MOTEL HELL ...... the 10 dirtiest hotels in America

[marmar]

from tripadvisor:



http://www.tripadvisor.com/DirtyHotels


1. Grand Resort Hotel & Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, TN
“There was dirt at least 1/2" thick in the bathtub which was filled with lots of dark hair.”


2. Jack London Inn, Oakland, CA
“Had to go buy socks so my feet wouldn't touch the carpet.”


3. Desert Inn Resort, Daytona Beach, FL
“They have dead roaches all over the hotel.”


4. Hotel Carter, New York City
“The bathtub was full of dirty black stuff.”


5. Polynesian Beach & Golf Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC
“Hold your nose for the garbage smell. ”


6. Atlantic Beach Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
“Probably more sanitary to sleep in the bathroom of the room.”


7. Rodeway Inn, Williamsville, NY
“Crusty white stains on the blankets and sheets. ”


8. Super 8, Estes Park, CO
“Mouse feces located around the base of the bathroom.”


9. Palm Grove Hotel & Suites, Virginia Beach, VA
“Camp out on the beach instead.”


10. Econolodge Newark Airport, Elizabeth, NJ
“25 bug bites between the two of us.”

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. I rely on tripadvisor.com

I'm sure it's save me lots of grief over the years.

PS - Dontcha love the names of some of these palaces?

[marmar]

3. Yep. I won't book anything without consulting TA first.

nt

[Blue_Tires]

5. +1

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. And I won't hesitate to write reviews, either, pro or con.

I try to be honest and objective. Maybe it will help another traveler at some point.

[Dappleganger]

24. Same here!

When we took a trip up the east coast last year we used it heavily.

[Renew Deal]

27. Me too

It's a great site.

[alfredo]

2. Why I don't travel anymore.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Super 8 used to be a fairly nice budget motel chain. We used to go

out of our way to stay in them back in the 90's, on our many cross-country drives--new and clean, everywhere you went. Alas, they have gone downhill and haven't updated their rooms. Now we pretty much stick to Best Western. Two of the dirtiest motel rooms I have been in belonged to Econolodge--one in TN, one in TX. Yuck.

[Old Codger]

6. Econo Lodge

Had the misfortune of staying in one in Sacramento, ca. filthy dirty mess, was supposed to be non smoking and stunk to high heaven. Never again..

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Super 8 is what soured me on travel

They were snapping up some real dumps and putting their badge on them.

I wrote to their HQ in Minnesota with some specifics about bad experiences and what did they do? -Offer me discount coupons for the very SAME places I cited in my letter of complaint.

I like to travel, but the lodging part has become a real sticking point for me.

[Little Star]

8. I've found that you get what you pay for when it comes to...

clean hotel rooms.

I try not to stay in hotel rooms often.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

46. I LOVE Hotels.

But they have to serve breakfast in the morning, have up-to-date bedding and a restaurant.

[hlthe2b]

10. I was going to do the cross country drive this summer....

rather than fly back East--just because... Then I not only factored in the $$ from gas prices, the cost of lodging along the way and finding safe hotels/motels along the route--but then the very real issue with bedbugs and the potential cost of picking up an infestation.... And some areas of the country, bed bugs would be your least issue...

An adventure, I passed on this year. ;) (yeah, I know, what a wimp)...

[TwilightGardener]

12. One of the reasons why we bought a travel trailer. Aside from camping,

it's nice to not worry about bedbugs, or wonder just what those awful brown stains are on the box spring, or have your child find someone's random unidentified pill that fell between the nightstand and the bed.

[Maru Kitteh]

39. +1 Agreed. Camping is the way to go! I sleep better knowing what's under the bed,

in the sink, on the table, in the seat cushions, etc.

The last hotel room I stayed in, the toilet paper had visible wood chips in it and while I was eating dinner in my room and watching CNN the TV started smoking and caught on fire. I had to stay there a week for business. What an adventure that was.

[charlie and algernon]

11. If I need to stay at a hotel, I use the "name your own price" thing on Priceline.com

Always select the HIGHEST number of stars and slowly work your way up from the lowest reasonable offer. So far I've always been able to get 3 star hotels for more than 50% off. I stayed in one in for 2 nights and it still cost less than staying there for 1 night at the regular price.

[marmar]

13. I almost always use Priceline too.....and avoid going below 3 stars.

nt

[LeftinOH]

14. Not that I doubt some of these claims, but some people exaggerate - A LOT.

Meaning: One dead roach in an exterior stairwell = "dead roaches all over the hotel".

[lpbk2713]

16. Seeing several dead roaches isn't always a bad thing.

It could be the result of a recent routine spraying. Although the staff should be more diligent about cleaning them up.

[gauguin57]

15. When you stay at budget hotels like I always do (I'm an American in an American economy)...

... the bedspreads are often dicey. So you just roll them down or take them off before you get in the bed.

And I would NEVER walk in bare feet on ANY hotel carpet ... not even the Ritz. You're just asking for athlete's foot. Vacuuming between guests doesn't cure all ills. My mommy taught me that when I was little.

Buy yourselves some slippers or flip-flops, people.

Now tubs filled with hair ... that's a whole other can of worms.

[Whisp]

17. definitely get rid of the bedspread.

they do not get washed every day like the rest of the linen (hopefully the linen does) and to think of how many sweaty asscracks sat on that thing taking their shoes off.... or how many left stains behind from porking, often these are patterned bedspreads and a lot can go unoticed.

makes me want to vomit, I'd rather sleep in my car

[hlthe2b]

18. Don't think it is just the cheap motels you have to worry about....

I used to really enjoy staying in a nice hotel (for work, of course) with their premium linens, plush down comforters, robes, etc. But, even the nicest hotels can have issues (and bed bugs can be imported anywhere)... Check 'em out before you bring the luggage in (or leave most everything in your locked car if you think it won't get broken into).

[Maru Kitteh]

40. Whisp, I'd just like to take a moment to thank you for all that lovely, vivid imagery.

[Whisp]

41. sometimes the truth is unpleasant.

:D

[madinmaryland]

19. “Crusty white stains on the blankets and sheets.” EWWWW!

Don't they clean the sheets and blankets?

[formercia]

20. The last people to use the room didn't swallow.

Always clean up after yourself.

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. Who in the world frosts a cake on a hotel room bed?

Oh, wait.......................:spank:

[LeftinOH]

26. Someboby was using Elmer's Glue to repair a Precious Moments figurine,

what else could it be?

[madinmaryland]

33. Nice post, Thomas Kincade!!

:P

[chill_wind]

22. Ugh. A couple more vile facts Re: #3 on the list-

We were visiting in the area when this news story broke about the owner/manager. The hotel was raided:

TripAdvisor Dirtiest Hotel "Owner" Arrested in Child Porn, Rape Investigation
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20030662-504083.html

And more:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/02/08/feds-to-prosecute-desert-inn-hotelier-in-child-sex-case.html


Just a few days before he was busted, he had been threatening to sue TripAdvisor.

Hotel Owner May Sue TripAdvisor.com
http://www.wftv.com/news/26665059/detail.html

The googled reviews of his sickening hell-hole and the way he had treated people who were unhappy with conditions were truly awful.

[Phentex]

23. I stayed several days in the Jack London. Guess we were lucky?...

We went there for a conference so we didn't think too much about it beforehand. We laughed upon arrival because the place seemed so dated from the outside. We stayed in a suite that had a kitchen and dining table and the room itself was huge. The room had mismatched furniture but who cares? We had towels (unlike many of the reviewers) and except for being dated, the place was spotless. The wi-fi was excellent and the location was great.

I grew up hearing trains all night, so I slept like a baby even though many people who review the place are bothered by the noise.

There was a bachelorette party down the hall one night and we thought that was funny.

I guess we just happened upon the right room and maybe they only have ONE decent room but I thought the place was fine and frankly a thousand times better than the now closed nasty RITZ CARLTON Henderson, NV.

[nomb]

25. I once bought bleach to clean a room, in another I found used heroin syringes.

And for those of you about to say of the pair of needles that, "it was probably insulin..."

The hotel was in Amsterdam, on the edge of the redlight. For those that know A'dam - it was the first left up from Centraal Station and then down that street to the "T" intersection. Hotel will be facing you and on the right.

This was also during the time when shooting galleries still existed, when bent spoons (no shit) were available in the little stores and when people still shot up openly on the steps of the stock exchange overlooking the Damrak.

The room that had to be bleached though? Indiana.

[marmar]

29. I always stay on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in Amsterdam.....

..... close to the Red Light District without being in the Red Light District. (The district is a fine place to visit, puff and gawk, but I wouldn't want to stay in a hotel there.)
Plus Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal is closer to the nice canal neighborhoods like the Jordaan.

[nomb]

32. Not a big fan of that neighborhood. After I moved to Holland I mostly just came into town on daytrip

[DLine]

28. I stayed at #5 a few years ago..

It wasn't that bad. The furnishings and decor were outdated. But you get what you pay for. We didn't go to Myrtle Beach to hang out in a hotel anyway.

[Odin2005]

30. “Crusty white stains on the blankets and sheets. ”

:puke:

[musette_sf]

31. The Hotel Carter is a perennial winner in this list

Way back in the day, it was the Dixie Hotel. My parents stayed there on their honeymoon.



http://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/before-it-was-the-hotel-carter/

[bvar22]

34. Good Tips on HOW to check for Bed Bugs:

This site had an excellent video.
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/how-to-prevent-bed-bugs

This site was also very good with tips on exactly what to look for.
http://membracid.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/how-to-inspect-your-hotel-room-for-bed-bugs/

...and photos of exactly what to look for.

(from severe infestation)

Step 1: Look online and see if bedbugs have been reported where you are going. Do this when you’re considering where to stay and before you book a room. The Bedbug Registry is a handy place to start, but many other online reviews will have a mention of bed bugs if they are present.

Step 2: Leave your luggage by the door when you arrive. If it turns out that the room is infested, why go all the way in? Luggage is one of the known ways that bed bugs are moved from place to place. So try to avoid picking up any hitchhikers. Another option is to put your luggage in the bathtub, if you can’t leave it out in the hall.

<more>
http://membracid.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/how-to-inspect-your-hotel-room-for-bed-bugs/

I really like the one about putting your luggage & carry ins in the bath tub while inspecting the room.
I'm a little shy about leaving my luggage in the hallway.

Happy Trails!!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

35. I stay in a motel almost every single night, and at the risk of getting either flamed or deleted....

and also at the risk of being accused of being a bigot or a racist, here is what I know from first hand experience;

The lower end of the motel industry in this country has almost ENTIRELY been taken over by Indians, and the last name of the proprietor is overwhelmingly "Patel". It is my experience that though they may be hard workers and are enjoying the American dream, as a group, they tend to have...well...quite frankly, a crappy sense of hospitality. They are also CHEAP, hence the state of many of the lower end motels in this country. The number of Super 8's in the USA that are owned by someone other than an Indian is tiny, ditto Days Inns, Econolodge, "Americas Best Value Inns" and numerous others.

Now I am not so stupid as to suggest that I only want to stay in an "American owned" hotel, but as I said, I rent a room almost every night these days, and I am getting to the point that when I hear an Indian accent when I call to make a reservation, I make a few more calls.

[cherokeeprogressive]

37. Hey there! Long time no hear from...

I hope all is well with you. At the risk of being burned by the same flames you've called down from on high, I wholeheartedly agree about the ownership of hotels having something to do with their cleanliness.

BTW, we got a new (to us) truck yesterday. Our old one was in the shop 15 days out of the last 35.

[A HERETIC I AM]

38. Hey Man!!! Just logging off and hitting the road....

Loaded with 9 on board for Dollar/Thrifty at National Airport, Arlington.

Leaving Clearwater in the next few minutes.

Text me with where you are.

Congrats on the new wheels!

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. Only two of those are west of the Mississippi.

:shrug:

[jmowreader]

42. I notice most (if not all) of these hotels are in huge tourist destinations

Please note the "dirtiest hotel in America" is in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.--the tourist trap that contains Dollywood. I have read that especially in Pigeon Forge, which is massively overbuilt with hotels, the hoteliers will go to these sites and trash all the other hotels in town. So you can't really trust any of these reviews.

[phylny]

43. Wow, I looked at this a bit too late :)

Fortunately, we usually stay at a Marriott brand hotel. My husband travels a lot, so we use his Marriott points for free stays in various places. No matter whether it's the top of the line or the bottom of the chain, we have had good experiences.

Last night, or this morning, was hell work-wise. I had so much work to do that I decided to work late and grab a hotel where I work instead of risking the drive home. So, believe it or not, I look up at the clock and it's 3:15 am, so I called the local Super 8. We, too, used to use them all the time in the 90s when we traveled with the kids. We always had a clean, comfortable room (or was that Motel 6?)

Anyway, I told the guy, "Look, I need a room until about 7 am, when I can shower and then drive home." He gave me about 30% off. Indian man, too, very nice and polite.

When I arrived in the room, I was unimpressed (putting it mildly). I immediately took the bedspread off, but the blanket was scratchy and the sheets felt like burlap. The floor felt spongy and a bit sticky (and this was carpet). At least the bathroom looked clean, although the drains on the sink and the bathtub were both missing the drain plug thingys. Anyway, I'm now in my comfy bed at home, and lived to tell the tale.

Honestly, I didn't look for bedbugs, because I would have burst into tears if I'd found evidence. Fortunately, my skin is in one piece :)

[Warren DeMontague]

44. Oy. I stayed at #2... a long time ago, but still.

I don't remember it being that bad, but it was probably in the mid 80s, and my standards were lower.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

45. If you are spending less than 75 bucks on a room, this is the shit you get.

I don't stay anywhere without the Marriot name in it. Something my grandma taught me as a kid.
Duckie