I didn't see it myself, though, because not all areas within the hotel are open right now, but from the room information and pictures, it seems pretty decent. They mention car park, which is awesome. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt here because, tbh, I didn't need it, and didn't get the chance to verify everything because of the temporary closures. But from what I saw and read, they seem to at least try.

Cleanliness and Safety (Especially in These Times)

Okay, now for the elephant in the room: the pandemic. I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit anxious before I went. Cottonwood Suites REALLY leans into the COVID-19 protocols, which, honestly, is reassuring (and probably a necessity to stay in business). They boast about professional-grade sanitizing, daily disinfection in common areas, and staff trained in safety protocol. They’ve even got those anti-viral cleaning products. I saw the hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere. I definitely saw the staff keeping things clean (and they were very pleasant about it). My room looked immaculate. I’m talking gleaming. The whole "rooms sanitized between stays" promise? They clearly deliver on that. They even offer a "room sanitization opt-out," which I think is a nice touch and demonstrates they understand the various comfort levels of guests. I walked in, took a deep breath, and felt… pretty safe. Which, honestly, is a massive win in today's world.

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking… The Food, The Mood

The hotel's got a bunch of options. Restaurants, a bar, a coffee shop… I didn't try everything, because, well, budget, and I was also a bit wary of navigating crowded spaces. But what I did experience left me with mixed feelings.

• Breakfast Buffet? Gone, but not Forgotten: Gone or maybe not, but I saw the space and it's not in use now. I understand why, of course, with the current situation. My breakfast was… okay. They did a "breakfast takeaway service." It wasn’t exactly the buffet-style feast I'd hoped for (think individually-wrapped muffins and fruit), which is understandable, still, it was a bit disappointing because I love a good hotel breakfast. The coffee, on the other hand? Surprisingly decent. And they had a restaurant to order from that provided a la carte, but I didn't partake.

• Poolside Bar Ambitions: I definitely wanted to laze by the pool, cocktail in hand. And I saw a poolside bar described. However, and this is a BIG however, (are you ready for a rant?) it wasn't open during my stay. This was a HUGE bummer. I wanted to be sipping a margarita and watching the sunset. The lack of this was a real downer. Huge disappointment. It's advertising something that's not available. I'm not saying the world should revolve around my desire for a poolside drink, but c'mon, man!

• Room Service, Glorious Room Service? YES! But with caveats. I did partake. They provided a 24-hour room service. The food, again, was… okay. It wasn't gourmet, but it was definitely convenient. You know, the kind of thing that keeps you from having to actually leave your perfectly comfy bed. The staff was super polite, which always helps, but sometimes, an hour later, they brought me the wrong dish. But hey, it happens. It was fixed! It was fixed!

Services and Conveniences… The Nitty Gritty

Cottonwood Suites provides a decent selection.

• The Basics: They've got the usual suspects: daily housekeeping, laundry service, dry cleaning, all the things you expect. They even have a concierge, which is pretty fancy. I didn't need any of these things myself, so I can't comment on the quality, but they're there.

• For the Business Types: Business facilities like meeting rooms and audio-visual equipment. I saw people having meetings. If you're in Boise on business, this is probably a good choice.

• More than the Basics: They have a gift shop. I didn't buy anything, so I can't comment, but it was there. Cool.

Things to Do, Ways to Relax… or Try To Relax

This is where it gets interesting. Cottonwood Suites promises relaxation.

• The Pool with a View… (And a Bit of a Letdown): The pictures of the outdoor pool are gorgeous. I mean, stunning. They show a beautiful pool with a view of the Boise River. I'd imagined myself floating serenely, surrounded by nature. In reality, it was a bit crowded. I'm still grateful for the sun and the water, don't get me wrong, but I didn’t get the zen vibes I was hoping for.

• Spa, Sauna, Steam room, etc. (or Lack Thereof): And here's another major blow: the spa, sauna, and steam room were closed. Again, understandable due to COVID, I guess. But this significantly impacted the relaxation potential. I'd been picturing myself in a sauna, sweating out all my worries. Another massive disappointment, especially considering the price of the hotel.

• Fitness Center: Yep!: They did manage to keep the fitness center open, and I saw it. You know, that stuff, the gym/fitness room, and I can't say a lot about it, but it looked new and clean! I didn't use it, because I’m on vacation, and I'd rather drink margaritas by the pool (when it's open).

• Getting Around, Getting Out: The hotel offers airport transfer and they mention "Car park [free of charge]". I can see how that makes it accessible, good job.

Rooms, Rooms, Glorious Rooms! (Or, Just a Room)

Okay, let's talk about the actual room. My room had:

• All the Essentials: Air conditioning (thank goodness!), a comfy bed, a desk, a TV with satellite channels. The basics were covered. The essentials are what you need. The extras are just extras.

• The Details… That Matter: Extra long bed! A fridge! A coffee maker! Free Wi-Fi (which worked flawlessly!). The bathroom was spacious and well-stocked with toiletries. The blackout curtains were a lifesaver. A desk big enough to actually WORK at.

• The "Meh" Factor: I asked for a high floor, but the pictures didn't actually let me know where I was, nor did my room seem particularly special. The view was… fine. The décor was pretty standard, the kind of thing that doesn’t offend but doesn’t exactly excite, either. I wouldn't call it memorable, but that's okay.

• The Soundproofing: And this is important, because I got a bit of a noisy neighbor. The walls weren’t exactly paper-thin, but I could hear… well, you know.

For the Kids… (And Families)

I didn't bring kids, so I'm going on what I saw (and read). They advertise "family/child friendly." I saw some kids. There are kids' facilities mentioned. But I can’t say whether your kids would be in bliss or bored.

The Verdict: Boise's Riverside Gem? Maybe Not, But…

So, would I recommend the Cottonwood Suites? It’s complicated!

The Good: The cleanliness and safety protocols are top-notch. The rooms are comfortable and well-equipped. The staff is friendly. The internet works. The location is decent for the river.

The Bad: Some amenities were unavailable (big bummer). The food wasn't amazing. The price felt a little steep, considering.

The Messy Middle: My stay wasn’t perfect. But I didn't hate it. Would I go again? Possibly. But next time, I'll be calling ahead to confirm that the poolside bar is actually open, and I’ll temper my expectations. The Cottonwood Suites isn’t paradise. But it's a solid option with some definite upsides. And hey, sometimes, that's all you need.

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Cottonwood Suites Boise Riverside Downtown Boise (ID) United States

Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Because planning a trip to Boise is like… well, it's not exactly rocket science, but it's definitely a recipe for potential chaos, which is my specialty. This is my potential trip, imagined, in the heart of Idaho, staying at the, let's be honest, pretty generic-sounding Cottonwood Suites Boise Riverside Downtown. Let's see if we can spice things up…

Boise, ID: A Messy, Glorious Adventure

Day 1: Arrival & (Attempted) Tranquility

• 1:00 PM: Arrival at Boise Airport (BOI). Ugh, airports. I swear, they're designed to make you feel like a sardine in a metal tube. My flight, naturally, was delayed. It was a small delay, only an hour, but in that hour, I managed to: a) get aggressively hangry, b) witness a screaming toddler tantrum that resonated with my own inner child, and c) almost lose my boarding pass in a vortex of spilled coffee and crumpled tissues. Finally, I find my bags, which, miraculously, weren't sent to, say, Greenland.
• 1:45 PM: Shuttle to Cottonwood Suites. Okay, the shuttle. Could be worse… but it takes an hour because there are so many other stops? Ugh… I'm already regretting not renting a car and having to depend on a shuttle's schedule, but whatever.
• 3:00 PM: Check-in at Cottonwood Suites. (Praying the room is at least clean.) I'm hoping for a river view!
• 3:30 PM: Settle in. Take a deep breath, tell myself I’M on vacation, and admire (hopefully) the view. The itinerary says, “Unpack, relax, soak in the ambiance.” Ambiance? In a hotel room? I'll be lucky if the air conditioning works. But okay, I’ll try. I’ll try to be Zen. I'll try to be one with the river… or at least, the river view.
• 4:30 PM: The “Riverwalk.” This is where my attempts at Zen likely fall apart. I'm going to wander down by the Boise River, which, based on the pictures, looks lovely. I'm going to take some deep breaths (again), and maybe, just maybe, find a moment of peace. I'm also going to be on high alert for rogue squirrels. Seriously, those things are everywhere.
• 5:30 PM: Dinner at a local spot. Research, research. I'm aiming for something with local flavor rather than a chain. Hoping for something that isn't exclusively chicken-fried. Maybe a cozy pub? Or a place with fantastic fries? This is Boise, after all. It's the "fry capital" or something, right?
• 7:00 PM: Early night. Because travel exhausts me and I want to be ready for the next day.

Day 2: Culture, Coffee & (Possibly) Regret

• 8:00 AM: Coffee & Breakfast Chaos. Okay, the complimentary breakfast better be worth getting up for. If it's just stale pastries and lukewarm coffee, I'm going to have a full-blown meltdown. I need fuel for a day of… well, whatever it is I'm doing.
• 9:00 AM: Boise Art Museum. I'm going to try to be cultured. I'm going to try to appreciate the art. My attention span, however, is notoriously short. Maybe I’ll find something to love. Or maybe I'll just wander around, admiring the architecture and muttering to myself about how much better I could do it (artistically speaking, of course).
• 11:00 AM: Stroll through Julia Davis Park. I hear this is a Boise staple. Zoo? Rose garden? Carousel? Okay, consider me intrigued. I'm already picturing myself getting hopelessly lost and wandering into some sort of bizarre taxidermy exhibit.
• 12:00 PM: Lunch. Something quick and delicious, preferably with outdoor seating. Maybe a food truck situation? Boise seems to have those. (The idea of food trucks makes me giddy.)
• 1:00 PM: The "Idaho State Capitol Building" - My Deep Dive. Okay, here's where things get… complicated. I'm fascinated by politics, or at least, the idea of politics. Visiting this building will either be fascinating or boring. My money's on the latter, but I respect history and whatnot. I’m going to take my time and see the inside and outside, and read the plaques even if not into them.
• 3:00 PM: Java Stop. I need a second caffeine fix. I'm thinking a local coffee shop. I'll be judging the latte art, naturally.
• 4:00 PM: Exploration of the downtown area. Window shopping, people-watching, and generally trying to get a feel for the city. Maybe I'll stumble upon a quirky bookstore or a vintage clothing store. Or maybe I'll just end up wandering aimlessly and slightly lost. Both are equally likely.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner. A nice steakhouse. I hear Boise knows its beef. Or maybe tacos. I’m torn!
• 7:30 PM: Rest! I am tired!

Day 3: Nature, Nostalgia & Farewell (Maybe)

• **9:00 AM: Breakfast ** (See: Day 2. I'm praying for the breakfast gods to smile upon me.)
• 10:00 AM: Trip to a Local Park. I’m told there’s some incredible nature around Boise! This is where my dreams of being one with nature may be ruined. I'm a city gal. Bugs? Sweat? Ugh. But I've heard enough about the beauty of the trails around Boise that I will have to go. Maybe I’ll see wildlife. Or maybe I'll just see a bunch of people in really expensive hiking gear and feel inadequate.
• 12:00 PM: Lunch. Pack a picnic, or eat at a cafe near the park.
• 1:00 PM: Exploration of the Basque Block… The Basque Block is a must for my trip because I absolutely LOVE the Basque culture!
• 2:30 PM: The Museum… A deep dive into Basque culture. I hope it’s not awkward.
• 4:00 PM: "The End." Or is it? I'm not sure if I can stay in Boise.
• 5:00 PM: Return. If the flight is good, I will definitely enjoy the flight. If not, I'll cry the whole way home.

Important Considerations:

• Weather: Check it constantly. Pack for every season. Even if it's summer. Because Idaho.
• Transportation: I'm going to rely on shuttles, so wish me luck.
• Mood Swings: They are likely. Embrace the chaos.
• Food: Eat everything. Regret nothing. (Except maybe the questionable gas station burrito).

This is MY trip, and it's going to be gloriously imperfect. Let the adventure begin! I just hope I come back with some good stories. Or at least, a tan.

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Cottonwood Suites Boise Riverside Downtown Boise (ID) United States```html

Alright, spill the beans! Is Cottonwood Suites REALLY Boise's best riverside hotel like everyone says?

Okay, okay, settle down! Let's get real here. "Best"? That's a loaded word, ain't it? It depends on your definition of "best." Is it *flawlessly* perfect? Nah. Does it have its moments where you might just want to chuck a pillow at the wall? Possibly. But, seriously, if you're talking about riverside charm, Boise's vibe, and a decent bang for your buck… I'm leaning towards *yes*. Definitely in the running. I've stayed there, let's just say, *a few* times. And the experiences… well, they're a mixed bag, like a bag of trail mix where you're always hunting for the chocolate chips.

What's the *actual* view like from the rooms? That's the big draw, right?

Okay, so the view. *The View*. This is where things get... well, they're a bit complicated. I swear, you pick the room, cross your fingers, and pray to the Boise River gods. Sometimes... *sometimes*... you get a room that just smacks you in the face with beauty. You open those curtains and *bam!* The river, all sparkly and wide, the Greenbelt bustling with cyclists and dogs, the trees… glorious trees. I genuinely had one room where I spent a good hour just staring out the window, feeling all zen and grateful for the existence of… well, *everything*. It was that good. But... then there was the *other* time. The room was on the... less-than-stellar side, overlooking the parking lot. My heart sank a little. Okay, *a lot*. It felt like an insult to the Boise River itself! So, ask for a room with a view, explicitly. And maybe bribe the check-in person with a cookie. It might help. Honestly, that parking lot situation was a major downer. Just saying.

Is the Greenbelt easily accessible from the hotel? That sounds… ideal.

Oh, *YES*. Easily? Honey, it's like, practically *in* the hotel's backyard. Like, you could roll out of bed, stumble a few steps, and BAM! You're on the Greenbelt. That's the *massive* selling point, folks. This is where the magic happens, probably the single best thing about the place. One time, I was feeling particularly stressed. I'd been stuck in a meeting all day, listening to people drone on about… well, I don’t even remember anymore. All I wanted was air. So I bolted from the hotel, literally *ran* onto the Greenbelt, and just walked. And walked. And breathed. The river's sounds… the trees… the dogs doing their doggy things… it was instantaneous therapy. I’m telling you, the easy access to the Greenbelt is worth it. They should charge *extra* just for that. (Don’t tell them I said that, though.) Changed my entire mood.

Let's talk rooms. Are they actually… nice? And maybe not too… 1980s?

Ah, the rooms. This is where we enter the arena of… let’s call it, “variable charm.” Look, they’re not the epitome of modern design. They’re comfortable… generally. Clean… usually. But sometimes… you get the feeling they haven't been updated since, I don’t know, the invention of the dial-up modem. The furniture itself is fine, but dated. Functional. I had one room… oh, *one room*. It was fine, truly, but the bathroom was… well, let's just say I wouldn’t want to analyze the grout too hard. And the lighting? It was like they were actively trying to create the perfect ambiance for a dental checkup. But, on the bright side (no pun intended), the bed was comfortable. Always a win. Always check for a good bed. This is critical. And honestly, clean sheets are hard to argue with. I’ve found that, generally, you’re there for the *location* not the room. Still, a little extra TLC wouldn't hurt, you know? Maybe a new bathroom or two? Consider it, Cottonwood!

Breakfast? Is the free breakfast as epic as people say?

Okay, breakfast. This is another one of those… “it depends” situations. It's *free*, so you can't exactly complain, but… it’s not exactly the Ritz-Carlton, either. They have the usual suspects. Scrambled eggs (sometimes a little… rubbery), the usual assortment of pastries (some suspiciously stale), the make-your-own waffle station (always a crowd-pleaser), and the coffee (at least it’s *coffee*). I’ve had breakfasts there that were perfectly adequate, fueling me for a day of meetings or exploring. I’ve had others where, after a single glance, I just wandered out and grabbed a bagel from somewhere else. My advice? Manage your expectations. Don't arrive expecting a gourmet experience. Go for the waffles – they’re generally a safe bet. And if you're a serious coffee snob, bring your own! This isn't a deal breaker. Some days, you're happy to just be able to get your hands on a waffle immediately.

What about the hotel staff? Friendly? Helpful? Or a grumpy bunch?

The staff? Okay, this is a *positive*. Generally, they're super friendly. Seriously. I’ve never encountered a truly rude person, and that's saying something. They're helpful, willing to answer questions. They’re generally *trying*. In this day and age, I really appreciate that. I had a luggage mishap once (long story, involves a rogue suitcase and a particularly aggressive escalator). The front desk person was *amazing*. Sympathetic, understanding, went above and beyond to help me sort everything out. They saved my sanity, I swear. So, big thumbs up for the staff. Consistent, that's what you want.

Parking? Is parking a NIGHTMARE?

Parking. Ah, yes. The eternal traveler’s dilemma. Generally, parking is… *okay*. It’s not like trying to find a spot in New York City, but it can get a little tight, especially during peak season or when the hotel is hosting, you know, *events*. I’ve circled the lot a few times, just waiting for someone to pull out. I’ve had to park further away than I would have liked. But, so far, I’ve *always* found a spot. It's free, which is a HUGE win. Just don’t arrive at 6pm on a Saturday expecting prime real estate. Be prepared to circle. Or just… be patient. Or, better yet, walk. If you're planning on hitting the Greenbelt or downtown, parking is lessBook Hotels Now

Cottonwood Suites Boise Riverside Downtown Boise (ID) United States

Cottonwood Suites Boise Riverside Downtown Boise (ID) United States

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