Best/Worst hotel/motel chains?

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
What is it you don't like about Motel 6, Super 8, Days Inn, Knights Inn?

No pictures on the walls? So close to highway to be noisy? Rowdy folks in the pool all night? Only ten TV channels?

To add to Anne's list:
Free breakfast that's instant coffee and stale doughnuts. Towels and sheets that are threadbare with holes. Mildew and mold throughout the room and bath. Bathroom fixtures with huge chips/holes. Locks that aren't secure. Cigarette burns throughout.

Some people have posted (pre-paid and couldn't afford to give up the money) actually go to Wal-Mart and buying sheets and towels.

The ratings in this thread pretty well match the annual reviews (reader poll) in Consumers Reports.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

As for my hatred of Days Inn, we satyed at one in Columbia, SC. They hadn't changed the sheets and one of the pillows had men's aftershave all over it. Called the manager and was told to flip the pillow over. The outlets were uncovered. There were holes in the wall as well.

I even complained to their corporate office and never got a reply. Others have backed up my claims.

I have no problems staying in low budget hotels as long as they are clean. But, I would rather sleep in my car than stay at a Days Inn again.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Originally posted by ducklite
...Super 8, one of the few with interior corridors--woke to the fire alarm at aout 3:00am, hotel on fire, someone cooking on hotplate in the room. ...
Anne

We also stayed in a Super 8 with interior corridors and the fire alarm went off at about 2AM in the morning - twice, about a 1/2 hour apart. The second time they evacuated everyone from the hotel. Someone got wet with the sprinklers going off in their room (just across the hall and a room down from us). We were told it was a malfunction.

 

[leebee]

Travelodge...we've stayed in 4 different locations and all have been horrible! Dirty, mildewy, holes in bedding and towels, gunk growing in toilets, etc. Yes, there were unfortunate reasons for staying in these locations; after the first 2 times (1st cuz we didn't know any better, 2nd 'cuz maybe we just got a bad place last time) we should have known to just keep driving the last 2 times! NeverNeverNever again!

 

[Chuck S]

Worst: I stayed at a days inn ONCE, there were rats in the room.

Motel 6's are iffy, there are a few nice ones out there, they are simply few and far between.

Ramada Inn, also iffy, some nice ones, most are not well maintained.

Courtyard by Marriott, stayed there once, room needed a thorough cleaning.

Best:

Hampton Inn, have never been disappointed.

Comfort Inns, most have been pretty nice. There have been a few exceptions

Baymont Inn - OK, nothing special, stayed there once.

Microtel - Stayed there once - it was pretty nice, but I prefer Hampton Inn.

 

[jimmiej]

Hampton Inn, have never been disappointed.

IA w/Chuck S.

 

[eljojo]

no hearsay here about Ramadas - one in Orlando - beer bottles all over the grass, no hot water for 3 days - when management was called, they would either laugh or hang-up on us. People were checking out as soon as they checked in. Gave Ramada another chance in New York -elevators didn't work, dirty, no customer service. Two strikes you're out in my book!

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We like Hampton Inns. They have always been clean and in good shape. Nice free breakfast, too.

Days Inn - Awful. We stayed at one in Jacksonville, FL that was full of bugs. Unforturately we were so tired from driving all day. We didn't have the energy to move to another motel at 11pm.

So we spent the night and left 1st thing in the morning. We were in such a hurry to get out of there we didn't shower. We just left.

We also stayed at one in Hardeeville (sp) SC. That was the pits too. Never stayed at another.

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

Have to agree with everyone else about Ramada. Stayed at one in Oxford, NC(it's not Ramada anymore, it's something else now), and the room was run-down and nasty. Scratches on the walls and roaches in the room.

I always stay at Hampton Inns and Holiday Inn Express. I have always been satisfied with them.

 

[Doodlebug939]

We always figure out where we want to stop along the way when we are traveling and then I look at AAA tour books for ideas. But I have learned the hard way not to believe the photos.

When we moved down here I had us booked at a hotel with an indoor pool somewhere in Alabama, Mobile I believe but I am not sure. It was a Days Inn or Comfort Inn. The photos looked really nice in the and the rate was great. Well I walked in an the lobby seemed nice and I checked in. The room was ok if you were a college kid and used to cramped spaces. The indoor pool (The main reason we stayed there) was green an you couldnt even see the bottom. I told the staff that I couldnt stay their because of that. They were offended!!! But when they walked down to the pool with me they saw for themselves and said, "Oh we havent been down here in a few days!" More like years. So we left and found a Country Inn and Suites and was really happy there.

So when we went to Orlando we were going to stop in Gainesville but the excitement was too much and I just wanted to get to Orlando. So it was an obvious choice to stay at County Inn and Suites. It was over by the Pirate Show on Universal I believe or close too it. When we got to our room it was not to our standards. The carpet was all nasty and the wall paint was all chipped and peeling. The odor was something I cant explain. Just not what we experienced at the other hotel.

So I have learned to read about hotels on Trip Advisor. People are pretty good about giving their opinion with honesty. So I recommend www.Tripadvisor.com Hope it helps.

 

[harleyquinn]

This thread has been very enlightning!

Thank you everyone! Now I just have to decide whether to wing it or reserve a room!

 

[Chicago526]

I agree with doodlebug, check out www.tripadvisor.com for any hotel before booking. Beware of any hotel that has a lot of negitive reviews. Every hotel will have a few, but if there seem to be A LOT more than normal, and if all the complaints list the same problems in each review, skip that hotel and try to find something else.

I've had good luck at Marriots for higher end and Best Westerns at the middle end. My BF stayed at Holiday Inns when he traveled 200 plus days a year for his last job and overall liked the chain. My company's president loves Hampton Inns when he just needs a clean room for a night near an airport.

 

[janie91]

We have had good experiences with Fairfield Inn.