Staybridge Suites Brownsville by IHG

The staff were welcoming, and the afternoon snacks were a nice touch. There was a worn cable machine in the workout room, which was a welcome bonus for an IHG property. Housekeeping came in twice when I forgot to put the DND sign up, even though the sign said service was weekly. That was fine, I guess. The rooms worked but felt dated, with corrosion and mold around the tub and only marginal cleanliness. The HVAC let outside air blow in between cycles. Breakfast was okay, though hot dogs in sauce weren't my thing in the morning. It's a slightly below average IHG stay, about three stars, neither great nor terrible. I'd probably return because IHG places in Brownsville seem cheaper than Hilton and Marriott properties. Leaving at 5 PM is difficult because the area is so busy, but that's down to Brownsville's wacky road infrastructure, not the hotel.

After checking out, I spent more than nine hours calling the front desk to get a copy of my receipt. When I finally reached someone at 11 PM, they hurried me off the phone and never sent it. Now they're screening my calls. Customer service couldn't get far either. Some representatives went out of their way to contact the location, but they couldn't reach anyone. The service was absolutely terrible. If you're a visiting military family PCS'ing or TDY to the area, I'd strongly recommend finding lodging elsewhere.

I was greeted okay, but once I got to the room, the door connecting to the other rooms wouldn't lock. As a young woman alone, I didn't feel safe. The door between the kitchen and bedroom wouldn't close either. A couple of minutes later, just as I was about to unpack, I spotted a BIG cockroach and felt disgusted. I didn't want to wake up with one on me. The online pictures look okay, but the place wasn't properly remodeled and the cleanliness wasn't five-star. When I tried to cancel, the front desk agent said I had to wait for the manager. Everything about the stay was a no for me. I wouldn't recommend it.

The room was great, the place was surprisingly quiet, and the bed was much more comfortable than I expected. Breakfast was great too, with a selection I really liked. The appetizers at social hour could use some improvement. I didn't like that the hot tub wasn't in service. The water was so freaking cold.