Days Inn by Wyndham Cedar Falls- University Plaza

The price was good, but the property was very, very dirty, and the rooms had stains everywhere. The sheets, blankets, and towels were stained, the comforter even had a burn hole, and there was a large, mysterious white stain on the floor. The first room had hair all over, especially on the bathroom floor. Other people in our group changed rooms multiple times because of smoke smells and room conditions. The man at the front was very nice about switching rooms and didn’t push back. Staff did replenish towels during our stay, which was appreciated. The “included” breakfast apparently only happens on weekends. Our reservation was nonrefundable, so we stayed as planned. If it had been refundable, we probably would’ve looked somewhere else.

This was a huge mistake. I booked a room for someone using my Wyndham account because it seemed easier, but the hotel called at check-in asking me to authorize extra fees and a $100 deposit on my card. I’ve stayed at lots of hotels and never had to pay a deposit on top of the room charge. I said I was only covering the room and that the guest should handle any extra fees or deposit. I refused to authorize the charges verbally and on the form they emailed. The woman kept talking over me, I couldn’t understand what she was saying, then she told me she was done with me, kept saying “it’s okay,” and hung up. The next morning I got an email about a broken bathroom door and a $300 damage charge. I called right away but got no help. I repeated that I hadn’t authorized anything beyond the booking and they needed to get authorization from the person staying. Again, she talked over me instead of helping. Corporate wouldn’t help because the location is an independent franchise and told me to call the hotel. I did, but she wouldn’t let me speak with anyone else. I demanded to know why they charged my card after being specifically told they didn’t have permission. The person I booked for had no idea about any of this. They thought the hotel was only calling to confirm I meant to book under a different name. Communication was completely unclear. After we argued and got nowhere, I woke up to an email sent at 3 a.m. from the same woman saying the hotel had called the police because I disputed the charge and told them I’d challenge it with my bank. I travel often and have never dealt with anything like this. I’ve booked rooms for others and had others book for me, and have always been able to use a different card for extra expenses. I’ve never had to pay a deposit. I’m beyond frustrated and won’t do business with any Wyndham affiliated company again. It all felt sketchy and unethical.

The location is handy, with plenty of restaurants within walking or driving distance and a few stores nearby, but I wouldn’t stay here again. The parking lot is cramped, the TV barely worked, and getting an extra blanket was a struggle. Water pressure was very good. They only vacuumed once during my weeklong stay and said they didn’t have the supplies to clean the room. Staff weren’t exactly welcoming, and they came into the room without knocking. Most staff didn’t speak English. The “breakfast” was instant oatmeal and waffles you make yourself. If you come here, don’t expect much, and keep your doors locked because drug addicts hang around the hotel and sometimes harass people. I’m still surprised I didn’t get robbed.

We had few choices for a last-minute trip to see my son at college, so we tried this place even though the reviews had set low expectations. It was cheap, and this time it was a case of getting more than we paid for, in a bad way. Jack, the daytime manager, doesn’t own the motel, but she should have a place of her own. She’s great and is the one keeping it going. Days Inn owners with better facilities, she’s your manager. She runs things, cleans, cooks, and does laundry with a great attitude, even though the conditions are rough. She can’t do it all herself, but she’s clearly trying to keep a sinking ship afloat. I booked on the direct Wyndham site. Check-in was fine for me and my sons, who are 14 and 18. We had two double beds. The room looked clean and welcoming at first, but the old motel’s open walkway had been enclosed to make hallways, so our room had floor-to-ceiling windows and a step up. The windows were old and dirty. I expected some of that and brought my own cleaning supplies. The carpet was dark and gross, though it didn’t smell musty. The remodeling was poor, with a piece of carpet serving as a wall baseboard, coming loose. There was a TV, mini fridge, and very old microwave that wouldn’t close after it was opened. Everything was dirty, wiped down but never scrubbed. The air unit ran, but it was in bad shape, the filter was dirty, and the room had no airflow. We didn’t shower there or walk around without shoes. The tub caulk was in bad shape, and the toilet leaked, though it was clean. The listing said there was a pool, but there wasn’t one. After we arrived, I saw it said we could use the pool next door. When I asked about that, they looked at me like I was nuts. There was a lot of disconnect and false information, maybe an attempt to save a dying business, but that’s wrong. After check-in, I went back to the car for our bags while my sons were in the room on their phones. The “nightguy” used a master key and walked right in. My son almost hit him, and I can’t blame him. The man yelled at my kids for not answering his knock, which they hadn’t heard with headphones on. My son told him to get out. When I got back and heard what happened, I was angry. I went to the desk and, in front of other guests, calmly but firmly asked why he’d entered and scared them. He said the room wasn’t marked occupied and he was checking it. I wouldn’t leave anyone in the room alone here. I cleaned the room and windows myself because we had no choice but to stay. I found the missing smoke detector in a drawer and asked the desk for a battery. The guy acted like batteries cost a million dollars, then pretended to install one without putting it in all the way. I told him, “I’m a mom, I’ll do it myself,” finished the job, and tested it. We never felt comfortable. After visiting my son’s college, we stayed at a restaurant down the road and only returned when we were exhausted. The kids slept well. I slept closest to the door with the chain and deadbolt locked. We left by 7:30 a.m. Breakfast was expired yogurt, stale cereal, and waffles. At least the coffee was hot. This place is really only for road workers at this point, and most of them probably wouldn’t like it. Wyndham should do more to standardize and maintain hotels that operate under its name. It’s garbage. I rarely say this, but don’t stay here.