La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cleveland – Airport North

This La Quinta is a classic airport hotel that hosts a steady flow of transient travelers seeking a budget-friendly place to stay near the airport. The yellow facade with inset windows feels slightly dated, but the one-story lobby has a contemporary, chain-hotel feel with light gray-brown laminate floors, beige walls, and a dark wood reception desk. A little convenience store area sits the left of reception, while the breakfast room to the right is the main hub of activity, with swirled carpeting, granite-topped tables, and green and purple chairs. It all feels like a classic chain-hotel set-up, but it's a solid choice for airport travelers in particular, with a range of helpful freebies for those on the go.

La Quinta is just across the parking lot (two-minute walk) from the Puritas RTA station that provides public transit service to the airport, downtown, and other locations. The hotel is just off busy Interstate 71, which runs directly into downtown, but the immediate area is mostly commercial and a bit isolated, though it's possible to walk to a couple of restaurants and convenience stores in five to 10 minutes. Most downtown attractions are about a 15- to 20-minute drive, or 30 to 45 minutes by train. The hotel offers free parking (including bus parking), long-term parking options for air travelers, and a free airport shuttle that runs from early morning until late. It's about an eight-minute drive to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Rooms at La Quinta are spacious, contemporary, and clean with standard chain-hotel-style decor. A simple backdrop of dark wall-to-wall carpeting and white bedding and walls is dressed up by steel-gray accent walls and a few pleasant framed photos. Dark brown or reddish wood furniture, including roomy desks and chairs, are offset by armchairs upholstered in gold. Bathrooms are basic and somewhat outdated but functional, with white plastic shower/tub inserts, white tiling, and spacious granite vanities outside bathroom doors. Guests generally find the rooms clean and the pillow-top mattresses comfortable, though they occasionally complain of stained carpeting or other wear-and-tear. Some of this may be resolved during the soft renovations, ongoing during our early 2017 review, which involved replacing items such as curtains, carpeting, and mattresses. Rooms include flat-screen TVs with premium channels, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi, in addition to irons, ironing boards, and hairdryers. Upgraded rooms might add microwaves, mini-fridges, or sleeper sofas. 

Amenities are geared toward airport travelers and include free parking, a nice "Stay & Go" package for long-term parking during trips, and free airport shuttle service, offered from early until late. The hotel also serves a decent free breakfast buffet with old standbys like cereal and coffee, plus make-your-own waffles. While there's no full-service restaurant or bar, a small lobby convenience store sells snacks, beverages, and frozen, ready-to-microwave entrees. There's no business center, though meeting space is available, along with free Wi-Fi throughout. There is a fitness center, though it's small, with only three cardio machines. Coin-operated laundry machines are also on hand. Pets are allowed for no extra fee.