Sonesta Essential Augusta

The kind, apologetic, professional woman at the front desk that night seemed to be the only staff member there. She let me cancel and check out without fees, and handled things far better than the property deserved. I was there for a one-day work event during my birthday weekend, and the brand name had made me think this last-minute booking would at least be basic and safe. It turned into one of the worst hotel stays I’ve had. I’d tried for hours while driving to Augusta to confirm my reservation, but the front desk never answered. The hotel smelled strongly of stale cigarettes everywhere, including the lobby, halls, elevators, and rooms. A side or back entrance that should have been locked was propped open when I returned from work, letting anyone off the street into the building. The elevator was ancient, shaky, and loud enough to scare me every time I rode it. In Room #1 (308 or 309), there was a blood stain on the bottom sheet and another small one on the mattress. Under the mattress, along the bed railing, I found three small white suspicious bugs that looked very much like possible bed bug activity, plus cigarette ashes. I took photos and immediately requested a room change. Room #2 was worse. The shower curtain was covered in mold and mildew, the bedding had several cigarette burn holes, there was a strange black soot-like substance on the covers, and there was no toilet paper. The sink water ran brown for the first 10 seconds, then a baby roach crawled out of the sink. The door wouldn’t close or secure properly because the deadbolt was misaligned. I was traveling alone. Exhausted after my work meeting, I had no fight left. I went to Walmart for a blanket and pillowcases and planned to sleep on top of the bed. When I tried to move the mini fridge in front of the door for more security, roaches scattered from behind it. That was the last straw. I grabbed my things and went straight to the desk. I took a chance even though many reviews said “no,” because I’m not bougie about hotels. I’m from round the way and know motels aren’t five-star resorts. This wasn’t about luxury. The place felt unsafe, unsanitary, and neglected, and the very sketchy motel next door added to that feeling. This property shouldn’t be listed on booking sites. The health department and code enforcement need to be involved. It’s a safety and sanitation issue, not a budget hotel issue. Do not stay here.

Super disappointed. The hotel was filthy, with dirty walls and roaches. The AC/heater kept clicking off, had no cover, and made the room really uncomfortable. The bathroom floor was sunken and the toilet leaned. There was only half a bottle of conditioner, with no shampoo or soap, and the linens smelled old and stale. I also passed marijuana smoke in the hall on my way to the room. This place gives Choice hotels a bad reputation and needs to be shut down.

The room had a stained comforter, and roaches were crawling on the wall and bathroom floor, ranging from pea-sized to lima bean-sized. The location felt bad, tucked behind a motel. I bought the room at night, and the service seemed sketchy because they said I couldn’t get my refund until management came in the morning. I never got the refund.

The room smelled awful and was hot, with mystery stains all over the bed, one that looked like blood. The walls, ceiling, and appliances were disgusting, and there was a huge stain at the bottom of the bathtub that I didn’t investigate further. Even the elevator seemed like it might trap me, so I took the stairs later. I put my keys on the counter and walked out, and now I’m safely tucked into a Holiday inn. Stay far away from this “hotel.” Please believe the bad reviews. I knew I might be in trouble from the parking lot and the outside of the building. When I came in, the couple ahead of me were asking to cancel, and the front desk person told them there were no cancellations. They said their room and the hotel were disgustingly unclean, and they were leaving to find another place. I’d already paid online, so I decided to see my room first. I should have listened.