Cedar Rapids' BEST Kept Secret Hotel? (Residence Inn South Review!)

Residence Inn Cedar Rapids South Cedar Rapids (IA) United States

Cedar Rapids' BEST Kept Secret Hotel? (Residence Inn South Review!)

Cedar Rapids' BEST Kept Secret (Maybe): A Deep Dive into the Residence Inn South (and My Love-Hate Relationship with Hotels)

Okay, so let's be real. I hate staying in hotels. I'm a homebody, a creature of habit, and the idea of sleeping in a strange bed, surrounded by anonymous, germ-laden surfaces, fills me with a low-grade dread. But sometimes, duty (or a sudden urge to see the Iowa State Fair) calls, and I find myself staring down a hotel room door. This time, it was the Residence Inn South in Cedar Rapids, and I’m here to give you the unvarnished truth, the good, the bad, and the “why is the ironing board always broken?” of my stay.

(Metadata: Residence Inn Cedar Rapids South, Cedar Rapids Hotels, Iowa Hotels, Family-Friendly Hotels, Pet-Friendly Hotels, Wheelchair Accessible Hotels, Free Wi-Fi, Hotel Review, Iowa Travel, Extended Stay Hotel)

Accessibility: A Decent Start (with a caveat)

Right off the bat, let's talk accessibility. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did see some ramps and elevators, which is a HUGE plus. They check off the Wheelchair Accessible box, which hopefully means truly accessible rooms exist. I'm always wary; just because there's a ramp doesn't mean everything's actually designed for people with disabilities. They also had Elevators, which is key for a multi-story hotel. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, so that's encouraging, but I can't personally vouch for how comprehensive it is.

(Accessibility Score: 7/10 – Good start, but more details needed.)

Cleanliness and Safety – Feeling (Relatively) Safe?

This is where things get interesting, and let's be honest, a little anxiety-inducing in the post-COVID world. They were clearly trying. The Anti-viral cleaning products were in use – or at least, that's what the little signs said. They mentioned Daily disinfection in common areas, which is a big comfort. I even saw staff seemingly wiping down everything, which was reassuring.

Room sanitization opt-out available: This, actually, I applaud. Some folks prefer to take their chances and only have the necessary cleaning, conserving resources. Rooms sanitized between stays: Check. Massive check – this is critical. Staff trained in safety protocol: That appeared to be the case, based on observations. Hand sanitizer: Everywhere! Hot water linen and laundry washing: I'd assume, given the high standards of the hotel, but I didn't witness it. Hygiene certification: I didn't notice it, but they might have the certificates stashed away. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: This was much harder to apply, especially in the breakfast area. Professional-grade sanitizing services: I didn’t see evidence of this specifically, but the general cleanliness felt professional. Safe dining setup: They tried, with the distancing and hygiene controls.

The downside? I still brought my own wipes and went over everything. I'm a little paranoid, what can I say?

(Cleanliness & Safety Score: 7.5/10 – Trying hard, but trust is earned, not given.)

Rooms: Comfy (Eventually), with a Few Quirks

Let's get to the rooms… because this is where the Residence Inn South shines, and where my inner homebody almost cracked.

Available in all rooms:

• Additional toilet: Not in my room.
• Air conditioning: YES, thank goodness. Iowa summers are brutal.
• Alarm clock: Check. Ugh.
• Bathrobes: Nope. I miss fluffy robes.
• Bathroom phone: Thankfully, no.
• Bathtub: Yes! A bathtub! (I’m a bath person.)
• Blackout curtains: Essential for avoiding the Iowa sunrise.
• Carpeting: Yes. (Mixed feelings. Cozy, but…germs.)
• Closet: Surprisingly spacious.
• Coffee/tea maker: Essential. I basically lived on coffee.
• Complimentary tea: A nice touch.
• Daily housekeeping: Excellent. My bathroom was spotless.
• Desk: Perfect for a laptop.
• Extra long bed: YES! (I'm tall.)
• Free bottled water: A life saver.
• Hair dryer: Basic, but it worked.
• High floor: Nope, I was on a low floor.
• In-room safe box: Check.
• Interconnecting room(s) available: Might be useful for families.
• Internet access – LAN: I didn't use this.
• Internet access – wireless: Worked flawlessly! (Wi-Fi [free] – BIG plus!)
• Ironing facilities: The thing was broken. Every time. I should really request a new one, but it felt like a battle I didn't want. 🤬
• Laptop workspace: Check.
• Linens: Fine, standard hotel linens.
• Mini bar: Nope, but a fridge.
• Mirror: Yes, many.
• Non-smoking: YES. Thank you.
• On-demand movies: I never bothered.
• Private bathroom: Duh.
• Reading light: Perfect.
• Refrigerator: Essential for cold drinks and leftovers.
• Safety/security feature: Standard stuff.
• Satellite/cable channels: Yes. Too many.
• Scale: No! (I'm trying to avoid that kind of judgment call.)
• Seating area: A comfy sofa.
• Separate shower/bathtub: Yep, happy with that.
• Shower: Standard.
• Slippers: Nope.
• Smoke detector: Of course.
• Socket near the bed: Yes, bless them.
• Sofa: Comfy.
• Soundproofing: Pretty good.
• Telephone: Who uses these anymore?
• Toiletries: The generic hotel stuff.
• Towels: Plenty.
• Umbrella: Not in my room.
• Visual alarm: I don't require one.
• Wake-up service: I used my phone.
• Window that opens: Nope.

The Room Score: 8/10 – Comfortable, well-equipped, but the broken ironing board… sigh.

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast is the Star (and Maybe the Only Option)

Now, for the most important part: FOOD.

• Asian breakfast: Nope.
• Asian cuisine in restaurant: Non-existent.
• Bar: Didn't see one.
• Breakfast [buffet]: YES! The heart of the whole operation. It's a solid American breakfast, with the usual suspects.
• Breakfast service: Included.
• Buffet in restaurant: The buffet was decent, with a great selection of things to eat in the morning.
• Coffee/tea in restaurant: All the time, bless them.
• Coffee shop: Didn't see one.
• Desserts in restaurant: No.
• Happy hour: I didn't see any evidence of this.
• International cuisine in restaurant: Nah.
• Poolside bar: Nope.
• Restaurants: They served breakfast, so… one, technically?
• Room service [24-hour]: Nope.
• Salad in restaurant: No.
• Snack bar: Not that I noticed.
• Soup in restaurant: No.
• Vegetarian restaurant: Not applicable, not to my knowledge.
• Western breakfast: Yes.
• Western cuisine in restaurant: Yes.

The breakfast was seriously the highlight. Waffles, eggs, bacon, cereal, the works. They did a good job keeping it stocked and clean. The rest of the time, you're on your own, Cedar Rapids has plenty of options, but plan accordingly! Not having any other options makes it a dealbreaker for some.

(Dining/Drinking/Snacking Score: 6/10 – Breakfast is great, but that's about it.)

Services and Conveniences: The Usual Suspects… and a Few Surprises

• Air conditioning in public area: Yes.
• Audio-visual equipment for special events: No idea.
• Business facilities: Seemed present, although limited.
• Cash withdrawal: Not sure.
• Concierge: Didn't see one.
• Contactless check-in/out: Awesome.
• Convenience store: Nope.
• Currency exchange: Not that i saw.
• Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
• Doorman: Nope.
• Dry cleaning: I didn't use it.
• **Elevator

Yonkers Getaway: Luxury & Comfort at Residence Inn Westchester County

Book Now

Residence Inn Cedar Rapids South Cedar Rapids (IA) United States

Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Here's my "travel itinerary" slash confession of my chaotic weekend at the Residence Inn Cedar Rapids South. Prepare for jagged edges and a serious lack of polish. This is real life, folks.

The Great Cedar Rapids Caper: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Complimentary Breakfast

Friday - Arrival & Mild Disappointment (with a hint of hope)

• 3:00 PM - Drive-In Debacle: Okay, so the GPS lied. Again. I swear, it's got a grudge. What I expected was a smooth highway glide, what I got was… a detour through a farm with suspiciously happy cows. Arrived at the Residence Inn slightly frazzled. Finding the entrance was another adventure – signs? What are those? They really need new signs.
• 3:30 PM - Room Roulette: Check-in was fine, generic. The room… Well, it's a room. Clean enough, but the "garden view" looked directly at a parking lot. Meh. I swear the wall art was an abstract painting of a beige blob. Maybe I’m just not artistic.
• 4:00 PM - Unpacking and Existential Dread (or, Why Am I Here?) I unpacked. Or at least, I threw my stuff in the general vicinity of closets and drawers. Why am I even here? Wait, remember why I had to be in Cedar Rapids. Sigh. The familiar pang of the trip. But I need to be here. Time to get ready for the next day.
• 6:00 PM - Dinner SOS: So, the hotel restaurant situation? Non-existent. I'm a tourist! I’m supposed to eat at different places! The hotel staff said I can walk, or drive 5 minutes away for food. I was tired, and the prospect of finding a restaurant and interacting with people seemed daunting. The only option was a quick takeout order. Ended up with something that tasted like… well, it tasted like something. Let's leave it at that.
• 7:30 PM - TV and the Void: After a long day, I went back to the room. The television was on. I couldn't stop staring at the clock. Not the best start. But hey, at least there are free streaming services. I binge-watched something I can't even remember. Sleep beckoned.

Saturday - The Peak and the Pivot

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast Bonanza (or, Praise the Waffles!): This is where the Residence Inn shined. The breakfast. Seriously, what is it about free hotel breakfasts? The waffles were perfectly crisp, the coffee never-ending, scrambled eggs that actually looked and tasted like eggs! This breakfast was a lifeline. I loaded up. This was the peak of the experience.
• 8:00 AM - Getting Ready! I decided to wash my clothes for the day. I love clean clothes. I got ready, brushed my teeth, and felt the energy of the day.
• 8:30 AM - The Great Cedar Rapids adventure I decided to take a walk around the hotel. I looked around. I saw the signs. Ah. Signs! And I was set.
• 10:00 AM - The Big Thing (or, The Reason I'm Here): The only interesting thing that happened was the reason I came. That's the important thing.
• 1:00 PM - Lunch Limbo: Another meal, another existential crisis. Found a place. The food was okay if not forgettable. The people were nice, though.
• 3:00 PM - Back to the Room, The Downfall: The excitement had ended. I was back to my room. The beige blob was still hanging on the wall. I started to feel a bit grumpy. The trip wasn't going as I expected.
• 6:00 PM - Dinner Do-Over: Okay, so I didn't want to go the hotel. This time I prepared. I decided to eat at some restaurant that served steak, as well as a few dishes. As I ate, I realized that I wasn't having the experience I wanted.
• 7:30 PM - The Netflix Nags: The television again.
• 10:00 PM - Sleep: Goodnight.

Sunday - The Escape (and a lingering sadness)

• 8:00 AM - Breakfast Round Two, Again!: Waffles. Needed the waffles. The breakfast saved the day. I swear I ate three.
• 9:00 AM - Check Out and Get Out!: I escaped, with a mix of relief and, well… emptiness. The Residence Inn did its job, but it wasn't a destination. More like a holding pen.
• 9:30 AM - The Great Drive Home: The GPS, bless its digital heart, sent me on a different route this time. No cows, thankfully. Just the endless highway. The road ahead.

Epilogue – The Aftermath

The Cedar Rapids adventure wasn't a disaster. More like… a collection of moments. The waffles, the parking lot view, the beige blob… they all added up to something. And next time, I swear, I’m bringing my own art. And maybe a better attitude. Because, hey, life’s too short for mediocre hotel rooms and bland takeout. And maybe, just maybe, I'll start liking beige blobs.

Portland Hillsboro Escape: Unbeatable Deals at Residence Inn!

Book Now

Residence Inn Cedar Rapids South Cedar Rapids (IA) United States```html

Cedar Rapids' "Best Kept Secret" Hotel: The Residence Inn South - Seriously, Is It Any Good?! Let's Dive In! (Rambling Review Edition!)

Okay, Spill the Tea: Is the Residence Inn South REALLY a "Best Kept Secret" In Cedar Rapids?

Alright, alright, buckle up. "Best Kept Secret" is a *bold* statement, isn't it? Let's just say... it depends. Depends on your expectations, your mood, and how badly you need to escape the soul-crushing monotony of a week-long business trip. (Which, honestly, is half the battle, right?). Look, it's *good*. Really good... *for a Residence Inn*. And that's the key. We're not talking Ritz-Carlton here. But for a prolonged stay, a home base while you're relocating, or just needing a reasonably priced place with a kitchen, yeah, *maybe* it's the secret weapon you've been looking for. But not *always*. Let me explain...

The Rooms: Are They Actually "Suite" or Just... Small?

Okay, the suites. They *are* suites in the sense that you have a separate living area – which is HUGE when you're sharing a room with a spouse or dealing with kids. The kitchenette is a lifesaver. Seriously. I can't overstate the joy of making your own damn coffee in the morning, bypassing the potentially awful hotel brew. BUT, and this is a big but... space can be a little... cozy. Like, "folding laundry on the bed because there's literally nowhere else to put it" cozy. The furniture is functional, not fancy. Think "durable beige" and you're on the right track. **My experience:** Once, I stayed for a week during a particularly stressful work project. I was constantly in meetings, making calls, trying to look productive... and the space felt tiny. I felt on top of myself! My stuff was everywhere. Dirty clothes on the floor, takeout containers piling up. It wasn't pretty. But the kitchenette? Saved. My. Sanity. I made grilled cheeses at midnight and watched bad reality TV. Comfort food is a gift.

Breakfast: Is It the Usual Bland Hotel Fare?

Alright, breakfast. This is where things get... unpredictable. It's not *bad*, per se. They've got the usual suspects: cereal, waffles, hard-boiled eggs (which I always suspect have been around since the Carter administration), and often, some sort of hot item like sausage or scrambled eggs. The *quality*, however, can be a crapshoot. Sometimes, the waffles are perfectly golden and crispy, a blissful start to the day. Other times, they're… well, let's just say they resemble cardboard with a hint of maple syrup. The scrambled eggs can also make or break you - I mean, some hotels can't even make a simple scrambled egg! **My anecdote:** One morning, I was late for a client meeting and grabbed a waffle. It was... not good. I took a big bite, choked a little, and promptly spilled syrup all over my shirt. Talk about starting the day off wrong! Note to self: inspect waffle before consumption when sleep-deprived. I was *furious*. But also, kind of amused. Classic hotel breakfast roulette.

The Pool/Gym: Worth a Dip or a Sweat?

Okay. The pool and gym. Let's be honest, these are the *secondary* considerations, right? You're not coming all the way to Cedar Rapids specifically for the hotel pool. But, they are there, and they're... fine. The pool is indoor, which is a bonus during the long Iowa winters. It's small-ish, but good enough for a quick swim. The gym is tiny. Like, *really* tiny. One treadmill, a couple of bikes, and a few dumbbells. It'll do in a pinch, if you're desperate to burn off some of those questionable breakfast calories. Just don't expect a full-blown workout facility. **My experience:** I've used the pool once. It was late at night, and I had the whole place to myself. It was actually kind of peaceful. I did a few laps, listened to the hum of the filter, and briefly forgot all my troubles. The gym? Never used it. I prefer my couch to a sweaty treadmill.

The Staff: Are They Actually Friendly? (Or Just Faking It?)

This is where the Residence Inn *actually* shines, in my opinion. The staff is generally super friendly and helpful. They're the unsung heroes of the hotel world. They're always willing to go the extra mile, from helping with directions to fixing a leaky faucet. The hotel is a machine, and they are the well-oiled gears. **My anecdote:** During one particularly brutal snowstorm, my rental car got completely stuck in the parking lot. The staff not only helped me dig it out, but also offered me a free hot chocolate while I waited. That kind of small act of kindness really made my day. It's the little things, people! It's the little things that make all the difference.

Location, Location, Location: Is It Actually Convenient?

Location, location, location. The Residence Inn South *is* south, so you know exactly where you're going. It's close to shopping, restaurants (a decent selection, nothing spectacular), and the highway. Getting around Cedar Rapids is generally a breeze, so location isn't a major issue in my experience. It's not *right* downtown, so you'll need a car or an ride-sharing service to get to certain attractions, but it's accessible.

The Verdict: Should You Book It?

So... is the Residence Inn South a "Best Kept Secret"? Probably not. But is it a solid, reliable, and *sometimes* surprisingly pleasant place to stay in Cedar Rapids? Absolutely. If you're looking for luxury, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a budget-friendly, comfortable stay with a kitchen, that's where the Residence Inn South will make its case. Come in with realistic expectations, be prepared for the occasional waffle disappointment, and you'll most likely walk away satisfied (or at least, not utterly horrified). I give it a qualified thumbs-up. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm craving a grilled cheese...

``` Nomad Hotel Search

Residence Inn Cedar Rapids South Cedar Rapids (IA) United States

Residence Inn Cedar Rapids South Cedar Rapids (IA) United States

Location:

Share :