Wingate by Wyndham Charlotte Airport South/ I-77 Tyvola

This Wingate by Wyndham is a mid-range business/airport hotel that caters primarily to overnight transit passengers traveling through the nearby Charlotte Airport. The property has the typical look and feel of a mid-range chain hotel, with four stories of beige-and-cream exteriors, front lawns manicured in a style typical of business parks, and a covered portico for picking up and dripping off guests, plus a large parking lot with plenty of space to park. Inside, the lobby is bright and pleasant, with high ceilings with recessed lighting and a cream-dominant color scheme. There's a meeting room off to one side and lots of seating. A split mezzanine level adds a sense of openness while multiple potted plants make the place feel a bit more alive, but there's nothing particularly striking about the space. 

As the name suggests, the Wingate by Wyndham Charlotte Airport is situated close to Charlotte Douglas Airport (around eight minutes away), in the uninspiring neighborhood of Pawtuckett, a 15-minute drive from Uptown. There's not much of interest in the area other than the odd mini-mart or gas station. Harry L. Jones Sr. Golf Course is a five-minute drive away, and it takes closer to 10 minutes by car to reach the Bank of America Stadium. The Charlotte Convention Center, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the Time Warner Cable Arena (home to the NBA Charlotte Bobcats) are all under 15 minutes from the hotel by car. It's a 15-minute drive to the Historic Fourth Ward Park. Travelers staying here for any length of time are best off renting a vehicle, though the hotel does run a shuttle to the airport that departs every half-hour for those who are just in transit. 

Each of the 122 rooms and suites comes with either two queen beds or one king-size bed, along with a similar set of amenities including microwaves, individually controlled air conditioners, flat-screen TVs with streaming functionality, free Wi-Fi, safes, ironing facilities, and coffeemakers. Decor is generic and staid and doesn't vary much across categories, with a dark color scheme dominated by beige and brown tones along with touches of blue in the striped bedspreads and plaid carpets. Suites have separate bedrooms and living areas with dining tables, plus wet bars that give them the feeling of scaled-down apartments. Bathrooms are more or less the same across categories, with long granite countertops, simple toiletries, wall-mounted hairdryers, and shower/tub combos.

Facilities at the Wingate by Wyndham are geared toward business and transit travelers, and aren't bad for a mid-range airport hotel. There's a small outdoor pool that's just about big enough to get a few laps in, plus a 24-hour fitness center with free weights and cardio machines. There's also a small laundry room with a few coin-operated machines and a business center with a couple of computers and a printer. Three small meeting rooms are also available for rent for up to 40 guests seated banquet style. Wi-Fi is free and reliable throughout the hotel. On-site parking is also free and abundant for overnight guests, though many people staying here opt just to use the free airport shuttle, with departures every half hour. There's no proper restaurant for lunch and dinner, but the hotel does offer a free breakfast buffet with hot and cold items, with an impressive selection of items, ranging from cereal to hot biscuits and gravy. However, the breakfast room is small and can get crowded during peak breakfast hours. There's also a snack shop selling candy bars and beverages (including beer and wine) plus a smattering of easy-to-prepare foods (think microwave dinners and instant noodles).