Wingate by Wyndham Wilmington

This mid-range hotel from the Wyndham chain is an average and predictable option. The building it occupies is in typical Wyndham fashion: the white and pink structure features green trim and a porte cochere entrance flanked by the hotel's parking lot. Interiors are clean, but decidedly chainlike and ordinary -- think tile floors in the lobby paired with beige walls, warm-hued hardwood furnishings, and a central seating area with a couch and armchairs. The effect is homey and comfortable, with some potted plants dotted about, framed prints on the walls, and plenty of light. The breakfast room has a similar look, adding a colorful spotted carpet to beige and brown hues, plus there are plenty of leafy plants peppered about. The property draws both business travelers and tourists looking for a good value, and it also attracts plenty of visitors to nearby University of North Carolina Wilmington. 

The hotel is located right off of route 17, or Market Street, a heavily trafficked area in the eastern part of Wilmington. There are many other chain hotels in the immediate area as well as several chain restaurants and fast food places like Hooters, Chick-fil-A, and Dunkin' Donuts. The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a six-minute drive away (or 14 minutes by bus that stops a four-minute walk from the hotel), making this property popular with visiting parents and others in town for university reasons. Downtown Wilmington and its historic district is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel, or 28 minutes via a bus that stops a three-minute walk from the property. Wrightsville Beach is a 10-minute drive away. Other popular area attractions include the Airlie Gardens (eight-minute drive), the Bellamy Mansion Museum (nine-minute rive), the Battleship North Carolina (a museum on a battleship; 15-minute drive away), and the North Carolina Aquarium At Fort Fisher (37-minute drive). Wilmington International Airport is a 12-minute drive from the hotel. 

Rooms, like the rest of the hotel, are chainlike in style, but they're clean, pleasant, and fairly spacious. Decor is tasteful for chain fare, if bland, with a brown and silvery blue color scheme that includes striped carpeting and leaf-patterned bed runners accenting white bedding. Framed prints add interest to brown and beige walls, while dark wood furniture includes work desks with ergonomic chairs, nightstands, and dressers holding 40-inch flat-screen HDTVs. Even entry-level rooms have an armchair or a small couch; larger rooms add bigger sitting areas. Other standard amenities include microwaves, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. Suites have large living areas with dining tables, plus they have wet bars. Bathrooms feature tile floors and granite-topped sink vanities that offer a good amount of storage space. Bathrooms are equipped with shower/tub combos with plastic shower curtains, as well as wall-mounted hairdryers and individual toiletries. Deluxe Suites have whirlpool tubs.

Features add value to a stay. Free happy hour receptions (Monday through Thursday) in the evenings are a nice touch and well liked by guests. They offer a chance for guests to mingle while enjoying some free beer, wine, and snacks. The hotel also has a free breakfast buffet in the mornings that includes hot items like bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, and make-your-own waffles, along with cereals, bagels, muffins, fruit, coffee/tea, and juice. Some guests find the quality and quantity mediocre, but for others, it's a welcome perk.

The small fitness room offers only a handful of machines, including a treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, and step machine. It's open 24-hours and there are towels and a water dispenser on hand, while a wall-mounted flat-screen TV offers some entertainment. There's also an indoor whirlpool in a neighboring room that overlooks the gym. The small outdoor pool is open seasonally.

Business travelers are catered to with two meeting rooms as well as a business center with a computer, printer, and copy machines. Wi-Fi is free throughout, as is on-site parking in the hotel's outdoor lot.