TownePlace Suites Detroit Livonia
Livonia, Michigan
 
Detroit, Michigan is a vast city when you see it on a map, but with an accessible highway grid it's a relatively straightforward destination to visit. Since there is a variety of hotels of various brands hosting business travellers during weekdays, the TownePlace Suites Detroit Livonia is a great upgrade to your normal standard hotel room, with an affordable rate whenever there is low demand (usually on weekends). Since every room is a full fledged suite, we found the concept to be comparatively spacious, comfortable and accommodating to our incidentally different needs.
 
Check in was a pleasure, strictly speaking. Of course, any seamless check in would be an automatic pleasure, but the clerk took extra time to react kindly to the silly act the three of us checking in were presenting her. Despite our efforts to derail the process through unrelated chatter, she easily issued our room keys before the whole affair became an episode of a talk show. Ironically, she also tried to charge us a cheaper rate than we reserved, but after we (regretfully) pointed it out, we were charged the full rate instead. Sometimes the whole experience from front desk could be more satisfying if the employees showed a human side to their work, and this property seems to have that detail down pat.
 
The accommodations were easily the most detailed and meticulous we've ever stayed in so far; with two bedrooms, a living space with sofa bed and a fully furnished kitchen, there is no doubt we wouldn't run out of space. There are appliances you don't usually find in regular rooms like a dishwasher, stove, full fridge with freezer and three separate TVs in the bedrooms and living area. Then again, it's BYOF: bring your own food. If you feel like cooking your own meals, this is the perfect suite to book, though food from this part of the United States is quite affordable, and cooking is probably not worth the trouble.
 
Each bedroom is styled with a modern decor and plenty of storage for an extended stay. The sofa bed can also be used as a "third bedroom" for travelling families, equipped with its own TV and dining table. The three of us typically require privacy from each other in order to prevent cabin fever from encroaching. It would be nice however to have desks in both bedrooms (as there is only one desk in one of the rooms); the dining table sufficed as extra working space.
 
There are plenty of amenities located near reception if you don't like travelling far - free coffee and tea, sundries ready to be purchased, a simple map pasted on the wall pointing out key destinations and the breakfast area beside a computer you can borrow. Sadly, the outdoor pool was closed for the season despite the day being a warm 21 C. The exercise room has some neat equipment but it would benefit from the addition of weights or equipment that adds complexity to the workout.
 
Continental breakfast is included - a welcome plus for a guest who needs the energy, but doesn't have enough to cook their own in their room. At time of stay, this property's website claimed it offered an "Asian breakfast" as well, but unfortunately it didn't materialized as promised; they'll have to update their information to reflect that.
 
Great staff, spacious room to relax in, real space for a cup of tea or some lasagna to cook and store, with plenty of amenities on and around the property. Simply a worry free stay during a trip to Detroit.
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