I stayed at the Best Suites Lafayette once in late 2000, when it was brand new. My employer was feeling the need to save the client some money and looked for the cheapest accommodation they could find near the intersection of Pinhook and Kaliste Saloom Roads, and the Best Suites was their choice. While not my favorite hotel in Lafayette, I must say that, for a budget hotel, the place wasn’t half bad. And, while I don’t have the repeat visits to judge the property by that I have at most of the other hotels in this journal, I can say that the air conditioning worked, the room was perfectly clean, the lighting and work areas were more than adequate, and there were no odd smells. If you don’t understand where I’m coming from on this, read the other hotel reviews in my Lafayette journal and you’ll see why these factors are important.
The Best Suites is an all-suite hotel. I had a Superior King suite, which featured a living room, bedroom, vanity/closet area and bathroom. The suite had two small televisions, one in the living room and one in the bedroom, and a mini-refrigerator and microwave unit. The furnishings were rather basic and plain, but the suite was comfortable and the bed had a better mattress than some places I’ve stayed that cost considerably more.
All guests receive a complimentary full breakfast buffet each morning, featuring a decent selection of hot and cold items, such as juices, coffee, and tea. While the free buffet is a nice touch, keep in mind that this a budget hotel and you get what you pay for. The food was edible, but tended to be bland and a little greasy. Unlike some other moderately-priced hotel chains that have a complimentary breakfast served on real plates, with real utensils, glasses, and mugs, everything here is served on disposable plates and utensils. I don’t consider that to be a major negative, but I do think a real plate, fork, knife, and spoon are a nice touch. But again, prices here average $90 a night for a full suite and hot breakfast; a similar suite and hot breakfast buffet anywhere else in town would be at least $30 to $40 more per night.
Overall, my impression of the Best Suites was that it was clean, well maintained, and a decent choice for an affordable all-suite hotel. I didn’t expect luxury, and yet I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable my large suite was. The spacious suite format and complimentary breakfast also might make it a good choice for families with children that desire some extra space and an affordable way to feed everyone in the morning.