Candlewood Suites Orange County/Irvine East

I’ve stayed in a couple of extended stays in southern California for the past 3 years and this is the nicest and cleanest thus far.

This was a really nice place to stay in. I liked the room because it was pretty big and had an apartment feel. That being said, I didn’t like that the curtains wouldn’t close all the way because the window looked out to the parking lot. Also, the next morning I was awakened by the bright sun which is alright but I couldn’t really get away from it because the window is pretty big. My friend and I went to their gym which was small but had a treadmill, weight rack, bouncy ball, larger machine for the arms & legs and a television (& water fountain). It was a little weird though because you could see the people in the lobby area. I would definitely recommend this place just choose somewhere else to eat breakfast because theirs is inside a vending machine/​fridge.

Before anything else, I wanted to point out a huge reason for my writing this review, Sean was a wonderful manager who made himself readily available to place my valentine’s flowers in her room upon delivery to the hotel. All the staff was more than willing to help and tend to even the smallest matters, to make the stay incredibly pleasant. Everything ranged from AC malfunction, bathroom upkeep, well-​equiped suite, very trustworthy staff, and impeccable customer satisfaction. It felt as if I was staying with family. I cannot thank the Candlewood team enough for making the stay wonderful.
I would highly recommend Candlewood Suites to family/​friends.

Love this place. I try to stay here every year I’m in Irvine. I’m never disappointed by this Candlewood location due to their customer service and always having a clean and comfortable stay. We were checked in by friendly staff who also pointed out they had free DVD rentals. One thing I noticed was a crack in the bathroom sink but other than that, the room is pristine and the bed was comfortable. I do love the more updated décor in this location. I also actually used the laundry facility during this stay, which offers free washers and dryers. The only thing I had to pay for was detergent and softener sheets (minor cost, much lower than a real laundromat). All in all, this is my first choice whenever I’m in this area. The cost per night is a great rate considering you have updated décor, clean bed, sheets and towels and a kitchenette. Best part, DOG FRIENDLY!

Angry. I booked my reservation with the corporate guest relations months before my arrival. Because I was blocking a stay greater than 3 months they gave me a deep discount. When I called to confirm my reservation a week before arrival trying to request a quiet room with this particular hotel (which is independently owed) the owner was angry at the rate I was given by corporate. The director of sales from this property said, «don’t adjust your reservation your rates are so good.» Nonetheless the property owner and manager overhead my existing reservation and raised my rate by $ 20 a day without notice on his own.
When you are coming to stay for 5 months with a $ 20 a per night increase the total increase is huge. I am pissed. I called corporate and they said they couldn’t help me and i would have to make the negotiations with the hotel.
At this point I am inclined to take them to small claims court.

Went to a show, and ended up not being able to drive home, in need of a room. It was 2 am, and I wanted someplace in oc. Called a couple places, booked then too high. Was beyond tired at that point, so we had the associate from holiday inn, check other places, and this one had rooms. I got there and the first room they showed me, the door lock was broken, and wouldnt work when you shut it. Also the room’s scent literally hurt my nose a little bit… it was kind of harsh. Again, I was so tired I just wanted to sleep anywhere. They quickly gave me another room, and it was much better. Clean air, and a door that works. Thats all I ask. Also, I really liked the whole room, it was very nice for the price, it was cozy and seemed very clean. When I travel, I literally seek out candlewood inn.

This was a new hotel for me and I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful the staff treated us and how really new the suite seemed. From the time we checked in we were greeted pleasantly and the whole check in process was easy and fast.
We were given our choice of which floor we’d prefer which was a nice touch and not offered at some other hotel chains I’ve stayed.
There was a full kitchen even in the studio suite and the bathroom space was a lot larger than I expected, and it also included a desk area as well as free fast wi-​fi! Price was very reasonable for the area and even though I was running late to check out, the staff was patient and didn’t rush me to leave the room.
I would recommend this hotel (at the Lake Forest, CA location) for a clean, reasonably priced hotel… they even had a «borrow» station that included board games to play. There was a full sized fitness area and a laundry room.

We were extremely disappointed (to say the least) with this hotel in every capacity! Picked this place because it advertises «pet friendly» — there is one TINY patch of grass in the parking lot with a road on the other side. We were misinformed of the pet fees (ended up being 75 PER PET), the room was FILTHY — luckily I travel with a bottle of clorox wipes; won’t share what I cleaned from the light switch and sink area of the rest room. There is no ice maker on the property — aside from that in your room which is powered off on default. I had asked the front desk staff for ice — was told they would bring it outside to us — the young woman I asked never came out, and I learned later that she left for the day after my request — without saying a word. The front office staff — in general was a bit rude and unaccommodating. I had asked for a Manager when we checked in (which was noon on Friday) and learned of the pet policy — was informed that there was NO MANAGEMENT on the premises, nor would there be until Monday. What kind of hotel has zero management presence for over 48 hours? Had it not been a holiday weekend — (leading to low availability at other hotels in the area) we would have walked out immediately after seeing the room.
Also just noticed the photo shown below of a room — our room looked NOTHING like this… It was dingy, outdated and equipped for handicap access (which we are not) — and overall extremely unpleasant to be in — given the bigger set of circumstances.
Will not return for a multitude of reasons…

Very decent and functional hotel. This is obviously a suite and comes well equipped with a kitchenette. Looks decently maintained. I usually avoid booking into suites, I kind of hate that weird smell since people usually stay for longer periods of time and cook as well, so invariably the rooms are very sooty and the silverware on the tables are sticky and what not. Surprisingly this place was ok. They have a nice gym and laundry. The rooms smell ok and bed was fine as well. It’s a very functional hotel. They don’t serve breakfast, but lot of options nearby on Bake Parkway.
I stayed there for one night and it was pretty peaceful. Since I booked through
, they gave me a handicap access room, fairly large and lot of space. The bathrooms were pretty decent. Well managed. I liked it.

I stayed here with a group of friends coming back from a trip to Mexico. We had a total of four suites. Since we were dog-​tired and I had chosen the hotel, I was hopeful that everyone would be happy with our rooms. We were! Check in was a breeze; the girl working the desk was pleasant and answered all our questions. She showed us a list of DVDs we could check out for free. They also offered free washer/​dryer services, books, gym, and board games.
The room was not that big, but was clean and the bed was comfy. The kitchenette had everything needed to make a meal; a sign posted offered a blender or any other kitchen appliance needed from the front desk. The bathroom was clean and had a nice shower head with great flow. The only ding they get is that the bathroom sink plug didn’t work; my hubby wanted to fill the sink to shave and couldn’t get it to stay closed. If we had been staying more than one night, we would have asked for it to be fixed. We would definitely stay here again.

Let me sum it up for you «Ka-BLAM…Ka-BLAM…Ka-BLAM…Ka-BLAM…» That’s the sound of the paper thin, spring-​loaded doors SLAMMING shut, all day, and well past midnight. It will begin again at 6 AM, leaving you with about 4.5 hours of sleep — interrupted sleep, which can be worse than none at all. I stayed at the Irvine location for two miserable days and nights back in 2008, and I feared I would regret this weekend as well. I even bought earplugs out of my prior experience just in case… They don’t work, as the bed shakes whenever anyone below, above, or adjacent lets their door slam shut.
I have never, ever heard anything this bad, and I’ve been in more hotels than 90% of the U.S. population. The doors don’t even seal, and you can see the light shining right through into the kitchenette. Turn the fan in to drown out the noise you say? Ha! The thermostats are on motion sensors, and the fan is not enough to overcome the door noise, even down the hall. I set the temp just above the room temp to see if that would work, and the heater came on. 25 minutes later and I can still smell the burning, dusty, whatever that smell is. (Ugh/​arghh/​yuck! It’s actually all three.)
The only way the noise at these places will be remedied is if they replace ALL the doors with outdoor, insulated, sealed-​frame doors. Other than that, if you stay here, you will hate your life the next day, and every day until you leave. Seriously, a campground would have been a better option. Clean, decent location, but what’s the point if you’re up all night? It’s 12:45… I went to bed at 10:30. Need I say more?
Oh yeah, and since I’m not sleeping, I forgot to mention that when the toilets adjacent/​below/​above do flush, it sounds like someone is kicking a hole in the wall. So there’s that to also contend with in between the doors.

This is a pretty nice place to stay. they have everything you want during vacation, the stove, microwave… I stay here with my wife for 2 days. Like it…

My boyfriend and I stayed in a beautiful room with stove dishwasher and full fridge. It felt like home. Free WiFi, free laundry, and friendly service. One of the few places that has a dvd and vhs player. Best of all, they allowed us to check in really early (8am) with no additional charge.

After a flood of our home required us to move to a hotel for an extended time, we were apprehensive about finding a place that would be comfortable, long-​term, convenient, and also accept pets — we have a small Chiweenie. We checked in at midnight, after discovering the flood damage, and have been there two weeks. We couldn’t be more pleased.
The staff has been exceptionally helpful with making copies of important documents for us, and making sure we have everything we need. The entire place is spotless, but in particular, our room is very clean and has all the amenities we need — including an onsite laundry.
We highly recommend this property and although we are ready to get back into our home again, Candlewood Suites has been a great home-​away-​from-​home for us.

I just spent a week here so I think I’m qualified to review these folks. I also spend over 100 nights a year in IHG properties so I KNOW I’m qualified to review these folks.
Keep in mind that this is an extended stay joint so there is no daily maid service or bar or restaurant. There is a very nicely appointed gym.
It’s good to keep in mind some reviewers have the IQs of golf balls.
* Yes there is nothing within walking distance but a couple of quick taps on your Unilocal app and you’ll discover dozens of places within a 5 minute drive. Anyone with half a brain could find this out in two minutes on Unilocal or Google. It’s a tiny inconvenience at most.
* For my week my room was dead quiet every night.
* My room was also spotless and the bed was comfortable.
* The water temperature and pressure was just fine.
* The folks at the front desk were friendly and competent, especially Denise.
* I enjoyed a great room for $ 81 a night which is darn good in OC.
For me location was of prime importance and these folks delivered 4 stars!

I usually like Candlewood Suites. I know what I am getting in to with the extended stay places, but I like the positive trade offs like the mini kitchen.
So first the good: The front desk staff I interacted with were great! The room is what you’ve come to expect, with the exception of two problems that ultimately force me give the rating I am giving.
First, there were no dark, heavy blinds. There were some transparent blinds that would shut all the way, but the heavy black out curtains would not cover the window at all. So whether you like it or not, if sunlight wakes you up, 7 am is your wake up time!
Finally, the pillows were downright HORRIBLE! The firm ones were lumpy at best. And the soft ones were almost nonexistent.
An added thumbs down is nothing is walking distance. It’s a strange area of the OC, very industrial like. And so there isn’t a coffee place or other food you can quickly hop out of the hotel to go grab.
Candlewoods can be great, but research what you are getting in to. The staff ere is great, but the rooms need some simple upgrades before I can give it a higher rating!

I have to stay here for work, which is definitely unfortunate.
–The first room I stayed in on the 3^rd floor smelled like someone smoked an entire pack of cigarettes inside before they left. The room was labeled non smoking. I actually smelled like smoke when I left the room the next day. Fortunately, they let me switch to a second floor room that didn’t smell.
–The AC is incredibly loud. I opted to turn it off and open the window at night, but then there is some sort of generator going on and off all night.
–The location SUCKS. If you’re without a car, you’re out of luck. There are a whopping 2 places that deliver here. Pizza. You can go downstairs to the «grab and go», where there are 1000 calorie microwaveable snacks.
–Since the housekeeping is only once a week, there are trash bins at the end of each hallway. People just throw their trash bags next to it on the floor once it’s full.

I really enjoyed my stay at the Candlewood Suites in Lake Forest. This was my first stay at a Candlewood Suites so if, like me, you are not familiar with them here’s what you need to know. These are geared towards extended stays, so maid service is once a week, there’s no restaurant in the hotel or room service. This isn’t the Ritz, so if that’s the kind of experience you’re looking for, keep searching.
However, what you do get is a nice private space with all the things that you need. There’s a kitchenette that’s stocked with dishes and full-​sized fridge, a spacious desk area, and a bed for your main area. I found all to be nicely kept and very functional. The bathroom was actually quite a bit nicer than I had anticipated as well.
I was here for work, so for me this was perfect. As my title states, it felt very much like a home away from home — my own private space and less like a hotel. The wireless internet is free (Free! — pay attention some of you expensive hotel chains!!) and worked flawlessly throughout my stay, even doing a lot of VPN connections to my office. So I was completely satisfied and will happily stay here next time I’m doing work in the area.

My company put me up while we were opening a new restaurant in orange county — and let me tell you they picked a good one! I can’t believe they only have two stars… I had to stay one week and then come back up again for a few more days after a day of rest back in San Diego and was totally pleased to stay here again.
About the room: Comfy, super clean, smells great! They have a kitchenette with a full fridge, stovetop, microwave, dishwasher and cabinet stocked with plates cups cookingware a toaster a coffee pot and everything you need while away from home. The bed is for sure better than the one I currently own! New desks and nice flat screen tv’s which i hooked my HDMI cable up to and watched movies off my laptop on. I have had studio apartments that have less than the suites I stayed in.
Amenities: Ok no pool, but honestly who has the time? The gym is good and has really nice equipment. Laundry on site and a room full of snacks! Free parking and lots of it too.
The Staff: More than accommodating! Everyone was so nice and moved around stay times for myself as well as a few other San Diego employees because the open day was pushed back for the store we were working on. When I came back up after a day back in San Diego the girl at the front desk knew who I was and was so sweet. We made short minute bookings and the cost was great and everyone was very helpful
Overall: For few nights far from home, this place has been amazing. I have slept soundly and comfortably and I will always stay here when I come to this area. I hope the candlewood in San Diego is as nice because I am putting my family up there instead of the floor of my apartment the next time they visit from Boston. On behalf of the Luna Grill employees, thanks for being an awesome place to stay and we will be back!

Christmas time is here and that means family coming in. Don’t want them staying with you? Send them here. The staff is always friendly and knowledgable.
They have just completed a renovation of the rooms and it all looks much nicer, especially the bathrooms.
The location of this specific one is great as it is out of the way, not in a typical hotel-​type spot. They also always give my returning family members a discount.