TownePlace Suites by Marriott Bloomington

I felt very unsafe during a noisy, disrupted stay, and could smell marijuana in the hallways. For $500 a night, this was a very low-quality Marriott. I know it's a college town, but that doesn't make this cheapest-grade, economy-level room and lobby acceptable at that price.

The pool was clean and warm, and the staff were friendly and very helpful. The rooms could use some upgrades or replacements, especially from normal wear over time. I saw a review from three days before mine about a dog coming at someone. That was my dog, and he barked at the person but did not attack. Every hotel has long-term residents; that's a given. I've stayed at a few hotels in the area, and this is one of the best. I'll book again when I'm nearby. Also, the man's door said to pull the handle up, not down. Sometimes people just can't read. The door wasn't malfunctioning.

We booked four rooms, but left and went to Homewood Suites (Hilton) down the road, where we're very happy. In the first room, the bathroom floor was covered in long black hair, the room smelled like fish, the stove was greasy, and the couch was torn up. We asked to switch rooms, but the second had much the same problems, including hair on the floor and damaged furniture, plus stink bugs. The place was totally dilapidated and gloomy. Embarrassing for the Marriott.

The hotel felt more like a motel, and it was dilapidated, dirty, with peeling paint and flooding, along with bad service. After moving our kids into school, we couldn't wait to leave. We would have changed hotels, but nothing else had vacancies at under $800 a night. We asked for the room to be cleaned the next day, but housekeeping only brought fresh towels. Really? This was a Marriott, which is why I had considered it. Never again, and don't trust any of the reviews rated two stars or higher.