A couple weekends ago, Nikki & I, along with a friend took a short trip down to Jacksonville, FL. We were celebrating Nikki’s birthday and attending AEW’s Fight for the Fallen (yes, it was a wrestling event). We waited until a few weeks before the event to book our room and found Candlewood Suites. Everything near the venue was full, but this hotel was only seven miles away.
We left on Friday evening and stopped for dinner is Orangeburg, SC. The drive to Jacksonville is only 5.5 hours from Charlotte. With the dinner stop and gas/potty break, it was closer to 7. When we stopped for dinner, I called ahead to let them know we’d be arriving late. I was told it wasn’t a problem. It was after 1 AM when we checked in. To our surprise, two people were checking in ahead of us.
[bctt tweet=”Candlewood Suites offers comfort and affordability” username=”gfspirit”]
Our room was one the second floor. We opened the door the find a refrigerator, sink, stove, microwave and cabinet with dishes on the right. The kitchen area leads into another area with a bed and recliner on the left and a long desk and TV. The bathroom sits cater-cornered near the recliner.
The next morning after I showered, I had an issue turning the shower all the way off. The handle was hard to turn and I couldn’t get the water to shut off completely. After my sister & our friend tried, I called down to the front desk since it was too much water to leave running. A maintenance man was quickly at the door to investigate. The handle needed to be replaced. While we were getting ready, he replaced it.
While waiting for the maintenance man to finish what he needed to do, we Googled restaurants that had gluten-free restaurants. One found one place that had gluten- and dairy-free protein shakes, but they still had soy. They also have weekly pre-made meals that can be delivered. We found Epikburger and it sounded great. They have a variety of burgers and fries. Gluten-free buns are an option. I called the restaurant and sadly, they cook their fries in soybean oil. They did have a couple of salads, but Nikki wouldn’t have had dressing. Since we were needing to pick a place before going to the show, we decided to go to Texas Roadhouse.
There was a location about 3 miles away. Once we got there, Nikki decided to ask if they cooked in soybean oil and they do. Since the ones here use canola oil, we didn’t think to ask until we got there. She had to order a salad without dressing. Her steak wasn’t cooked to the temperature she had requested. It ended up being a pretty mediocre meal, which we’ve never had at a Texas Roadhouse before. I felt bad since it was her birthday lunch. We should’ve just tried Epikburger instead.
We had time to go back to the hotel to change shirts and freshen up before heading to Daily’s Place. The drive was pretty easy. I had drive over a drawbridge and I was not so much a fan of that, especially on the way back when it was after midnight. The show was great and we had a fun time.
As we were sitting in the parking lot waiting for traffic to ease up, we decided to check UberEats to see what delivered and met Nikki’s dietary needs. There were limited options, so we settled on IHOP. We placed our order and it would be there about 15 minutes after we got back to the hotel. Nikki settled for grits, bacon, and a fruit cup. Since we didn’t have a chance before we left, Nikki ate one of the Goodman’s Gluten-Free cupcakes she brought with her.
We had another wrestling show in Charlotte to get to, so we left about 10 AM. We enjoyed our stay. If you’re looking for a comfortable, affordable hotel in Jacksonville, book a reservation at Candlewood Suites. Just a heads up, they will run your card the day you’re scheduled to check. I wanted to switch to another card when we got there and couldn’t because of this.
If you’re looking for other hotel reviews, check out Courtyard by Marriott-Cary, NC & Drury Inn & Suites.
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Candlewood Suites looks like a great place to stay. I love that they are so conveniently located to the restaurants. What a fabulous weekend indeed.
We were really pleased by our stay there and would stay at any of their properties in the future.
I like as it is very affordable and look super comfortable too. The room also well equipped with all the necessity.
It had everything we were looking for, especially since it was such a short stay.
surprises. I never considered this, but it honestly sounds like the perfect place for me and my family to stay while in Jacksonville, FL . It’s so beautiful
It was our first time staying at a Candlewood Suites and we were very pleased. It’s very comfortable and easy to get to food and shopping.
I’m going to have to check this place out. I love the beachy decor and the cozy feeling it gives. And of course, food is always important when we stay anywhere. We want quick access for the ever hungry grands, lol.
The decor was so cute! It’s really cozy and comfortable. There’s tons of food options around, so I think it’d be an ideal place to stay.
What a nice place to stay. We have been talking about going to Florida for a while, and this would be a good place to go with the family.
I really recommend them if you have the opportunity to stay there.
Looks like a nice hotel. Glad they were able to fix the handle issue. And that must be hard finding restaurants. Who knew?!
They were great about getting the handle fixed. The maintenance man was there quickly. It can be a struggle sometimes finding restaurants that meet certain needs, especially while traveling.
Looks like you had a fabulous break, the suites look like a great place to stay
We were lucky to find such a great place with short notice. We really enjoyed our stay.
That looks like the type of place we would stay at! We are hoping to visit Jacksonville sometime this year.
Looks like you had a fun time! I’ll be keeping this place in mind if I ever happen to stay in Jacksonville 🙂 – Sondra Barker @cuisineandtravel.com
We did, Sondra. 🙂 I recommend them if you’re able to stay in one of their properties.
I love candlewood hotels. They are so cozy and perfect for a mini vacation.
This was our first experience with them and we loved it!
It sounds like you guys still had a good time! Your suite apartment looked comfortable and it’s great there’s a kitchenette too! Shame about the birthday lunch; it’s never great having a mediocre meal
It was a very comfortable suite, especially for such a short stay. Our dad helped make it up to her when we got back by taking us to Longhorn Steakhouse where we all had delicious meals. 🙂
I haven’t been to Jacksonville in years, but Candlewood Suites is now on the list! I love the kitchen setup, and I am always looking for a bigger, suite-style accomodation for my family. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Didi! I hope you have a great stay whenever you go.
Looks like a beautiful stay! How nice!!
It was a great stay, Catherine. 🙂
Looks exactly like the place I want to stay at. Nice and comfortable, but chic too. I will put on my bucket list of places to travel.
It was perfect for what we were looking for. I recommend staying at Candlewood Suites if you get the chance!