Holiday Inn Express and Suites Bakersfield Central by IHG

We were both full marathon pacers, but the hotel's front desk teams showed little understanding or willingness to accommodate us. When my friend and I checked in Saturday, we asked for late checkout and were told to follow up with the Sunday staff. Before heading to the race early Sunday, we checked again and were told to call back at 8:30 AM, right in the middle of the marathon. We had already explained that we'd be running and couldn't call then. Since the hotel was the designated host for the Bakersfield Marathon Pacer Group and an official event partner, we expected staff to understand runners' schedules and show some flexibility, or at least consideration. The response was disappointing.

After finally getting a room, we found hair everywhere, what looked like mildew in the bathroom, and grime throughout. The service leading up to that was atrocious and felt like a scam. Traffic from a fatal car accident brought us to the hotel around 3am, after we'd spent 8+ hours in the car and had witnessed the victim on the interstate a couple of hours earlier. We were shaken. The night clerk said we were marked as a no-show and had to pay again or leave, so we paid twice for one room. The clerk had the worst customer service I've experienced, told us we were out of luck, and ignored us while we tried to sort it out with expedia. Expedia said we shouldn't have to pay twice, but the manager refused to refund the second payment the next day. I still can't get over the lack of empathy. I searched everywhere for a written rule requiring notice of late arrival or setting a latest check-in time and couldn't find one. I'm inclined to believe the clerk lied about it, especially since the listed check-in time is anytime after 3pm with no cutoff stated. If they're going to charge people twice, they could at least give them a clean room.

We didn't get up in time for breakfast, so I can't speak to it. The rooms were clean, the staff were great, and the price was fair. It's a great option for a concert at Temblor brewery, and I'll stay here again.

The carpet was still dirty from previous guests, and the room hadn't been cleaned properly. The bathroom smelled like mold, the TVs were dirty, and the shower curtains weren't washed properly.