Please post your experiences at a I95 hotel

[singitalto]

We will be driving down to WDW from NY in Sept. I have wanted to start a post that people could post what hotels they have used, and if they were good or bad.
Please post: town and state, hotel and rate you paid (and if you used like roomsavers or another coupon), and if it was good or bad.
I'll start:

Fayetteville, NC- HOLIDAY INN: I have stayed here (throught priceline last year 3X for $11.95 total each time) and found if you stay on the second floor the rooms are renovated-nice and clean. If they give you the cheaper 1st floor rooms, they need renovation badly, they are bad!! Disgusting carpets, stained cealings and bugs!! Obviously they are inconsistant, depending on the room-(NOTE- my parents stayed on the first floor and their room wasn't that bad, mine was!) The only plus is they have an indoor pool that was great!!(Oh and kids eat free in the restaurant) I would only stay here if the room was on the 2nd floor.

NEXT!

[PeterPam]

We stayed at Howard Johnsons in Rocky Mount, NC. It was disgusting! The sheets were too small for the bed and they were ripped. The room was dirty. We checked in really late, slept for 6 hrs. and got back on the road. I think the rate was aprrox. $37 for the night. We usually stay at the Comfort Inn at Rocky Mount, but decided to try and save a few bucks.....
We learned our lesson! Yuck!

[AF Brenda]

Days Inn in Florence, SC, exit 157 - NASTY!! We paid $34.95/night, but had DH not been with me, no way would I have stayed there, alone or with the kids.

[sueg]

In Oct., 2001, DH & I stayed at the Spring Hill Suites in Richmond, VA. Other than some problems w/ the directions from the marriot website, this hotel was fine & was newly constructed. Not as reasonably priced as the above mentioned stops, but still less than $100 w/ a nice breakfast included.

[lookingforward]

Sheraton in Fayatteville, NC. It was okay. The rooms were very clean and adequate. There was an indoor pool which had about 200 kids in it(okay, I exagerate). I would stay in the hotel again but the hotel's restaurant was HORRIBLE. There were long waits at Cracker Barrel ((across the street) and other local restaurants so we ate there. We waited an hour for our food and it was horrible.

[jenny2]

We stayed at the Marriot Courtyard in Florence, SC for about $80. It's fairly new... highly recommended! They have an indoor swimming pool (that's what bought me!), gym, room service, clean rooms, comfortable beds, etc. The buffet breakfast was not included (it was all you can eat for $6) but they did have coffee, tea, juice, danish and bagels that were included.

It was a really nice place... we've said we'll stay there again if we're in the area.

[Macnjac87]

Ok here goes:

We've stayed twice at the Fairfield Inn in Woodbridge, VA, about 40 minutes south of DC on 95. Brand new, beautiful, indoor pool and free breakfast, would definitely recommend it. About $70 per night w/internet rate.

We stayed once (and only once) at the Hampton Inn in Emporia, VA. Hard to find, bad area, no decent food nearby and sirens all night long. Rooms were clean, although no central lobby, like the new Hampton Inns again. We put a chair against the door we were so unnerved!! (Still looking for a decent hotel in this area as this is where we usually stop on the way back up from Dis to NY) $80 per night.

We've stayed twice at the Fairfield Inn in Brunswick, Georgia. Brand new, lots of palm trees, lots of food nearby and outdoor pool, free breakfast, around $70 per night. Very close to Florida border. Highly recommend this one.

[WdwJon]

AF Brenda,

Could you elaborate on what the Days Inn was like. I have booked that same one for an overnight in July. I know they say you get what you pay for. Now I'm thinking maybe I should fork over some more. Thanks,

Jon

[JudithM]

We really like Hampton Inns; we have stayed a a few up & down the East Coast. Along I95 we have found very nice Hampton Inns in Florence, SC & Richmond Hills, GA. In Santee, SC we stayed a couple of times at Clark's Motel - it is a family run motel with a restaurant on the property - very nice, clean room, good food. One tine we stopped at a Best Inn near Brunswick, GA. We renamed it the WORST Inn.

[skiwee1]

I've also stayed at the Sheraton in Fayetteville and will never again! We stayed there last October on our return trip home. The place caught on fire about 10pm the night we were there. The hotel manager didn't even feel the need to evacuate the top floors so some of the people staying there actually went door to door to evacuate. The fire chief told me that that this hotel always has problems and to make it worse, it doesn't have an adequate sprinkler system. It wasn't working that evening and the chief said it hadn't worked properly in a year! We were not allowed to return to our room except under escort to get our stuff. Finally at midnight I was able to get in and pack up. We moved to the Comfort Inn that was right next store for a little less then what we paid for the Sheraton and much nicer to boot! I was pretty angry at the overall condition of the Sheraton in the first place. The AAA book said it was a new hotel when it was at least 15 years old! The manager at the Comfort Inn said that it was the second fire that year for that Sheraton. So if anyone is looking for a hotel in Fayetteville, stay away from the Sheraton!!! :p

[skiwee1]

Has anyone stayed at the Hampton Inn in Santee, SC? I just booked a room there for one night on the way to WDW next month. Anyone? Thanks!:)

[Luv2Dream]

We've stayed at the Comfort Inn in Lorton, VA which is just up the road about a block from the Autotrain station. It was clean, friendly and overall a nice experience. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. Can't remember the price but it wasn't over $100/night.

[Macnjac87]

Hi Skiwee-
We have ressies at the Hampton Inn in Santee, SC for next Sunday 4/7; on our way down to WDW from New York. I had posted this question a while back and a someone posted a positive review of this hotel; clean, food nearby, outdoor pool, etc. I will let you know- when are you leaving? I won't be back until 4/21. My email is Macnjac87@aol.com

9 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[skiwee1]

I will be going April 28 and returning May 7, 2002. I can't wait to go! I called the Hampton Inn up last week before booking and asked about the pool. He said it wasn't heated and it was opened year round. I wonder how cold it is down there? Anyway, have a great trip and let me know how the hotel was! Thanks!:)

[singitalto]

Just bumping up. I want to collect all the info and put it all together, so we all know where to stay at and where to avoid. Thanks!

[buzz5985]

Rocky Mount, NC
Red Roof Inn
$46
Our main reason for staying - allowed small dogs. Room was clean, a couple of small stains on the rug. Quiet. Outdoor pool. Too cold when we were there. (2/23) A lot of restaurants, a mall, and a Crispy Creme store. Still haven't tried one yet.

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I'm pretty sure we stayed at the Hampton Inn in Santee, SC. I remember staying at a Hampton Inn off I-95 about midway through SC. Looking at the map, I believe this is the same one; I recognize some of the city names around it. Main complaint is that all of the nearby cities with AOL dialup numbers were long distance calls, so remember that if you want to check your e-mail. I don't think I've ever had a bad stay at a Hampton Inn. They all seem to have the same standards of cleanliness and comfort throughout the chain. The one in Santee did have interior hallway access for the rooms and, I believe, an indoor pool (don't hold me to that, though).

We've stayed at a couple of Microtel Inns in Savannah, both off I-95. One was near Pooler, the other was south of the city. Pretty nice places, fairly cheap, full cable (important to DW, who likes to fall asleep watching Nickelodeon), but make sure you bring your own shampoo.

One I wouldn't recommend is a Best Western in St. George, SC, just off I-95. Clean, all ground floor rooms, quiet, but the bed was not the most comfortable and the breakfast left something to be desired in the way of options.

[wdwsue]

I drive to Disney every year and what I have found is that the motels along 95 are very heavily used. What we do now is stop when where ready and look for the newest motel stop there ask to see a room and then make a discision. We have stayed at all the chains and you really can't tell what they will be like. If your making an advanced reservation I would ask what year the motel was built.

[zoe dog]

Has anyone stayed at either of these (both right off I-95):

- "Comfort Inn" on Crater Road in Petersburg VA ??

- "Econo Lodge - Savannah Pooler" on Hwy 80 in Pooler GA ??

Good AAA rates and both have a pool.

Will probably eat sandwiches, etc. from our cooler so doesn't much matter if there are restaurants around.

Thanks,
Zoe Dog

[OKW91]

We stayed in the Days Inn at Selma NC, and it was the dirtest place I have ever stayed in! The price was in the mid $40.

We have stayed in the Country Inn & Suites on our last two trips down, both in Richmond and in Kingsland GA, these are very, very nice priced $55 using coupons. We now try to stop where ever there is a Country Inn & Suites. NO MORE DAYS INN for us!!!!!!

[wdisneelvr]

Thanks for posting these reviews.


You can find more great info at this I-95 website:


http://www.usastar.com/i95/lodging.htm

[JudithM]

OKW91, I had forgotten how awful that Days Inn was in Selma, NC - we stopped there in December 1993 - never again. Guess some things never change.

[C.Ann]

Oh my gosh! I can't believe it! Someone else who had the sad misfortune of spending the night in Emporia, VA... The whole town was creepy - let alone the hotels! My son-in-law decided we'd spend the night there on on way back from WDW although I had begged him to stop before we crossed the line into VA.

I can't remember if it was the Hampton we stayed at but it was bad, bad, BAD.. I think he paid $65 a night and I was never so scared in my life.. We were on the ground floor and I kid you not when I tell you that the room next-door to ours didn't even have a DOOR HANDLE!! He and my DD slept in the bed closest to the door (which I shoved a chair in front of after he went to sleep) and I laid all night in the other bed - with my 3 yr. old granddaughter in my arms - and didn't sleep a wink.. Doors slamming, people banging things around, sirens, tractor-trailer trucks - you name it.. The other night I was watching one of those real cop shows and they arrrested this murderer in Emporia, VA and I SWEAR it looked just like the hotel room WE were in!!

DO NOT STOP IN EMPORIA - KEEP RIGHT ON GOING!!!!!!!!!!

[LunarLady]

:D :D :D :D Please forgive me for laughing, C. Ann, I know it must have been terrible and maybe my mood is a little off this morning, but:

You just gave me the wonderful picture of how I think Lucille Ball would have acted in "I Love Lucy" if she and Ricky had spent the night in a dive like the hotel you described in Emporia! :D :D :D

I can just see you with your red hair in curlers shoving a chair up under the door handle while Ricky sleeps soundly and happily in the next bed, then clutching little Ricky with your eyes wide open and bugging out at the sounds we hear offstage.

So Lucy, I mean C. Ann, turns on the TV to try and relax and there's a news bulletin about a hostage situation or an escaped convict and the reporter is standing outside of what appears to be the very same hotel THEY'RE staying in! Can you hear the audience laughter? I can! Can you hear Lucy screaming "Ricky!! Ricky!!" and him jumping up disheaveled, screaming sleepily back; "Wha?...Wha?" :D

I really sorry.....just got a chuckle when you mentioned, breathlessly; "The other night I was watching one of those real cop shows and they arrrested this murderer in Emporia, VA and I SWEAR it looked just like the hotel room WE were in!!" It just sent my mind reeling off on a tangent of "What would Lucy do?"

I apologize. My mind entertains me at the most inopportune moments. I know it was probably heartstopping for you.

[C.Ann]

No problem.. I've actually chuckled about it since then myself and have told my son-in-law that I will NEVER go on vacation with him again.. When he asked why I simply replied, "Let's just say you're not very good vacation material.."

Was telling another friend about it and she said, "Oh no! He checked you into a hooker hotel??" I thought I'd fall on the floor laughing but quite frankly, I could see this place renting by the "hour" as opposed to by the night..

By the way, the biggest event in Emporia appears to be the "Peanut Festival".. Does that tell you anything? KEEP ON GOING....

Excellent Lucy/Ricky scenario - you should be a screenwriter!! :)