Flamingo Motel

I’m writing because I need my deposit back. I don’t know anyone here, have nowhere to go, and the shelters are full. The owner and her partner knew that. I counted on the full deposit to pay for places to warm up and get food. Now I’m broke, and it’s hard not to lose faith in people. I called about eight times today and got no answer. I was quiet, cleaned the room, had no guests, and followed the rules, so it felt rude and pretty pathetic that she left a letter taped to the office door instead of speaking to me. I did clean the room myself after being told it hadn’t been cleaned since my last visit. There was small talk while I stayed, and I’d said I wouldn’t smoke in the room or have anyone over. Three nights ago, when I checked in, she’d raised concerns about my guest smoking during my previous stay with a friend. I never smoked in the room, and I’d been respectful, cleaned before checkout, and tipped the lady $40.00. I’ve heard she’s done this to multiple people. DO NOT RENT A ROOM FROM THIS MOTEL. She has no heart.

I wish there were a no-star option. This is hands down the worst place to stay. I’ve heard from multiple people about being accused of smoking in the rooms and having deposits kept over hidden fees. There are also claims that someone watches you through windows and enters rooms when you’re away. People who’ve been ripped off should come together and get this place shut down.

If we’re on a budget, we might stay again. It was the cheapest place we could find, and we knew what we were paying for. The room was outdated and short on amenities, but clean, with clean sheets. The towels arrived late, but they were clean too, which I think matters most. We liked the outdoor tables for sitting and chatting, and the friendly, cute cat was a bonus. The trains were hard to sleep through, and traffic was frequent. Our view was a mix of trailers, machinery, and odd buildings. The beds were fairly comfortable, though our pillows were a bit flat. The fridge worked too well and froze our snacks, so we had to pay for breakfast even though we’d bought fruit for it.

It was fine for a one-night stay, and the room was warm, which was good. The furniture was a little too old.