Our stay at Country Inns & Suites by Carlson

Service and amenities

From the moment we checked in, and even before the management knew I was there as media, we were treated like we had just walked into someone's home. Greeted warmly by the front desk clerk, the check-in process only took a few minutes. The complimentary cookies in the lobby are a nice touch, one that impressed my daughters immediately! It is a very child-friendly facility. Kids 18 and under stay free, plus, the entire hotel is 100% smoke-free!

A free breakfast is a great way to start off one's day, and Country Inns understands this and provides guests with a complimentary spread. The breakfast area had the feel of a country kitchen. With waffles, muffins, bagels, toast, cereal, yogurt, fruit salad, juices, coffee, eggs, and sausage to choose from, my entire family was satisfied. Though there was a little bit of everything, I'd like to see more of a variety. For example, more than one flavor of yogurt, and scrambled eggs in addition to the usual hard-boiled eggs. It was a little crowded first thing in the morning, but staff quickly replenished the supply of food so nothing was ever depleted.

I hate to be disconnected, so one of the amenities I always look for when researching hotels is good (and preferably free!) Internet. The complimentary high-speed wireless Internet at Country Inn was easy to access, simply by launching my iPad's browser, and very fast. Pantene hair care products and Vaseline lotion were found in the bathroom - the same brands I use at home! Also a nice, unique element.

The indoor pool and whirlpool, open from 7am until 11pm everyday, hit the spot after a long day at Busch Gardens. Clean and comfortable, and not at all crowded, there were plenty of tables, chairs, and towels available. The fitness center looked like it was recently renovated. My only gripe would be that it was moved to the other side of the hotel, whereas it used to be adjacent to the pool.

In the lobby, books were available to be checked out through Carlson's Read It & Return lending library. These books can then be returned at any Country Inns location, plus a donation is made to support literacy programs every time a book is returned. A very neat concept! Also, I saw that their were DVDs available for rental, at a small fee, and DVD players upon request.

For those that are staying for a longer period of time, Country Inns offers a special extended-stay rate if you stay a minimum of one week. I was also told that the business center, though small, with only one computer and printer, was free for guests to use. Perfect for printing park tickets and airplane boarding passes, I imagine.

Sizzling summer savings

For stays at participating Country Inns & Suites By Carlson locations through the end of July, you'll receive a 15% off discount on a 3 or more consecutive night stay, $25 in Dining Cash, and 3,000 Gold Points! To book your stay, visit countryinns.com/1kCountry. You can also find out more by following @countryinns on Twitter and Facebook, at facebook.com/countryinns.

Mariana Perez blogs about life as a stay-at-home mom to two beautiful little girls over at Riding With No Hands. Follow her daily adventures on Twitter @ohMariana.

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Disclosure: Mariana and her family were invited to stay at Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, while in Williamsburg for Media Day at Busch Gardens. They were given a complimentary one-night stay. All opinions (and photos) are hers.