Choice Hotels
reviews and complaints

The hotel staff was incompetent and lazy! Many customers complained about their services from: not cleaning rooms, hotel staff having an attitude or being rude to guests, attempting to cheat guests on purchased hotel reservations, having a horrible Breakfast Cafe (serving stale or rotten food), and lazy hotel attendents refusing to clean up after guests! My experience was also a nightmare; I couldn't get any sleep because of staff making loud noices late at night, our room wasn't cleaned, and the morning hotel employees provided no customer service & was rude to me, and my family. On top of that our day at Carowinds wasn't all that fun either: They closed down some of the rides, the Carowinds employees was rude & refused to allow customers to get on rides more than once, even when employees promised extra rides to guests, and some of the rides kept breaking down while customers where still in the ride!

In my 50 years of staying at Hotels and Motels, this Econo Lodge is the worst I have ever experienced. From the moment I entered my room, which was early in the day, I heard a massive amount of dogs constantly barking from a nearby dog shelter. Then numerous shady and questionable looking people were going room to room visiting each other and being very loud. I tried to sleep all afternoon, but was not possible with all the noise. I left and came back at dark and the noise with the people going room to room making noise continued. I finally went to the front desk at 11:30 PM and told the clerk to give me a refund, control the environment, or I would call the police to calm these people down. By this time, there was no way I could sleep from being bothered so much all day and evening.
Then on top of all the noise, the room was nasty with mold in the bathroom, carpets nasty, gnats in the room, and had a foul odor in the room.
I am contacting the corporate office about this motel. This is how bad it is. Furthermore, based my numerous years of being a Law Enforcement Officer, the management of this Hotel does not a provide safe environment for overnight stay.

On June 28, my husband and I spent the night at the EconoLodge in downtown Memphis. My husband awakened in the middle of the night c/o itching. At first we thought it might be an allergic reaction of sorts, but after checking out and flying home, then loooking at his legs, I realized they had to be bug bites TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT and overlapping one another. Too many bites to be mosquito bites and we weren't outside for any length of time to even consider that. Our final conclusion is they had to be bedbug bites. I wrote to corporate Choice management and told them what happened. They didn't give me much satisfaction, but did forward my complaint to the Memphis hotel site. I have yet to receive any response or apology from them .[protected]@yahoo.com

This company raised their rates to almost double the usual rates because of all the persons who needed shelter when their power was interrupted by a severe storm. It is a disgusting act of human cruelty and I think they should be fined and made to make restitution of the monies these unfortunate people paid to them. They were made to leave after complaining. The police were called and even though they had paid the outrageous prices for this hotel, they were made to leave. I think the corporate office should step in and the state should impose a price gouging fine on this company.

sincerely
Marilyn Erdy
Columbus, Ohio

my name is tammy wyss and i worked at this hotel for almost a year. i showed up every day i was supposed to i worked double shifts all the time nick and his wife even had me helping there son with his schoolwork while i was on the clock working for the hotel. this man bad mouthed his other employees as well as the guests to me. when i asked for a raise i was told that the hotel didnt make enough money and that we did not work hard enough to get a raise. so i told him that when he changed his mind to call me and i would come back to work and i left. he did not hire me back and i only quit once, yet a couple other girls have been rehired 3 to 4 times, when i applied to other jobs he told the managers that i had a problem with partying with the guests. i have never done that the whole time i worked at any hotel. i loved my job and took it very serious and i have other co workers who will verify that. i dont know what i can do about this but im pretty sure he is not supposed to tell them anything like that. i do not spread lies about him and he should not be doing the same about me thank you tammy wyss [protected]@yahoo.com [protected]

I booked this hotel through AAA to visit a friend, thought it would be okay for 3 nights. WRONG. Thursday, we checked in. Girl at the front desk, Judy, seemed nice and had us paid and room keyed in 5 minutes. Upon entering the room, the carpet's old, stale smell was outrageous. My friend's also comforter had white stains on top of it. Bathroom was OK aside from a brown-yellowish stain in the tub floor and a hole punched in the back of the door. Friday night, I was dyeing my hair when I saw something crawling into my friend's luggage. I thought it was harmless but called the front desk for assistance anyway. The clerk that answered was the same one who checked us in. She told me they had "never had a problem with [roaches] before" and that she was currently checking someone in and would be there asap. She arrives 15 minutes later and I tell her I saw the bug crawling in and figured it was still inside the suitcase. She asks, "So, what do you want to do?" What do you mean?! She suggested bug spray from the front desk and goes back to grab it (you would think she would have brought it with the first time). We spray the critter and come to find out, IT WAS A ROACH. I've never seen them so I wasn't sure but my friends confirmed that. If there is 1, there are more. Probably in the walls and ceilings of this place. While my friends were gathering our stuff, I called the front desk again. A different woman, Cynthia, answered the phone and I told her it was a roach and I refuse to stay. She offered a change of room but why the hell would I?! She also tried to convince me that A. They were the only hotel with open rooms and that B. It was a "water roach" and they have them here when it gets wet. I am not a fool - it is a COCKROACH and it was never wet as in rainy or snowy the week prior to or during my stay here. Needless to say, I found another hotel in OKC, Howard Johnson on South Meridian. So much cleaner! Spend the extra and stay somewhere else. The manager "Bob" Patel is extremely rude and unprofessional, as well. He needs to lose his job and work somewhere else not involving the public because he is clearly not a fan of customer service and makes the Choice Hotels brand look terrible. Hi Bob! Hope you're reading this! :)

UPON MY FAMILY'S VISIT TO REHOBOTH BEACH, DE ECONOLODGE ON SEPT 16, 17 AND 18 OUR FAMILY WAS INFESTED WITH BEDBUG BITES, NOT UNTIL WE LEFT THE HOTEL THINKING THE BITES WERE MOSQUITO BITES, WE DISCOVERED THEY WERE BEDBUG BITES. THE HOTELS SHOULD INSPECT THE ROOMS MORE OFTEN FOR THESE PESTS., DO NOT WAIT TILL THE COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE THEY STAY AND GET BIT UP BY THESE PESTS. ROBERT HYLAND

out of the hospital 2 days prior.after the first morning of room servic, my prescription medication, and a set of 800 dollar diamond earings were missing.after adressing management i was told that they have the employees word and it was there word against mine.i was 1200 miles from home, which means i couldnt get another because it was a narcotic, which cannot be prescribes to an out of state patient.i suffered the rest of the trip.even though thee was really no thoughtful concern of even asking or caring about the situation.would like to co tact a better buissness bureau.when i am payin over 500 dollars for the weekend, i would at least would like an apology and consideration.or even a discount instead of a statement from the desk clerk saying she is swamped and dont have time to deal with thi problem.remember this is the hospitality industry and i am a personal chef and own 2 restaraunts.my opinion shuld matter and shuld be an asset to your team.good criticism is to learn from.bad criticism is bad buisness..

Casey Standard
[protected]

Sent two employees to a dental class in Emporia, KS. Office paid for hotel. First weekend the hotel was fair. The second weekend the room was terrible. Sheets weren't very clean and wouldn't stay on bed as they slept, no mattress pad, rolly pollys in the bathroom, and the bathroom wasn't very clean. Worse yet was the room was infested. One employee came home with a spider bite that had to be treated by a doctor due to the swelling and pain--a bite in a sensitive body area. Called the motel later in the week and the manager said we were lying. Offered to send the doctor's bill, he didn't care. Said they could have got it somewhere else in Emporia. Sterilization is a major deal in the dental field, so we are sure they didn't get in class. DON'T STAY AT THIS MOTEL!

I tried to check-out on June 16, 2011. When I got to the desk there was no one in line and there were 2 persons behind the counter. I walked up to one of them and she rudely dismissed me stating that I go back to the ropes and wait until I am called. Now remember there is no one in line. I waited 5 minutes while another 4 persons gave from the back office (a total of 6 persons) chatting & carrying-on. I went back to the person and stated as to why I was not being helped. She remarked if you don''t like it give me your keys and leave. I asked for a receipt to which she said you have wait at the ropes. I asked to speak to the manager and she stated that she was the manager. Her name tag stated Nicole. She said her last name was Washington. I travel a lot and stay at over 30 hotels a year. I have NEVER been treated like this.

On Friday May 13th we walked into Comfort Inn Palo Alto. We asked the Manager, Keith Gapol if there was availability for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for a single King room. He stated Monday and Tuesday were booking up but there was availability. I again asked about Sunday and he said same thing as Mon. and Tues. I asked if we could book Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and his reply was affirmative. While he was booking he appeared distracted, I had to repeat my Phone # three times. He printed a confirmation and we left. When we returned on Sunday we were informed that not only did we not have a reservation for Sunday but we were charged approximately $200 for being a no show for Friday and Saturday. It is not so much about the money as it is the principle which I believe Keith Gapol and Choice Hotels lack. The confirmation that was printed was incorrect but we did not look at it until the Sunday when we went to check in. We did have a meeting with Keith Gapol but he stated he couldn't remember the conversation. He also stated that he had done this before and that is why he always prints a confirmation. After two days of negotiation with Keith Gapol, we had one night charge credited back to us but he continued to say that because he had printed us a confirmation, it was half our fault. Choice Hotels were not interested in our complaint. This is just a heads up for anybody checking into the Quality Inn or Comfort Inn Palo Alto because Keith Gapol is the manager of both.

My husband and I booked a non-smoking room with a king bed for three nights about four days in advance of our stay, through hotels.com. We chose this hotel over others we'd had good experiences with before because they emphasized an indoor pool. Upon arrival, we discovered the pool out of order (they were still de-winterizing it), we thought we could deal with that disappointment, but were then shown into a SMOKING room, which was unacceptable, and then a two full size bed non-smoking which was all they had apparently. After a 10 hour drive and hauling our luggage to several different rooms, we cancelled our reservation. The clerk was busy cleaning his or his pregnant girlfriend's car, and wasn't happy to be bothered. I left my number for the manager (not on site) to call and never heard anything. We won't be booking with any of this chain ever again!

I was visiting from out of state and I decided to stay at the econo lodge on 4/16/2011...when I checked in and was sleeping only to wake up bitten from my neck to lower. Back and half of my right arm and the light was on and the bugs were still crawling...even the ones with my blood in them adults and babies...I took pictures and call the front desk they changed my room to another room...it was 2am in the morning an me and my 8yr old daughter had to drag all my luggage and belongs to another room. Smh!that afternoon I checked out and asked for a refund and for which I paid for three nights and they only refund me for two nights which unfair...I plan on seeking a lawyer my itching swelling and pain is unbearable...my vacation has gone upside down and wilmington hotel has gave me a horrible experience...I don't recommend this hotel...

After driving over 12 straight hours my husband and I decided to stop for a few hours sleep at an Econolodge. The place was very clean and the evening girl was very helpful

We arrived at 5:30 in the morning, and when we checked in I asked the girl if we had until the upcoming 11 AM for check out, or if we had until the following 11 AM, and she said the following. So to clarify, I made sure she meant we had an extra 24 hours, and again she said yes. So we went to our room. I hopped in the shower while my husband ran to get some stuff from the car. When I got out of the shower there was a cockroach on the floor. I put a plastic cup over it to show my husband when he got in. He confirmed it was a cockroach, so we took it to the girl at the front desk. She offered to give us a new room, but I said that if there was a cockroach in one room she had them in the hotel, moving rooms wouldn't make a difference. Plus, it was 6 AM by now, and I just wanted to sleep. So, the girl said she would leave a note for the manager in the morning, and we speak with her before we left.

We woke up around 10:45 the next morning, and while my husband jumped in the shower I went to speak to the manager. I was "greeted" by a gentleman talking on his cellphone. He didn't seem to care that I was there at all. I had to ask for the manager 3 times before he grudgingly hung up his phone to rudely tell me there wasn't a manager available and to ask what I wanted. I explained the cockroach from the evening before and he said there was nothing they could do. He then proceeded to tell me we had to leave immediately because it was check out time. I told him that the evening staff had advised us we still had an extra 24 hours, at which point he began yelling at me telling me I was wrong. I calmly tried to tell him that I wasn't mad at him, but that he needed to let the overnight staff know that wasn't their policy. He continued to yell at me, so I walked away telling him I would be in contact with his manager.

As we were leaving he asked if I wanted a receipt. I said yes, and that I wanted his name on it. I had to ask him 3 times to write the name down before he rudely and sloppily wrote it down for me. I took a business card and we left. I then called the Econolodge customer service where I spoke to a very helpful gentleman who told me that A) There should not have been a cockroach in my room. B) It is their company policy to always have a manager on duty. C) I should not have been yelled at or treated rudely in any way. And D) Our check out time should have been the following day, as that is how we had been checked in the evening before. He said he wasn't able to extend a refund, but that the hotel had 72 hours to get back to me. Later that day I received a call from an employee saying the manager was on duty and that she would be back early the following week. I told her I was on vacation without access to my e-mail and asked if she could note that I would prefer a call and that she was welcome to leave voicemail as I would check it.

So early the following week came and went with no call. I decided I would call them back when I got back home. Well Monday (yesterday) I checked my E-Mail and what do you know? She sent me a short email saying,

"I am deeply concerned in regards to your experience at the Econo Lodge. However our records indicate that you checked in at 5:28 am, our check out time before 7:00am is 11am. We do offer an extended check out time up to 2pm. We can not issue a full refund at this time, this is our motel policy at the Econo Lodge. I apologize for any inconvenience that you may have experienced and we invite you and your family to use us in the future for any of your lodging needs."

Well she completely missed the main point of my problem. So I sent her an email back stating all the details of our stay. And today I wake up to a SECOND charge on my bank account for the cost of the room! I called the hotel to speak to the manager and was told that I was wrong and that she had done all she could. I told her in no way would I pay again for a room I shouldn't have paid for in the first place. I told her I could send her a copy of my bank statement, to which she replied that she could send me a copy of her paperwork and we would both think we were right. I again emphasized that I refused to pay for the room again, and emailed her a copy of my bank statement. I am still waiting on a response, but I am so upset about all this has caused me that I felt compelled to share.