Why I Will Never Stay at Red Roof Inn Again

I have never stayed at a Red Roof Inn before, but when it was the end result of a Priceline auction I was a little nervous. I read some horror stories and built up some dread which was allayed when I saw the location I was visiting had newly renovated rooms that looked quite nice. I just needed a bed for a couple nights so it didn’t need to be too fancy anyways.

A late night arrival had me rolling my luggage up to the check in desk and the woman asks “You’re not walking are you?” Umm, excuse me? What did she even mean by that? I am standing on two legs. I am not jogging. I am not swimming. I just walked in here..... :p She said the room was in the far building. I thought “Far building? What do you mean far building? It’s not even in this building?” I saw some shady characters around and it had taken forever for her to do the check in. I then lugged my luggage back up the STAIRS to the parking lot area (no ramp???) and into the car to drive to the far building. I am glad I didn’t walk. For a number of reasons. Located on the second floor, our room required us to enter a door with a stairwell. The stairs were dirty, the air was stale, and there were spider webs on the ceiling..... At the top of the stairs (still lugging my suitcases, oh and a canvas bag I was holding had already ripped and spilled its contents outside. UGH), I looked down the hall way and saw work boots outside of most doors. Apparently construction workers are often housed here. Each door key lock had a label that flaunted it being a no smoking facility. The second I opened the door I was hit by a wall of smoke. I am not a smoker, never have been and never will be. So the smoke stench was overwhelming to me. The room was dirty, and in bad shape in general. Even the drawers of the dresser were literally gorilla glued together. (?) The whole place made me feel weird, but what was I to do? It was too late to find another place. I had to suck it up and try to get some rest because I was due early the next morning. Emotions running high from lack of sleep, I lay on the bed in my jacket, not wanting to pull the sheets over me, and cried myself to sleep. (So dramatic) Worst night ever.

The next day we told the front desk we were checking out and why. She said she wished she had known she could have given us another room. I told her the lady who checked us in told us it was the last room she had. This lady seemed confused by that.... At any rate she added that she would refund the money immediately to Priceline who would then refund us. I was so happy about that!!!
(There’s more to the story on that. You can find it in the Customer Service Series on the Tried It page, Chase Credit Card)

While I will *never* stay at this hotel again, I do think the customer service was good the day we left. The woman was understanding, apologetic, and bothered by the state of the room. She promptly wanted to refund us without us even having to ask or get worked up. I feel that was appropriate action on her part, but I also feel that many people would not have acted as nicely as she did. So to that random woman I say thanks. And to Red Roof Inn I forever say “No, thanks” haha!