Don't ever stay at a Comfort Inn

[Bluesplayer]

My wife and I drove from Minneapolis to Ohio last month for my son's wedding, and to do some house-hunting. We had made reservations at a Comfort Inn that was centrally located near all of the wedding festivities, over the web for a 4 night stay. We arrived at the Comfort Inn in Elyria, Ohio around midnight, weary from the long drive, and looking forward to collapsing in happy exhaustion in a clean fluffy bed.

I'm in a wheelchair, and the first sign of trouble was that the doors were locked, so a clerk had to unlock them. She chose not to actually hold them open in simple human assistance, so my wife had to struggle with that on her own. When I commented that they should invest in some automatic doors, the clerk, who looked like she might be a participant in a work-release program shot me a look that curled my toes.

Rather than a clean, comfortable room, here's what we got, instead.















Had we not been so dead tired, we would have left right away. I went to bed (in my clothes, thinking that would protect me from the bugs) and my wife took some pics before turning in (also fully dressed).

Needless to say, we checked out as soon as we were conscious again, and moved to a nearby Holiday Inn that was surprisingly nice and affordable. We ended up staying almost a week. We did find a house, and the closing is later this month.

The manager of this dump has repeatedly refused to return my calls and demands for a refund, but he did send me a nice form letter. I just talked to the hotel again today, repeating my demands, and promising to post this story and these pictures everywhere that I can think of.

Fellow Dems - please don't stay at any Comfort Inn! Viva la huelga!

[Critters2]

1. Wow. I've stayed at Comfort Inns that were fine--but

this is UNACCEPTABLE!! That's just filthy!

I assume these are franchises. You might want to check to see of that's true, and if it is, contact the corporate offices with these pictures. If the guy thinks he's in danger of losing his franchise, he might start returning phone calls!

[triguy46]

25. As with all hotels, even within the same chain, some good, some bad.

Case in point. The hampton inn at Los Alamos is fantastic, and at $89 a night could be the best hotel deal in New Mexico. The hampton 75 miles away in North Albuquerque is a complete and utter dump. Got my money back from them at check out by complaining.

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. Complain to corporate.

The manager is highly likely to be aware of the problem, but corporate isn't going to want these pictures posted on the internet. (oops!:)).

There is a "contact us" feature on the comfort inn website. Tell them the place is a dump and that you have pictures. If you know the address, I'd also report these folks to the health department. That room looked nasty.

[Orsino]

9. ...and include the photos.

This will tell them what might end up on the news, and will probably get you at least a half-hearted apology. If they're smart, they will work to make it right.

[Critters2]

3. The Choice Hotels Customer Service e-mail addy

is

[email protected]

Write 'em and attach these pics!!

[Bluesplayer]

4. I've talked to corporate

In fact, that was where I started as soon as we got home. I sent them the pictures, and they referred me to the local manager to actually get a refund.

Now that I've gotten no satisfaction from the local manager, I'll contact the corporate guys again, and include links to the places that I've posted these pics.

Thanks for the tips - I'll keep you posted!

[stuntcat]

5. GROSS

yah, send those very pictures to everyone
Whether you get anything back from it or not, everybody needs to see that, heck you could show the other hotels in the area, maybe the business leader types (or whoever) for that town.. everyone :puke:

[begin_within]

6. I thought that shower head looked familiar.

[Bombero1956]

7. post your story here

Tripadvisor.com

From what I see they have 7 bad reviews out of 8. You can post your pictures there too.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?ssrc=r&where=body&returnTo=&geo=1&pid=141&SearchTeaser=&q=Comfort+Inn+in+Elyria%2C+Ohio&submit.x=29&submit.y=13&submit=submit

[Critters2]

27. It was odd that there were 8 HORRIBLE reviews

and one that made the place sound better than perfect. Made me wonder if an employee posted the good one. It was just TOO different from the others to be real.

[Bombero1956]

30. that's right

in contrast the place my wife and I stayed at this weekend had 22 reviews with only 2 considered "bad" and one of the reviews wasn't because the hotel was bad but because finding the place proved difficult. I highly recommend using this site before booking a room.

[lynne]

8. Disgusting! I don't blame you for leaving and I'd want my money back, too -

- but I've stayed at Comfort Inn numerous times with no major complaints. I think you must have found one of the worst ones on the planet! Hope that they make it right with you.

[SeattleGirl]

10. Had a similar experience, but at a Motel 6 in Reno.

We went there with my family to watch the Oregon-Nevada/Reno football game. There were also other things going on in town that weekend, including an air show, so rooms were scarce. We got to our room, and it was, if possible, a bit worse than yours. Even the AIR felt dirty.

Didn't dare sit in the chair in the room. It had questionable stains on the seat. We also slept fully clothed, and I swear, I slept so close to the edge of the bed it's a wonder I didn't fall off during the night.

The next morning, I took a shower, and the towel was so small, and so thin, it was the last straw. I burst into hysterical laughter (the kind that's just this side of crying). MrSG thought I had lost my mind (I was close). When I calmed down, I started calling other hotels. Ended up getting a room at the Circus Circus (which is much nicer than the one in Vegas), and that's where we stayed for the rest of the time we were there.

When we went to check out, we told them that we found the room unacceptable, and asked for our money back. They gave it to us, no problem.

I have stayed in other Motel 6's, and they were all clean, so this had to be an aberration.

Worst night in a motel EVAH.

[Wcross]

13. I had a GREAT room at motel 6 in London, Ontario.

It might have been because it was a brand new hotel but it was excellent.

[Nevernose]

32. Actually, I've stayed at really nice Motel 6s, ie the one in Roswell, NM

New, clean, indoor pool. It was one of the nicer "highway motels" I've stayed in.

Of course, that was before the Eastern New Mexico Narcotics Intervention Task Force drug dog barked at my moving van, and I spent all night there unpacking a very full moving truck so the police could inspect the possessions.

The only thing the dog ever got a "hit" off of was one of the moving blankets I'd rented.

Right as they began pulling things out, I said, "You know, I work for the DA's office. I know you don't have access to it, but if you want me to run myself through the FBI's database and show you the results, I can." That was just the FIRST time that night they gave one another the "oh my god, I think we fucked up" look.

I was really impressed with the dog, though, and their DA's foresight in making me sign a fourth amendment waiver, and I was really tired when I hiked through Carlsbad the next day.

[Lex]

11. Some are nice, some are terrible. They are franchises & their condition

and cleanliness depend on the owner of that particular one.

However, since they are franchises, Comfort Inn corporate offices need to know if they have a franchisee who's not keeping a nice and clean motel.

[flvegan]

12. Um...is that BLOOD on the couch?

:scared:

[idgiehkt]

17. lol, I'd wanna swab it and pour the purple stuff on it just to see....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Then hit the whole damn room with a black light.

:scared:

[anarch]

35. no way

you pretty much never, ever want to use one of those blacklight/body fluid highlighting things in any motel room. Any.

[Wcross]

14. Don't EVER stay at a "Knights inn" either.

Sure, they are only 25-30 bucks a night but not worth even that. I stayed at one in eastern Kentucky one time, it was full of people working in the area temporarily. I had a drinking/pot party going on out in the breezeway til midnight, it was nasty and worn out. I actually propped the chair up against the door because the lock didn't look like it would hold if given a slight push.

[NewWaveChick1981]

15. That is AWFUL.

:( I'm so sorry. I've stayed at a few crappy motels before (not by choice), but not one as awful as that. Definitely complain to the corporate headquarters. That sucks.

[achtung_circus]

16. Oh good, I just checked into Comfort Inn

near Ottawa. So far, it's annoyingly nice and clean. I'm not sure I needed the courtesy call from the desk to ensure everything was to my satisfaction.

We have a corporate account & I stay in them a lot. Never had a problem- not one.

On Edit:

[fudge stripe cookays]

18. Do you belong to tripadvisor.com?

I post there quite often, and don't book anywhere without checking there for the place first.

There are lots of folks who would appreciate your feedback instead of staying there!

Expedia also has a user rating section to rate their hotels. Might want to post there as well.

Sorry you had such a crappy experience.

On edit, looks like lots of folks agree with you!
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g50313-d95350-Reviews-Comfort_Inn-Elyria_Ohio.html

[Justpat]

19. That is absolutely revolting.

Sorry you had such a terrible experience.

That place needs a major renovation.

[Bluesplayer]

20. TY

Thanks for the tips about tripadvisor.com. I just joined and posted our pics.

[LeftyMom]

21. Mine never even look that bad when I LEAVE

And I'm not a model guest, I have a feeling a certain place down south is still finding my chonies in odd nooks and crannies.

That's f'n nasty. I'd skip the manager, because if he had his shit together the place wouldn't look like that, and see if one of the local TV stations has a guy who does consumer advocacy stuff, because they love a good gross visual story like that.

[TK421]

23. Even if your chonies were found , it is still their responsibility to keep the place

clean....it's no fault of yours. It's just like ( and I'm not trying to be crude here, really ) if you took a nasty dump and the next person who used your room found shit-stains in the toilet bowl....that stuff should be cleaned up before the NEXT person uses that room. I know...I used to work in housekeeping for a retirement village....I like the idea of going to a network ( that will scare the shit out of anyone ). :thumb sup:

[Critters2]

28. That's a good idea! I know of a restaurant that was forced

to close after just such an expose'. Sunshine is the best antiseptic!

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[triguy46]

24. I'm developing a real phobia about hotel rooms.

One suggestion, you might try Hampton Inn, I know from actual experience that they stand by their 100% satisfaction guarantee. When you check out, they ask "was everything OK?" At that point if you list the things that weren't they bring out a form, write it down, have you sign it and give the room free.

[Initech]

26. Ewwww...

That's weird. I've stayed at quite a few Comfort Inns... none have ever looked quite as bad as that.

[pitohui]

29. they have different owners and many are excellent

i am glad you listed the specific comfort inn in question because i love this franchise (free internet, breakfast, microwave and fridge) for close to motel 6 prices really the same as motel 6 when you get the free rooms thru their loyalty program -- but there are bad apples in any franchise and it sounds like this particular motel in elyria, ohio is one

if you file a complaint w. choice hotels, don't say you will never stay in ANY comfort inn ever again, because they have no reason to please you then as they've lost you anyway, mention those where you've had a good experience and point out how you expected better and i bet you have a better shot at getting some satisfaction

[Bombero1956]

31. one would think

that Comfort Inn wouldn't want their reputation tarnished by a bad franchisee. Makes me wonder what they're idea of a bad franchise is.

[Bluesplayer]

33. Resolved

After calling the local manager 3 times and getting no reply, I left him a message saying he should expect a call from the local news channel. He called back, even tho I was told he'd already left for the day.

We agreed upon a 50% refund, due to the fact that I, admittedly, did not complain to the front desk at the time we first got to the room. I should have, but we were just too tired.

I will always use tripadvisor.com's reviews in the future.

Thanks, everyone.

[pitohui]

36. good for you and thanks for reporting back

you done good :-)

[Taverner]

34. Be Very Wary! It may have been used as a meth lab

Thus leaving lots of toxic chemicals in the room!

FBI statistics show that a lot of the cheaper motels get used by meth cookers to whip up a batch.