The 10 Worst Hotel Chains in America

[PStreet1]

Unlike many of you, I actually prefer to stay at a hotel that prohibits pets. That's at least one less item for me to worry about when renting a room and a bed for a night...

Me too--pet hair, let alone other leavings, are a good reason to avoid hotels that allow pets. It's just one more thing to clean up, and if the maids aren't doing a great job anyway........

 

[Ken555]

Me too--pet hair, let alone other leavings, are a good reason to avoid hotels that allow pets. It's just one more thing to clean up, and if the maids aren't doing a great job anyway........

Exactly. Some of us are allergic to dogs and cats. Personally, I like pets just fine, but if there's some of them leftover in my room when I'm there my stay could be impacted. Hotels that permit pets should do so only in certain rooms, and not all do so. To me this is just common courtesy, but it seems that's not the case for all hotels.

Note my other concern I see at some hotels: pets not on a leash. Rare, but it happens.

 

[Passepartout]

I don't want to get into defense of pets here, but I maintain that it isn't the pets, but the owners who are irresponsible. I also know that hotels can't ask irresponsible pet owners to please stay elsewhere.

HOWEVER, if you REALLY want to get grossed out, travel with an ultraviolet (black) light. Turn off the lights and shine it on the bedspread and the carpet beside the bed.

Given the choice, I'll take a little pet dander and hair anytime.

Jim

 

[Ron98GT]

We prefer hotels that both prohibit pets, and are all smoke-free rooms.

The problems with the Top-10 aren't pet related, so don't know why your changing the topic and picking on pets rather than the hotels/motels themselves.

Specially stated:

Broken air conditioner, mildew, mold, cockroaches, worn-out mattresses, missing linoleum, rooms double-booked, broken elevators, bed bugs, broken plumbing, drug dealers, homeless men in lobby, bugs splattered on walls, "pillows smelled like smoke and greasy hair", cigarette burns, ...

And did you see the pictures


One of the many things I like about Hilton (San Diego & Newport Beach) is their pet acceptance, especially given the large size of our male Golden Retriever. Yet I don't see Hilton on the list.

The Crowne Plaza's (Ventura) and Hyatt's (Newport Beach) in California take large breed dogs also. But I don't see them on the list either?

I've also never had any of the above stated problems at any of the Hilton's, Crowne Plaza's, & Hyatt's that we've stayed at, but yet they openly accept my Golden as a payed guest.

The problem is with management, at each individual motel/hotel and at the corporate level.

 

[Ron98GT]

I don't want to get into defense of pets here, but I maintain that it isn't the pets, but the owners who are irresponsible. I also know that hotels can't ask irresponsible pet owners to please stay elsewhere.

HOWEVER, if you REALLY want to get grossed out, travel with an ultraviolet (black) light. Turn off the lights and shine it on the bedspread and the carpet beside the bed.

Given the choice, I'll take a little pet dander and hair anytime.

Jim

The Hilton's that we stay at with our Golden Boy have dedicated floors and rooms for pet use, so if you don't bring your dog you probably haven't stayed in one of the rooms. The carpeting is different, the bedspreads are different, and I've never sensed any other pet odors or danders when using one of their pet rooms. But then it is a Hilton and they do charge a $50 pet fee, but it's worth it to take our Golden on vacation once a year and enjoy the beaches in SoCal.

 

[Beefnot]

The problems with the Top-10 aren't pet related, so don't know why your picking on pets rather than the hotels/motels themselves.

Maybe so, but I don't like the idea of vacationing in a property where someone else's animal has roamed free. Yes, I put up with it at FS Aviara because it was FSA, but I just don't like it. Plus, I have a philosophical contempt for owners traveling with pets, like pets are people or something. But of course that is for another discussion.

But to your point, yes there are a whole lot of other more significant, and disgusting, reasons not to patronize a hotel.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

Like every hotel says, "each hotel is independently owned and operated". When I worked for a trucking company that delivered new trucks nationwide, they would pay for hotels. My trainer said his worst was going to a Knights Inn. The trainer went into the room, and seeing how run-down the room looked, joked about bed bugs. He proceeded to pull the sheets off, and the bed bugs went scurrying! Obviously, they did not stay there.

So, it's hit and miss. You may get a $35/night America's Best Value that is as good as a Hilton, or you may get a Hampton Inn that looks like a pig stye. For instance, as a truck driver, I stayed frequently at the Super8 in Middlesex (Carlisle) PA. The rooms were good, no real issues, for $45/night. Right across the street is a restaurant that had some of the best food for the best price!

TS

TS

 

[rickandcindy23]

They are tearing down a Knight's Inn next to Wyndham's Patriot's Place, Williamsburg.

We were there a few days ago to look at the units at Patriot's Place as owners there, and the gal at the front desk told us the Inn was in bad shape and just needs torn down. The outside was brick, so how bad could it be on the inside? Must be pretty bad. :rofl:Maybe Westgate will buy it. Their timeshare looked rather similar. It was a motel conversion, I believe.

I wanted to know how close we are to a refurb and special assessment at Patriot's Place. Yep, that is going to happen soon. The place is looking sad to me.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I don't want to get into defense of pets here, but I maintain that it isn't the pets, but the owners who are irresponsible. I also know that hotels can't ask irresponsible pet owners to please stay elsewhere.

HOWEVER, if you REALLY want to get grossed out, travel with an ultraviolet (black) light. Turn off the lights and shine it on the bedspread and the carpet beside the bed.

Given the choice, I'll take a little pet dander and hair anytime.

Jim

How do you know that isn't from people who snuck their pet into the room?

 

[Timeshare Von]

They are tearing down a Knight's Inn next to Wyndham's Patriot's Place, Williamsburg.

We were there a few days ago to look at the units at Patriot's Place as owners there, and the gal at the front desk told us the Inn was in bad shape and just needs torn down. The outside was brick, so how bad could it be on the inside? Must be pretty bad. :rofl:Maybe Westgate will buy it. Their timeshare looked rather similar. It was a motel conversion, I believe.

I wanted to know how close we are to a refurb and special assessment at Patriot's Place. Yep, that is going to happen soon. The place is looking sad to me.

That Knight's Inn was the very nice Holiday Inn 1776 back in the 1970's-1980's. Later it changed brands to Ramada Inn, and took a noticeable nose-dive. From there, it slid further downhill (probably couldn't keep up even the Ramada brand standards).

Actually pretty sad given that in its day, it was the place in Williamsburg to go for small group conferences and seminars/meetings. But yes, if it's become a real eyesore & dive, time to bulldoze it.

 

[Timeshare Von]

<<snipped>>

I wanted to know how close we are to a refurb and special assessment at Patriot's Place. Yep, that is going to happen soon. The place is looking sad to me.

They recently had a large 3 year S/A at both Patriot's Place and Kingsgate. I would hope they are not in need of another one already.

 

[Passepartout]

How do you know that isn't from people who snuck their pet into the room?

Still represents an irresponsible owner, doesn't it? I've had a lot of pets over the years and I've never had one that exercised 'self-satisfaction' on the bedspread.

Like Simpson, upthread, as a driver for a lot of years myself, I stayed in a lot of (mostly) independent, low cost, older motels. They are NOT created equal by any means. This is not meant to bash any group by any means, but there was a time when many S. Asians were being sponsored by relatives and a lot of older motels were being owned/managed by them. More often than a few times, I'd go to check-in and be hit upside the head with a strong dose of curry from the manager's apartment! Ahhh, the memories!

For the most part, the chains DO exercise some semblance of control, and standards for members to keep up. As evidenced by the title article, some don't make the grade.

 

[Ken555]

Given the choice, I'll take a little pet dander and hair anytime.

But, we don't have the choice. Yet another reason to limit issues as much as possible, and a no-pets policy is definitely within the realm of the reasonable.

 

[Ken555]

Like every hotel says, "each hotel is independently owned and operated".

Not energy hotel is independently owned and operated, though many (likely, mots) are. However, even independent hotels have standards to meet in order to qualify for membership in a chain - and it's up to that chain management to enforce standard or get rid of those that don't meet them. After all, articles like this one damage the entire chain of hotels, not just those that are guilty of having unclean of otherwise disappointing rooms and infrastructure. When I travel, I want to be able to rely upon the brand to at least know I'm going to have a clean room with functional amenities, nice staff, etc. That said, I've even stayed in some Starwood and Marriott hotels that leave something to be desired. When on a road trip, I often stay at Courtyard by Marriott or Best Western hotels, and typically I'm pleased with them. I haven't stayed in a Super 8 or equivalent in decades, and frankly have no wish to after reading this article.

 

[TF865]

How about the Scottish Inn? Stayed in one once for my sons hockey tournament because the only decent hotel (best western) was full. I didn't take my clothes off to sleep - nasty! I did my time roughing it in the Army so lowest I go anymore is Fairfield.

 

[Luanne]

The problems with the Top-10 aren't pet related, so don't know why your changing the topic and picking on pets rather than the hotels/motels themselves.

I was just adding on to another comment already made about hotel preferences. Sorry, didn't know I wasn't supposed to do that. :ignore:

 

[Luanne]

Not energy hotel is independently owned and operated, though many (likely, mots) are. However, even independent hotels have standards to meet in order to qualify for membership in a chain - and it's up to that chain management to enforce standard or get rid of those that don't meet them. After all, articles like this one damage the entire chain of hotels, not just those that are guilty of having unclean of otherwise disappointing rooms and infrastructure. When I travel, I want to be able to rely upon the brand to at least know I'm going to have a clean room with functional amenities, nice staff, etc. That said, I've even stayed in some Starwood and Marriott hotels that leave something to be desired. When on a road trip, I often stay at Courtyard by Marriott or Best Western hotels, and typically I'm pleased with them. I haven't stayed in a Super 8 or equivalent in decades, and frankly have no wish to after reading this article.

Agree. I stayed in two Marriott branded hotels (a Marriott and a Courtyard Inn) in two different cities within a two week period and found food that had been left in both of them. In the Marriott I found some leftover pizza in a drawer, and in the Courtyard some cereal, bread and peanut butter in a cabinet. I notified both hotels. The pizza was taken away by the bellman who delivered our luggage and he joked about it. At the Courtyard our room was changed immediately. The Courtyard also gave me 20,000 Marriott points as compensation while the Marriott hotel did nothing.

 

[CarolF]

Interesting article and thread.

As a "foreign" participant, I'm pleased about the discussion around pet friendly hotels. Pets and smoking inside have been prohibited here for years so I'm not used to the idea.

 

[Ken555]

Interesting article and thread.

As a "foreign" participant, I'm pleased about the discussion around pet friendly hotels. Pets and smoking inside have been prohibited here for years so I'm not used to the idea.

Another reason to visit Australia!

 

[Jimster]

Pet Hair

Can we relabel this the 'pet hair thread" because that is what it has become. Maybe we can start a thread on the worst hotel chains.

 

[CarolF]

Can we relabel this the 'pet hair thread" because that is what it has become.

I was more concerned about the smell of pussy pee in America’s Best Value Inn. I know rats and mice are small and sneaky but I was worried about the size of the hole that lets cats in.

 

[Darlene]

We had a reservation at a Choice hotel in May. I called the 1-800 number to cancel the reservation, and the agent told me that I could not cancel the reservation. This was almost a month before the reservation, and I had a copy of the reservation saying it could be cancelled up until 4 pm local time the day of the reservation. She kept insisting that I could not cancel the reservation, that the reservation had been *updated* after I made it. I told her that they couldn’t just change the reservation after it has been made. She insisted they had the right to change the reservation. I asked her for a supervisor, and she said they were busy and that I would have to wait a long time. I asked for the local number for the hotel, and called them and cancelled the reservation with no problem. The person at the front desk said she had no idea why they would not cancel the reservation. I am just as confused. I'm not ever booking a Choice family hotel again.

 

[Ron98GT]

Can we relabel this the 'pet hair thread" because that is what it has become. Maybe we can start a thread on the worst hotel chains.

Yeah, isn't it interesting that the OP started a thread about an article titled the 10 Worst Hotels, that specifically mentioned why they made the list. Never a mention about pets. But some posters start/keep complaining about pets without discussing the OP: = Off Topic.

When I reference the article and specifically state why the 10 hotels made the 10 ten list, I get attacked and the discussion goes back to pets: = Off Topic.

When I mention that top hotel chains allow pets, they haven't made the list, and that it has nothing to do with the article, to try to steer the discussion back to the OP, it goes back to complaints about pets: = Off Topic.

So, Wyndham owns 40% of the Worst Hotels in America

 

[Timeshare Von]

<<snipped>>

So, Wyndham owns 40% of the Worst Hotels in America

40% is close enough to "half" . . . especially if you are using "Wyndham Math" . . . so no harm no foul as far as I'm concerned. :rofl:

 

[Ken555]

Yeah, isn't it interesting that the OP started a thread about an article titled the 10 Worst Hotels, that specifically mentioned why they made the list. Never a mention about pets. But some posters start/keep complaining about pets without discussing the OP: = Off Topic.

When I reference the article and specifically state why the 10 hotels made the 10 ten list, I get attacked and the discussion goes back to pets: = Off Topic.

When I mention that top hotel chains allow pets, they haven't made the list, and that it has nothing to do with the article, to try to steer the discussion back to the OP, it goes back to complaints about pets: = Off Topic.

So, Wyndham owns 40% of the Worst Hotels in America

Ron,

Sorry I contributed to this thread by adding my own opinion on why some hotels aren't as good as others, regardless of the list mentioned. Your earlier post (#30) contributed to this off topic discussion, as well.

Sometimes threads take on a life of their own, regardless of how they start. In fact, I'd hazard a guess this happens more often on TUG than we'd like to admit. Usually I don't see it as a problem, especially in as innocuous a topic as worst hotels. But, whatever.