Aurora Suites

On my last night, someone broke into my car and took things. I reported it to the front desk, but they said they couldn’t help and it was my problem. The hotel has a closed parking structure that only the guard can open, so you have to rely on them when arriving and leaving. The staff were rude from the start. When I came in, the person at the counter was on their phone and didn’t pay attention to me. The rooms were dirty and looked very old, with lots of broken things. The dresser drawer wouldn’t close, and the bathroom doorframe had termite damage. It was unpleasant, and when I asked to change rooms, they said they were booked, though the place didn’t look full.

For an inexpensive place to crash, this suited us well. It’s close to services, restaurants, and attractions, and the people were nice and honest. The facilities were a disappointment, though: extremely hard beds, a dirty bathroom, furniture in bad shape, and no air conditioning. If I’m on a budget and just need a cheap place to stay, I’d consider it. For a vacation where I want to enjoy the stay, I’d look somewhere else.

The location is the saving grace: it’s a nice area, with lots of restaurants and shopping within walking distance. The place feels like a diva that’s seen much better days. The beds are hard as rock, and the bathroom had a dead mosquito squashed on the wall and a piece of soap left by prior visitors on the ledge. The light by the bed was broken. The bathroom doorframe was badly corroded, and the door wouldn’t shut. The little kitchenette was old and mismatched, and tile was missing around the entry door.

Okay, I gave it 5 stars, though it could be 3. The staff helped me really quickly when I arrived, and my room was ready. I had called ahead to say I’d be arriving very late. The room needed a few tweaks the first night, but when I mentioned it to staff on my way back, it was great when I returned. The bed is firm, really firm, but my back felt good and I woke up refreshed at 6am every day. The bathroom is small, with a stand-up shower about 2 square feet, a small toilet, and a small sink. The small kitchen was a surprise since it wasn’t mentioned, and a plus. There’s a refrigerator, TV, two single beds, two small closets, and a small table. There’s no iron or ironing board in the room, but management can provide one if you ask. You might want a blanket in winter if you get cold easily at night. Cable and Wi-Fi are available. Parking is inside the building, and you need to let staff know so they can open the door for you to enter and exit.