The Worst Motel Experience Ever at Nats

[birdboy]

I reserved a non smoking room at Quality Inn & Suites in Columbus Ohio for 3 nights to attend the Mopar Nationals. Night one:  we got off the elevator and there was a strong odor of smoke. The hallway was filled with smoke as we walked to our room. Got inside and called the front desk, they sent someone up and changed the a/c filter and sprayed an air freshener up and down the hallway. The next morning I asked to change my room because my son has asthma and this was a problem, but was told they were sold out. Night two: got back from the track to get a shower and go to dinner, again the hallway filled with smoke.  The end of the hall looked like fog at 5am. Again I asked to change rooms, no luck. While out we checked with several other hotels but all were booked up. I stopped at Home Depot and bought the best air purifier I could find. ($169.) Went back to the hotel and showed them what I bought and went to our room. They said they did the best they could and gave me a can of air spray. I used the purifier and put wet towels on both sides of the door. As the night went on my son did a breathing treatment. Around 1am my son had an asthma attack and we had to go to the er.  At this point we could not stay at this hotel and felt it was best to go home. As I was checking out I told my story to manager on duty. I told her a bought a non smoking room and did not get it therefore I should not have to pay for it. She said I would not be charged for the third night as I checked out early and she would waive the second night since I spent most of it in the e/r. (she even wanted a copy of discharge from hospital, like I would even dream up this story) but I had to pay for the first night. I said that was unacceptable, so she called the district manager who said I needed to pay for both nights. Wow customer service and empathy at a new level. I don't have a problem with people that smoke in there smoking room, my beef is with the hotel. I will never stay at a Quality Inn or others connected with Choice Hotels group.  Paid my $186 bill and left.

[bull]

Customer service is a thing of the past at most places these days. Not too long ago, people used to care and work hard to please their customers but it seems since the economy took a dump they only care about money. Maybe they believe that unless they grab every last buck they'll go belly up, but without happy customers they won't get those coveted bucks. They usually don't care much when there's no vacancy because there's five people with cash in hand waiting in line behind you.

FWIW, I've had very good luck with Best Western.

[twodko]

Tell me the boy is OK? I am so angry about this I could birth a lit road flare. There was every reason it should have been a great weekend. Maybe a buddy has a motorhome/trailer available next time? Have better days family. 

[Ghoste]

I have found the hotels at the Nats to be less than stellar for quite a few years now sad to say.  They never feel bad about performing "special event rate" anal rape on you though but ask for a clean set of towels and all you get is a blank stare.

[chargerboy69]

I have found the hotels at the Nats to be less than stellar for quite a few years now sad to say.  They never feel bad about performing "special event rate" anal rape on you though but ask for a clean set of towels and all you get is a blank stare.

I agree.  Many hotels on that side of town are older and are in need of complete renovation.

There are nicer hotels on the north side of town, but then you are driving an hour or more to the track each day.

Just one of many reasons to consider moving it back to Indy or even Joliet Illinois.

[Old Moparz]

It sucks that you went through all that with your kid, hope he's okay now.

With all the car shows, parts hunting & other traveling I've done, I've stayed at probably every brand of hotel & motel there is. I've also stayed at many of the independently owned Mom & Pop Smith places that seem to be Mom & Pop Patel now.  

I've never really had an experience that was so bad that I'd steer people away from a place except for one in the Poconos in PA, & another in NJ along the shore. Both were not chain brands & were trashed, expensive, smelled like stale beer, & were filled with noise all night. (Don't recall the names) There was a Quality Inn near Carlisle that I stayed at for $89 which was pretty reasonable for that area. The hotel was fine, so I tried to book a room there again a couple of months later for another show & was told it was $189.

I asked why it was more than double, & was told they raise the price for Carlisle event weekends. I said that I was there for an event but only paid $89. The person on the phone sternly said there was no way I was there for an event if I paid $89. At this point I had heard enough, & knew it was a waste of time discussing it & said, "I only go to Carlisle for the auto events. Do you think I'd take a day off work & drive 4 hours just to stay at your hotel because I like the way the two corners of the toilet paper are folded into little triangles?"  

The response was something like, "It's still $189 for the night."  

It's hit or miss with good service.  

I had exceptional service at The Hampton Inn in Phoenix just 2 weeks ago for just $80 per night. The woman at the front desk was friendly, & when we needed to find a store open late on a Sunday night to get something my daughter needed, she went on line to get phone numbers & then called the store to see if they had it. Same in SC when I was at a Comfort Suites for $65 per night. Both of these had real breakfast included that were eggs, bacon, waffles & more, not just stale donuts & coffee with baby powder instead of cream.

[twodko]

Had the same good experience a The Hamptons Inn in Ukiah, Ca. Last year for the annual Early Iron Car Show.

[Cooter]

This is why I dont do the Nats.

[moparguy01]

I hope your boy is alright.

I was just out in the washington D.C, and had a similar issue. The room had mold, and I'm allergic to it. My throat closed up and I had to spend the night in the ER getting steroid shots and breathing treatments. and this was a Holiday Inn! The manager decided giving me free breakfast was good enough compensation, and refused to talk to me again after that. I'm waiting on my ER bill, which will probably be at least a grand or so, and my lawyer already has drafted up a letter to them that just needs the number filled in. They aren't going to like me.

It seems these hotels are just terrible now days. But the holiday inn i stayed at in Norfolk, VA was just wonderful. seems odd since its the same company.

[Paul G]

Send a letter or email to the hotels corporate office. It works. They will respond.

[bakerhillpins]

If you paid by CC you can also dispute the charges through them. They are typically on your side. You have the bill for the machine and the ER so you have plenty of paper for them to make a decision.    Problem is you still have to spend YOUR time to recoup the $200 which is why many just let it go.

Good luck and I hope everyone is ok.

I hope your boy is alright.

I was just out in the washington D.C, and had a similar issue. The room had mold, and I'm allergic to it. My throat closed up and I had to spend the night in the ER getting steroid shots and breathing treatments. and this was a Holiday Inn! The manager decided giving me free breakfast was good enough compensation, and refused to talk to me again after that. I'm waiting on my ER bill, which will probably be at least a grand or so, and my lawyer already has drafted up a letter to them that just needs the number filled in. They aren't going to like me.

It seems these hotels are just terrible now days. But the holiday inn i stayed at in Norfolk, VA was just wonderful. seems odd since its the same company.

I like his plan! 

[BigBlackDodge]

Years ago the wife and I spent a night at a hotel (Days Inn I think........) in Clearwater Florida while visiting my sister. We checked in and paid  the clerk cash, it was around a 100 bucks or so. We got our receipt and keys and headed off to the room. Everything was fine until we tried to check out in the morning. We turned our keys back in and clerk, a different one, asked how we were going to pay for the room.

Me: "What?"........"We paid cash last night, we have the paper work in the car."
Clerk: "I,m showing no record of it in the computer."
Me: "How did I get a receipt if I didn't pay for it already?"
Clerk: "I'm not sure."

Anyhow, they said they would look into it.

On the way home we get a call from them (manager this time) on our cell phone and we go through the whole thing again.  By now we had time to think it over and remembered seeing security cameras hanging around the lobby. We asked the manager to review the tapes and you should probably see me taking my money out, count it on the desk and hand it to the night clerk. He said he would review the video. We also had to fax a copy of the receipt to him.

Two days later we get another call from corporate asking about how we were going to resolve the payment problem. Again we explained everything all again to them and I asked them if they had reviewed the video? Nope, they hadn't. They said they would check into it........oh brother.

A week later we get a letter from them in the mail apologizing. The night clerk had pocketed the money and never entered anything into the system. The clerk was released from duty............asshole.

We were guilty until proven innocent............


BBD

[Paul G]

We were guilty until proven innocent............

BBD

This summer we rented a car at Midway airport in Chicago, Rented from Budget. As we got to the car I could see a hole in the front bumper and some big scrapes on it. No agents around the car to show it to. I drove it up to the booth and had an agent write on my paper work that the damage was already there and sign it. Sure enough as the sun will come up tomarow, a week after we got back home I get a letter from Budget asking about the damage and how I intend to pay for it. My wife called them up and told them we have a signature from one of there agents on our paper work stating the damage was already there. She faxed them a copy of the paper work. Never heard from them again.

We would have been stuck for that damage if we had not had it signed off on our paper work.

[stripedelete]

The night clerk had pocketed the money and never entered anything into the system.

Now there's a whole 'nother thread.

[TUFCAT]

The night clerk had pocketed the money and never entered anything into the system.

Now there's a whole 'nother thread.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Do the "bellhop test." If the hotel doesn't have a bellhop, don't stay there.

Now, you may think I'm being elitist, and perhaps I am (a little bit), but I also think it's a matter of simple math. After all, your hospital stay for whatever illness you may have exacerbated or developed by staying at the Fleabag Motel is less than the premium you pay for the Marriott, which doesn't have roughly eight thousand types of parasites.

1 (hotel room) x 100 (dollars for the stay) - 5000 (dollars for hospital stay) > 1 (hotel room) x 250 (dollars for the stay) - zero.


Aside from this simple math, all of this even assumes that you don't value your comfort, a good night's sleep, any amenities at all, and the peace of mind that comes with not staying at a fleabag. Pony up.

[Old Moparz]

Do the "bellhop test." If the hotel doesn't have a bellhop, don't stay there.

Now, you may think I'm being elitist, and perhaps I am (a little bit), but I also think it's a matter of simple math. After all, your hospital stay for whatever illness you may have exacerbated or developed by staying at the Fleabag Motel is less than the premium you pay for the Marriott, which doesn't have roughly eight thousand types of parasites.

1 (hotel room) x 100 (dollars for the stay) - 5000 (dollars for hospital stay) > 1 (hotel room) x 250 (dollars for the stay) - zero.


Aside from this simple math, all of this even assumes that you don't value your comfort, a good night's sleep, any amenities at all, and the peace of mind that comes with not staying at a fleabag. Pony up.

What if the bellhop has the flu or some other contagious fungus? Do you think some fancy elitist hotel goes through the trouble to make sure their staff is at 100% in the best of health? The bellhop could pick their nose right before opening your door, gets infected snot on their finger, probably the index finger since that one is the best picking finger, then touches your door knob & uses the same hand with the encrusted index finger which leaves the nose meat on the knob.

When you decide to go look at cars or races at the Nats, you touch the knob to leave & catch the flu or some other contagious fungus that the bell hop had. It festers in your body for the incubation period, then you pass it onto your family, people at the Nats who travel from all over, & also your coworkers when you get home. This can start a huge epidemic that gets everyone sick, or at the very least gets a bunch of talking heads on TV to tell everyone on the planet to go get flu shots.

See all the crap you start by showing off that you stay in some fancy hotel? I bet you don't even tip the bell hop you tight-wad.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Do the "bellhop test." If the hotel doesn't have a bellhop, don't stay there.

Now, you may think I'm being elitist, and perhaps I am (a little bit), but I also think it's a matter of simple math. After all, your hospital stay for whatever illness you may have exacerbated or developed by staying at the Fleabag Motel is less than the premium you pay for the Marriott, which doesn't have roughly eight thousand types of parasites.

1 (hotel room) x 100 (dollars for the stay) - 5000 (dollars for hospital stay) > 1 (hotel room) x 250 (dollars for the stay) - zero.


Aside from this simple math, all of this even assumes that you don't value your comfort, a good night's sleep, any amenities at all, and the peace of mind that comes with not staying at a fleabag. Pony up.

What if the bellhop has the flu or some other contagious fungus? Do you think some fancy elitist hotel goes through the trouble to make sure their staff is at 100% in the best of health? The bellhop could pick their nose right before opening your door, gets infected snot on their finger, probably the index finger since that one is the best picking finger, then touches your door knob & uses the same hand with the encrusted index finger which leaves the nose meat on the knob.

When you decide to go look at cars or races at the Nats, you touch the knob to leave & catch the flu or some other contagious fungus that the bell hop had. It festers in your body for the incubation period, then you pass it onto your family, people at the Nats who travel from all over, & also your coworkers when you get home. This can start a huge epidemic that gets everyone sick, or at the very least gets a bunch of talking heads on TV to tell everyone on the planet to go get flu shots.

See all the crap you start by showing off that you stay in some fancy hotel? I bet you don't even tip the bell hop you tight-wad.

Caught me. I don't tip. And I wonder why I keep catching the flu in fancy hotels.

[Cooter]

As with many thing s in life like Mercedes Benz, Porche, etc., Just because it costs a premium, doens't mean it's better.


High dollar hotels, or low doallr hotels, in this economy, your better off staying with a friend/family member when on vacation.

[thedodgeboys]

As with many thing s in life like Mercedes Benz, Porche, etc., Just because it costs a premium, doens't mean it's better.


High dollar hotels, or low doallr hotels, in this economy, your better off staying with a friend/family member when on vacation.

Staying with family is no vacation 

Sorry for your boy I'm surprised they had smoking and none smoking on the same floor

[bill440rt]

It sucks that you went through all that with your kid, hope he's okay now.

With all the car shows, parts hunting & other traveling I've done, I've stayed at probably every brand of hotel & motel there is. I've also stayed at many of the independently owned Mom & Pop Smith places that seem to be Mom & Pop Patel now.  

I've never really had an experience that was so bad that I'd steer people away from a place except for one in the Poconos in PA, & another in NJ along the shore. Both were not chain brands & were trashed, expensive, smelled like stale beer, & were filled with noise all night. (Don't recall the names) There was a Quality Inn near Carlisle that I stayed at for $89 which was pretty reasonable for that area. The hotel was fine, so I tried to book a room there again a couple of months later for another show & was told it was $189.

I asked why it was more than double, & was told they raise the price for Carlisle event weekends. I said that I was there for an event but only paid $89. The person on the phone sternly said there was no way I was there for an event if I paid $89. At this point I had heard enough, & knew it was a waste of time discussing it & said, "I only go to Carlisle for the auto events. Do you think I'd take a day off work & drive 4 hours just to stay at your hotel because I like the way the two corners of the toilet paper are folded into little triangles?"  

The response was something like, "It's still $189 for the night."  

It's hit or miss with good service.  

I had exceptional service at The Hampton Inn in Phoenix just 2 weeks ago for just $80 per night. The woman at the front desk was friendly, & when we needed to find a store open late on a Sunday night to get something my daughter needed, she went on line to get phone numbers & then called the store to see if they had it. Same in SC when I was at a Comfort Suites for $65 per night. Both of these had real breakfast included that were eggs, bacon, waffles & more, not just stale donuts & coffee with baby powder instead of cream.

Ha!
Bob, is that the Quality Inn I'm thinking of? 
I had a similar experience. Had troubles with our room one year (too many to list). The manager stated he would give it to us at a discounted rate for the following year ($89/night). The following year, I called TWICE to verify our room reservation and the rate, I was told all was good. Come check in time, the manager fought with me tooth & nail about the rate. There was "no way" he could honor it. Bullsh*t I told him, & showed him my email confirmation with the rate. He said he still couldn't do it. He then went back to look thru a file cabinet, & found his own printout with the discounted rate as promised. He then apologized & honored the rate. The hotel was still hot, dirty, & uncomfortable. Come check out, I was going to reserve the room again for the following year & was told rooms were $189 EACH night!     Fuggetit. Drove around for a while checking out hotels, won't stay at the Q.I. again.

[TUFCAT]

The Carlisle Quality Inn priced themselves out of the market. It needs a major remodeling before they can sell rooms at that price! 

[W4ATL]

Use http://www.tripadvisor.com/ to see what the reviews say on the hotels you are considering. You need to look at the reviews that have facts and not the emotional ones where they are mad at the front desk clerk because they arrived 3 hours before check-in and a room is not ready yet. You'll be able to quickly tell the good reviews from the goofballs.

I travel a lot and I usually stick with chains or recommended independent hotels.

Hilton: Most are good but you may get one that needs renovation.

Hilton Garden Inn: These are usually new and are in good condition. They are the same everywhere.

Hampton Inn: Pricey for what you get but you will most likely get a decent room and free breakfast. Some are in need of a renovation.

Marriott/Courtyard/Rennaissance Properties: I don't stay in these too much but they are decent. I had some issues with the bill for some reason at these properties so keep an eye on it.

Quality/Sleep Inn: I generally stay away from these. A few are decent but most aren't

Best Western: Hit and miss. I generally stay away unless there is not another option.

Pay the few extra $$$ and stay at a nice hotel. You'll be glad you did.

[Ghoste]

I don't know if there are any quality places left that are close to National Trail.    Brice Road turned into a strip of dumps a few years ago.

[warpspeed]

Hey guys, my friends and I have been staying in Newark the last several years and we are really happy with the "new" hotel.  Even though the first night we had to walk up the stairs as the elevator was accidently out of order.  It is a great place, really nice people, and a super great breakfast in the morning. The breakfast includes the best of food and full service from several waiters.    We told other friends about the hotel and more people have reserved for next year.  It is the Newark Metropolitan.  I can get the number if you want to try it next year.  There are some good restaurants nearby within walking distance.  I would highly recommend it.  On Friday and Saturday night, we easily drive down the to Heath where the action is now.  Going to and from the dragway is easy and without any major traffic.