Red Roof Inn & Suites Anderson, SC

UPDATE: After talking with the owner, the issue was resolved, which is why I'm changing my rating from two stars to five. Thanks to the owner, management, and staff for the hard work. My husband and I had stayed here for a couple of years without trouble with management or staff. We were allowed to use our own grill outside and sell food to guests on Sundays. When we were told we couldn't sell food anymore, we stopped. Then we got a notice saying we couldn't grill outside either. It said our daily rate had gone up to $59.99 plus tax as of 3/1/24, payable each day for the rest of our stay without missing a day. It also said selling food wasn't allowed because the establishment lacked the proper permit, and that the grill and setup outside our room weren't permitted. The notice said our reservation payment covered only the room, not use of the grounds, and that we would have to leave if we didn't follow the policy. There's a charcoal grill outside by the green pool, and their website advertises continental breakfast, which I think is false advertising. Nobody else got that letter, which felt discriminatory to me. For anyone staying here, be prepared, and good luck. My question was whether guests are allowed to grill outside their rooms or not.

I should've read the reviews going back years before we came. The housekeepers were no problem and did the best they could with what they had, but the manager was sometimes rude and should schedule maintenance better. Contractors changed door locks while rooms were occupied, using a grinder to modify the doors and sending sparks and metal shavings onto our belongings. I don't blame the contractors, they were doing their jobs. The motel is in terrible shape for the price. The stairwell landing flooring is falling apart, hot water is rarely usable, and there's no coffee in the room or lobby. Toilets clog, and when they back up, something that may be sewage seeps through the floor.

The place is run down and needs a lot of work. My toilet leaked, there's no coffee despite it being advertised, and the lobby only had a few snacks. I'm glad I came prepared, apart from missing coffee and a hair dryer. I can rough it or be fancy, but this felt worse than roughing it. They helped with some things I asked about, but mostly I got help with the key cards. The cards only work once, so every time you leave the room you have to go back to the office for another one. There are loud drinkers and people I took for drug users at all hours, hanging outside room doors and yelling at each other and at the sky. The broken-down cars in the parking lot were lovely. I was glad I'd brought my dog for protection. I could go on, but if you're researching before booking, you'll get the idea. Good luck, you'll need it.

We booked online for one night because of the price and the pictures looked fine. After checking in, we went to the room and found a cigarette butt beside the bed. The bed looked like someone had just been lying in it, and stale smoke smell hit us right away. There was also a lot of questionable activity in the parking lot and outside the room. For our safety, we took the loss and booked a hotel down the road. Locals apparently call this place a "crack house." Don't stay here. I don't know how anyone could leave a positive review.