America's Best Value Inn Albert Lea

We were split up across different floors, with the older members of our party put on another floor. The room heater didn’t work, and when we called, the maintenance man told us to wait longer even though we already had. The door rattled and banged whenever anyone walked past, and some lights didn’t work or had no bulbs. There was no ice machine or vending machine, and the fire doors didn’t seem up to code. The website listed breakfast, but at check-in we were told it wasn’t offered anymore. They also sent us back to a poorly maintained sore, where there were no slip rugs for wet or snowy shoes, a real fall risk. They wouldn’t refund our rooms. Terrible hotel. Pay a little more and go across the street.

I cancelled as soon as I saw the room, and the front desk confirmed it, but my card was still charged. I’ve been trying to get a refund since then. The hotel and Choice Hotels corporate both say it was “processed,” but more than 30 business days later I still haven’t received it, and nobody has provided proof of the transaction. The room itself was old, dirty, and smelled awful. I couldn’t stay in there for even a couple of hours, much less sleep. The whole experience was frustrating and unacceptable. I hope other travelers know what happened, and that the property and guest service get serious attention.

There was trash in the hallway, and doors to empty rooms were left open. My carpet was wet. I reported it when I noticed, but they didn’t offer me another room. The manager said the next morning that the carpet had just been cleaned and the room shouldn’t have been used. The side door wouldn’t lock, there was no other security, and my security card didn’t work until it was replaced. Breakfast wasn’t available because of a flood. For all of that, I got just a $20 credit. I’ll never stay there again.

There was no coffee, the shower drain was clogged, and I found pubic hairs in the sink. I’ve never stayed in a hotel this dirty. I’m baffled by how filthy the place was, my room included. I could keep going.