Red Roof PLUS+ San Francisco Airport

The diner was great, and the front desk staff were awesome. The manager was kind and quickly came to help me move rooms, but after that the refund process went nowhere. He mentioned waiving fees without saying which ones. I asked by email for a refund for the first night and was offered a future complimentary night or told to contact Priceline. For over a week I've been emailing and calling in circles, trying to get reimbursed for the room. I'm not even asking about my ruined things. After all this, and for the price, I don't want to stay again. The facilities were outdated and unclean, and the one working elevator felt like something out of a Final Destination movie. I was moved four times during my first night. The AC in the first room had broken grating with bugs all over it and a strange smell. They moved me, but the AC in the next room didn't work. The third room seemed fine until around midnight, when water pooled in the bathroom after I showered. I used every towel to mop it up, then saw the water had spread from the bathroom across the room toward the bed. My shoes and clothes were ruined, and my suitcase got water stains. I was nearly in tears, and noticed what looked like a bloodstain on the floor to the left of the sink.

The manager went out of his way to help my boyfriend and me find truck parking, which is nearly nonexistent in San Fran. We were grateful that he found it less than half a mile away. The room was spacious and the water was hot. It could use an upgrade, but for the price it was worth it. The attached restaurant was the best part, we ate there four times and loved it.

The bed was very comfortable, and this was a perfect budget hotel. Our dogs stayed free, and the room came with a microwave and refrigerator, which added value. It overlooks a mud lake and a "shore trail," handy for letting the dogs out at any hour. Other reviewers mentioned residents and transients living here, and often complained about illegal smoking on the balcony. We had no trouble with the residents or balcony smoking. One suggestion: avoid Leann's Cafe, the food was terrible.

The attached diner and bar are open 24 hours, serve good food, and have really pleasant staff. That's the saving grace here. Red Roof Inns seem unpredictable and sketchy to me. I've stayed at a couple of nice ones, but this wasn't one: our room smelled like an ancient swamp cooler. There were only about 12 squares of toilet paper on the single roll, so I went to the receptionist for more. Later I found there were no bath towels and had to make another lobby trip. One towel was stained and nasty. Gross.