Ramada by Wyndham Grand Forks

The hotel's standout feature is its expansive indoor pool and inviting hot tub, which are consistently highlighted as a major draw for guests, particularly families seeking recreational opportunities. Many visitors, including those on business trips and pet owners, find the hotel's amenities and atmosphere suitable for their needs. While the hotel is recognized for its welcoming staff and convenient location, guests frequently note its dated appearance and mixed experiences with room cleanliness. The complimentary breakfast is often praised for its variety and quality. To ensure a more comfortable stay, it is advisable to request a room away from the main pool area if noise is a concern, especially during busy periods, and to confirm room readiness upon arrival to avoid potential delays. Guests should also manage expectations regarding the hotel's older infrastructure, as many areas are in need of modernization.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers a large indoor pool that is a significant highlight for many guests, often described as warm and featuring a deep end and a baby pool, with the hot tub overflowing into the main pool to maintain its temperature. Some guests, however, have noted issues with the pool's cleanliness or the availability of towels. For entertainment, an arcade provides a fun diversion for children. The lobby area is generally perceived as welcoming and updated, complete with a fireplace and a piano, creating a pleasant atmosphere. However, the absence of an elevator can be inconvenient for guests with mobility issues or heavy luggage, as the hotel is a two-story building. While Wi-Fi is available, some visitors have reported it to be spotty or non-functional. Complimentary fresh cookies, cold water, and coffee are often appreciated amenities found in the lobby.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on cleanliness and room comfort is quite varied. Many visitors reported rooms to be dirty, citing hair on surfaces, various stains on bedding and carpets, and pervasive dust. Unpleasant musty or smoke smells were also noted, along with visible mold and mildew in bathrooms and around air conditioning units, and issues with uncleaned bathtubs and toilets. However, a number of guests found their rooms to be clean and well-maintained. The hotel's age is apparent, with rooms often described as dated and run down, featuring peeling wallpaper, non-functional electrical outlets, and signs of water damage. While many guests appreciated the comfortable beds and pillows, some found mattresses to be hard or worn. Noise levels are a concern for some, stemming from poolside activity, slamming doors, barking dogs, and highway traffic, as well as loud AC units. Temperature control can be problematic, with rooms being too hot or cold, and inconsistent water pressure in showers, leading to cold water or slow drains.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast offered at the hotel receives mostly positive feedback, with many guests describing it as good, nice, and filling. The breakfast variety is often praised, typically including scrambled eggs, sausages, waffles (with a DIY waffle maker), bagels, toast, coffee, juices, and yogurt. Most guests appreciate that the items are well-stocked, and the staff attending the breakfast area are generally attentive. However, some guests have found the breakfast to be simple or minimal, with occasional complaints about stale bagels, lack of fresh fruit, or the quality of the sausage. The hotel's restaurant is noted by several guests as being permanently closed. The on-site bar or lounge is considered a perk by many, offering casino machines and even impromptu karaoke nights, with some guests enjoying good drink prices. However, there are recurring issues with the bar's inconsistent opening hours and occasional reports of unhelpful or crabby bartenders. Pizza is typically the only food item served at the bar.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's location is generally considered convenient by guests, offering easy access to the highway and proximity to various points of interest such as a hospital, shopping areas, and the River Cinema. Guests also appreciate its closeness to dining options like McDonald's and a nearby steakhouse. However, the parking lot frequently receives negative comments, described as being in poor condition, sketchy, and lacking adequate security, despite its large size and availability for truck parking. Concerns about the immediate neighborhood are also raised, with some guests reporting a sketchy clientele, instances of crime, and the presence of broken-down vehicles or homeless individuals, leading to feelings of unsafety for some. The hotel's exterior and surrounding grounds are often noted as needing significant improvement and better maintenance to enhance the overall sense of security and appeal.

Staff & Service
Feedback on staff and service is quite mixed, though many guests praise the front desk staff for being friendly, professional, helpful, and accommodating, often going above and beyond to assist with requests or resolve issues. The check-in process is frequently described as easy and smooth, with some guests appreciating the possibility of early check-in. However, other guests have reported instances of rude or unprofessional behavior from staff, including unresponsiveness, lack of acknowledgment, and slow service. There are also complaints about unorganized check-in procedures and difficulties obtaining receipts. Housekeeping receives varied comments, with some guests finding rooms spotless, while others report issues with cleanliness or staff entering rooms without knocking. Maintenance is sometimes praised for quick responses to issues, but availability can be a problem. Management response is a point of contention; some guests found managers helpful, but many others reported managers being unavailable, unresponsive to complaints, or even dismissive, particularly regarding refund requests or forgotten items.

Additional Information
The hotel maintains a pet-friendly policy, allowing guests to bring their animals, though a daily fee is typically applied per pet. Some guests have noted challenges in finding suitable outdoor areas for pets. A significant concern raised by many visitors is the hotel's security, with reports of exterior doors not locking or requiring key card access, allowing unauthorized entry. This issue, combined with observations of questionable individuals on the property, has led to some guests feeling unsafe. The hotel's overall age and renovation status are frequently mentioned; while the lobby appears updated, many other areas, particularly the guest rooms and hallways, are described as old, dated, and in need of significant modernization. Despite a non-smoking policy, some guests have reported strong cigarette or marijuana smells in hallways. Furthermore, several guests have experienced difficulties obtaining refunds for various reasons, including dissatisfaction with room conditions or billing discrepancies, and some have been denied requests to ship forgotten personal items.