Let's face it people, Choice Hotel brands can be a hit and a miss. I stayed at the Rodeway in Council Bluffs for 4 days then had to drive down to Des Moines for another 5 days. WOW, the difference, and Council Bluffs was 5 bucks more a night! Getting here, after such a miserable stay in the Bluffs I wasn't expecting much, boy was I thrilled when I got here and checked in. Mike, the evening clerk was such a pleasant, welcoming member of their staff, he was indeed a pleasure to deal with. Greeted me at a Platinum member and assured me I would be getting my extra points for this stay. This hotel is located on a main strip, close to the freeways, and MANY stores including Target, Hyvees, a myriad of restaurants and fast food chains and Starbucks. During the warmer months you could walk to plenty of them. Although my smoker's room was located around the back of the building I always felt safe, an important plus for a single female traveler. The parking lot was well lit, and plenty of cameras about inside and out. My room location was closest to the freeway but I NEVER heard any traffic. The room was well appointed, and almost what I have come to expect from a Marriot, only a bit older. The bedding was clean, bright and fresh. Five pillows of varying degrees of firmness. were included in the full size king bed. There was plenty of lighting, electrical and usb plugs, having 2 cell phones, a lap top, and a couple of other electronics this is very important to me. Of course they included a hair dryer, single cup coffee maker, iron board and iron along with plenty of cedar hangers, a mini fridge, microwave, full length mirror and flat screen television, that swiveled so you could see from any angle of the room with plenty of channels. These are the must haves for someone like me that spends 200+ nights a year in a hotel. Housekeeping was available every day, but I didn't need them. Upon arrival there were plenty of towels to keep me for the 5 nights, and I simply put the trash out by the door every day and it was emptied with a fresh bag inserted. (remember to tip your housekeepers folks). There was also the traditional bar soap, shampoos, and coffee and replenished as needed. The water pressure was magnificent, with a shower head with varying styles of out put. Never had to worry about taking a cold shower, if anything the water could at times get too hot. Oh, a fully functioning indoor pool as well as hot breakfast provided DAILY, during a time when hotels are trying to use Covid as an excuse not to provide those things was a great plus for this traveler. Although I only went to the breakfast once I found it to be the traditional eggs, sausage, toasts, bagels, yogurts, etc. along with 5 different types of juices. (You have to try the peach, it's yummy) and the breakfast area clean, continually stocked and well kept. So of course any property is going to have draw backs, but it was hard to find any with this one. If I had to find them it would be that the coffee maker in the room is just the single cup style and the long walk from the 2nd floor, back of building to the front lobby/breakfast area. Yep, seriously, THAT'S it! Even being in a smoker's room I would expect dingy walls or dirty windows, but not here. The hallways always smelled fresh, even given that it was the 'smoker's wing. So I say stay here with confidence that you will be treated very well, not be disappointed in your treatment and can STILL enjoy a swim and a hot breakfast!…
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.