I was on a business trip to Ann Arbor and needed a place to stay for several weeks. I therefore wanted an extended-stay hotel. After doing extensive research on such places in and near Ann Arbor - including on TripAdvisor! - I chose the Candlewood Suites, and I'm glad I did. In light of other extended-stay hotels I've stayed in, this one surpassed expectations.
The rooms themselves are large with a kitchen including a full-sized fridge, microwave, stove top, and dishwasher. All plates, utensils, pots, and pans, are included, as were dish soap and and a scrubber for the dishes. The bed was comfortable, and there was a recliner to sit in if I chose. The desk was spacious, which was perfect for my needs. The large flat-screen TV offered over 30 channels, including three HBO stations. There is a large storage closet and several drawers for clothes. The bathroom was sizable with lots of room to move around.
Additional pluses about this hotel were the free washer-dryer and a rec room that included a recumbent and standard exercise bikes, two treadmills, dumbbells up to 50 pounds, and a multi-use weight set. (I liked the fact that the laundry room was connected to the rec room, so I could work out and watch TV while my laundry was getting clean.) Each morning (except Sundays) one could choose from one of three newspapers: USA Today or either of the Detroit papers.
There is a pantry where one can buy drinks, food, toiletries, and some medicines. Some of the items seemed priced fairly; others were expensive.
For people staying for a long period, room service is once a week. However, one can get fresh sheets and towels anytime. Insofar as toiletries, the hotel offers small bottles of shampoo in the room; one should not expect conditioner, mouthwash, or skin cream as might be found in other hotels.
This hotel does not offer breakfast in the morning, but I did not find that to be a problem.
This hotel appears to be pet-friendly, as I saw a guest with a dog.
There are two strip malls within walking distance. The one next door includes a Panera, Subway, burger joint, Mediterranean restaurant, and a pizza place. (There is also a pet clinic in the event you have a pet and it gets sick.) Across the street, the strip mall has a Whole Foods, a pizza place, and a barbeque restaurant, as well as several shops (including Pier 1 and Ethan Allen). About 1/4-mile from the hotel is a large mall with JCPenny, Sears, Von Maur, and Macy's as anchors, as well as numerous restaurants nearby (including Red Robin and Macaroni Grill). About the same distance are Olive Garden, Max and Erma's, and World Market. Still another strip mall about 1/2- to 3/4-miles away has a Busch's grocery, CVS, Great American Bread Co., pet store, and pet clinic.
I found getting to both Saline and downtown Ann Arbor were easy drives, requiring about 15 minutes to get to Saline and about 10 minutes to get to Ann Arbor. I-94 is very close to the hotel.