Days Inn Bakersfield

The low price is the main thing this place has going for it, and I might stay again if I needed a cheap room in a pinch. We couldn’t sleep well, though. The AC barely cooled even when turned all the way down, the pillows were uncomfortable, and some hotel-wide alarm went off several times overnight for no apparent reason. The sliding patio door, a lamp, sink faucet, toilet seat, and shower all had problems. The pool and hot tub were closed, too. For a room advertised for four adults, we got one shampoo sample, two towels, and one washcloth. The radio made strange noises and there were few clear TV channels. I wouldn’t recommend it if you want a more pleasant stay.

Update, February 17, 2020: Days Inn on Real Rd is closed, and the property is for sale. The desk staff, especially Donna and Alex, were great and went out of their way to help. The rooms are a good size, the area is quieter, and rates are midrange for nearby motels. The maids were mostly nice, but I felt they left too much undone in the rooms. Towels were a recurring hassle: rooms often weren’t stocked, and they said they’d charge if one was stained or missing. Instead of taking it from the $25 deposit, they might charge whatever amount they chose, such as $56 for two towels and two washcloths, though I challenge anyone to find two washcloths in a room. Deposits could also be a problem if you extended your stay at short notice, since they wouldn’t or couldn’t transfer the deposit to the new day and asked for another one. It felt like a little Christmas when the deposits finally came back to my account, days later. If you stay often, the Wyndham rewards program offers 10% off standard rates, points toward free rooms, and late or early check-ins.

We got two queen beds, which worked perfectly for three of us, and the room had plenty of space. The beds were firm but comfortable, and the pillows were nice. It was clean and mostly well maintained, with just a few problems. The price we found online was pretty cheap, so I can’t complain too much. Front desk staff were very helpful and friendly. When our AC wasn’t cooling well and the bathroom lights began dimming and flickering, the night clerk moved us to a much cooler room. In that room, the shower’s cold-water knob was faulty and had to be pushed in to turn it on or off. The location is decent, with plenty of food places and gas stations nearby, which helped because none of the vending machines worked. Breakfast included cereal, oatmeal, toast, milk, coffee, and orange juice.

The room had cockroaches, the AC didn’t work, and it clearly hadn’t been cleaned that day. The walls, carpet, and sheets all needed cleaning and repairs, and I was itchy all night. The corridors felt like they belonged in a horror movie, and I never felt comfortable or safe. When we arrived, there were people experiencing homelessness all around, which made us uneasy. We booked two rooms for four people but were given one. There were no towels, and when I asked at reception for four, the woman looked shocked that four people needed four towels.