My sister and I stayed in Room 107 and became sick almost immediately. After the first night, we…read moreboth developed respiratory symptoms including an itchy throat, nasal drip, sneezing, and headaches. By the second night, our symptoms had worsened.
On the third day, I discovered black mold behind the toilet, and upon closer inspection, found more mold on the walls near the shower. It was also clear the area had been painted over previously, as there were visible paint lines around the shower -- a sign this issue has existed for some time.
The front desk attendant, Michael, was empathetic, professional, and genuinely helpful. He moved us to another room, which we inspected and found no visible mold. He also stated he emailed management about the situation, especially since the mold had made us sick. I am immunocompromised, so this is not a minor concern.
Unfortunately, our interaction with management was extremely disappointing. We were told the "cleaning lady" would handle the mold. This is alarming because black mold cannot be properly remediated by wiping or painting over it. In most cases, the toilet must be removed and the affected drywall replaced. Simply cleaning the surface does not address the underlying moisture damage or the mold growth behind the wall. I tried explaining this to him but he literally laughed at me.
When we requested a partial refund -- especially since we were charged $233.77 for a Saturday night in a mold contaminated room -- the manager became defensive. When I mentioned we had photos and would be reporting the improper handling of mold, he responded by accusing us of leaving "broken glass" and "syringes" in the room and said he had pictures as well. Deflection at its finest!
These accusations were not only irrelevant but false. Since he wouldn't stop talking over us to allow an explanation regarding the "broken glass" and "syringes they apparently have pictures of, I will explain here:
* The "glass" was from a ceramic coffee mug that accidentally broke when we moved rooms. As guests, we did not have cleaning supplies to sweep it up.
* The "syringe" was actually a plastic saline flush used for my sister's contact lenses -- not a hypodermic needle.
Instead of listening, the manager repeatedly talked over us and argued. His response was unprofessional, dismissive, and concerning, especially given the seriousness of mold exposure.
Had management handled this situation with empathy, honesty, and proper remediation, we would not be leaving this review. What worries me most is knowing that future guests may be exposed to mold and mycotoxins if the hotel continues to paint over the problem instead of addressing the underlying water damage.
Michael was the only bright spot in this entire experience -- truly a gem in a place that desperately needs more of him. As for the manager's imaginative claims about "syringes" and "broken glass," we would love to see those photos. Please, go ahead and post them for everyone. We could all use a little entertainment after discovering we'd been staying in a moldy bathroom.
Meanwhile, we're home detoxing from mycotoxin exposure, and somehow we still didn't receive even a partial refund for being placed in unsafe conditions. The defensiveness, the false accusations, and the complete lack of accountability were... impressive, in the worst way.
Bless your hearts.
An absolute disgrace.