There's a new Courtyard at the Billy Graham Pkwy-Tyron St South and I-77 triangle.....about a 15 min drive from CLT airport on Billy Graham South towards I-77. tele: 704-945-6800

It's a complete re-hab of the Registry Hotel (which is what comes up on GPS and other maps) at 321 W. Woodlawn Rd (Billy Graham Pkwy becomes Woodlawn Rd at the Tryon St intersection).

Everything is fresh and clean, colorful and bright (they say the hotel has been open about 2 weeks at this point.....the rate of $89 got my attention!) Rooms seem about 25% larger than other recently built Courtyards. There's the usual two-level desk and a flat screen TV with full basic cable, about 50 channels (including BBC America).

AC/Heat is the usual under-window units.....but all-new with thermostat on wall.

Rooms have a microwave and small fridge nicely tucked into what was probablty the original small open closet in the rooms......now there's the usual Courtyard stand-alone closet-with-doors. For food, ask for directions to the upscale Harris-Teeter grocery on Park St, just south of Woodlawn Rd.

Sometimes a concern with the re-hab of older hotels is the bathroom. My ordinary room had a bathroom fully re-done.....the tub area turned into a rectangular shower with glass panels, and a sink/vanity area a bit narrower than usual to keep bathroom spacious.

The first-floor Bistro area is much larger than usual, and also more cozy with curved banquette seating areas. (No liquor license as of this date.) There's an outdoor 2nd floor patio with comfy padded wicker chairs and a fireplace.....it looks like it may start to be used as an outdoor smoking lounge. Luckily, the outdoor pool area is separate from this patio.

Possible problems......there's only 1 elevator I can see from lobby for the 6-floor tower of rooms, and the lobby is on 2nd floor....so sometimes you have to wait for elevator to go down to 1, then wait for it to return to 2 to go up........because of the divided highway you can't easily get to the hotel from directions other than from the airport....you'll have to go past the hotel, then make a U-turn somewhere down the road

Enjoy!