I stayed over at this Econo Lodge at the last minute when I was traveling to spend Thanksgiving with family and was road weary. The surrounding area was an asteroid belt of Apple Bees, Cracker Barrels, and Seven-11s: Just the sort of place you would expect minutes off the highway.
Behind the building itself was a pile of rubble - a cardboard fort that looked like it was housing a homeless commune, condom boxes, beer cans, cigarette butts - that made the place look even more hopeless in the dismal light. The bathroom smelled badly of cigarette smoke and blew stale air throughout the room when the overhead fan was on, but I just needed a place to crash.
I left early in the morning after poor sleep on the stiff bed and forgot my suitcase. Even though I had made my reservation only for the one night and given the desk clerk my phone number, the manager decided to charge me for a second night without contacting me. When I got home and noticed that I didn't have the suitcase, I called and asked the manager to please give me a price of sending my belongings back, but she told me she could charge my card, but not give me an estimate.
Although the hotel was nearly empty, the staff had my number and knew that I had indicated I was only staying the night, and I had left a tip and comment card, the manager would not waive the regular room fee for the second night. I should have called the hotel on the road, she told me, and she didn't care that I didn't even notice that I was missing my luggage until I was on my way home.
I understand. A place like this doesn't operate on return customers anyhow (who would choose to stay at a place like this?) so why should they care if people are unhappy? In hindsight, I should have just camped out in my car. If you are in the vicinity of this Econo Lodge, please learn from my mistake.
Obviously the manager didn't care when I said I would be publishing unfavorable reviews online. I'm sure she's accustomed to that. read more