We stayed at the Durham Candlewood Suites for three days while our house was being worked on. The hotel felt more like an apartment. Several guests were playing basketball and bringing in groceries. Although we had our own food, the prices in their little "honor system" store seemed reasonable. The exercise area was clean and it was nice to borrow a video from the front desk for my daughter to watch. All in all, a pleasant experience. Only complaint I had was that they did not have enough variety of pots and pans in our room.

I stayed at the Candlewood Suites in Durham, NC over the Christmas weekend. It was my second time staying there. They have the friendliest front desk staff I've ever encountered.

The cool thing about this hotel is that they're so low key about how great they are.

The rooms have a full kitchen with DISHES, dishwashing liquid, paper towels, and a refrigerator with an icemaker. There's a fine clock radio in the rooms that has a CD player with wonderful sound (Phillips), and the TV has a VCR player. If you don't have any VHS tapes on you, you can check out some of the most popular movies at the front desk for FREE. It is so convenient. In addition, there's an in-house store with very reasonable prices. They use an honor system, so you just put what you take on a tab, and its added to your bill. The workout and laundy room are right next to each other and they are very clean and almost always empty. So in most cases you will exercise in private. In addition, there's a TV in the workout room.

Its possible to stay there and never need to go outside, but if you do, just take their FREE shuttle (5 mi. radius). Southpoint Mall is the biggest and greatest mall in Durham, and there's a wonderful movie theatre there. Its right down the street from the hotel, but not in walking distance unless you're a runner or power walker. North Carolina does not have many sidewalks, so for that reason, I'd take the shuttle.

There's also many fast food restaurants and a grocery store (Food Lion) a short walk from the hotel. However, there's no night life in walking distance. The closest nightlife would be at the Southpoint Mall. By the way, it is an outdoor/indoor mall, and the outdoor part has a beachy feel. Most of the restaurants are on the outdoor part, and many people from all over the RTP area go there to socialize. However, there are no clubs at the mall.

Do not book online - the rates online are higher. Just call the hotel, or just show up; they're never full, and ask for the rate. The holiday rates are low and you can typically get a good room for under $60 dollars a night.

You will not be disappointed.

wonderful staff , clean rooms , laundry facilities clean , in hotel store well stocked with interesting items ,easy walk to grocery store across little bridge made stocking the kitchenette fun, made my two weeks in durham a very nonstressful time.