Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Charleston South, WV

The stay was okay, but nothing special for $188.77. The hotel was clean but very dated. The beds were comfortable, though I found trash and what looked like a small piece of broccoli in one bed. Both entrance areas had smoking tables, and the place smelled of cigarettes when we walked in. The attendants were friendly, but when they weren’t at the desk, they were outside smoking. The booking was a mess. I accidentally booked through ChoiceHotels because its number appeared alongside the Country Inns webpage. They charged my card a $19.87 third-party fee. The representative said the room total would be $154.56, including a $30 fee for two pets, and that I’d pay a $20 deposit with the balance due on arrival. Instead, I paid $64.20 for the pets and $104.70 for the room when I arrived. With the $19.87 already charged, that was $34.21 more than expected. Don’t book through ChoiceHotels, the price didn’t match what they told me. There was no information in the room about the amenities or wifi, and no TV channel list. I had to ask about nearby restaurants and photograph their list, then take a picture of the breakfast hours too. Breakfast was nothing special: imitation eggs, sausage that looked gross, and no fruit that I could see. I had oatmeal, a blueberry muffin, and yogurt. The ice machine didn’t work. When we took our dogs out, I saw two entry doors propped open with rocks. I didn’t feel safe, so I removed them. Use the doors, or make them exits only. There was road noise all night, and the tubs were old style rather than walk-in showers.

We canceled the reservation we’d made for our return trip, and won’t stay at this location or any other Country Inn & Suites again. The breakfast was a joke: the hot food containers were nearly empty when we arrived at 6:35, even though breakfast started at 6:00. The worker said he’d only just arrived and it would be a while before more food came, and he didn’t seem happy that we asked. Room 128 badly needed repairs. The furniture veneer was missing in spots, the cabinet around the fridge had clear water damage, and the blackout curtains were full of holes and tears. It looked like a mouse or another rodent had been eating in the closet. This place isn’t acceptable. We give it zero.

The morning staff member was kind and responsive, but the man working when we checked in during the afternoon was unprofessional and wore a dirty T-shirt. Our stay was mixed. The location wasn’t ideal, though breakfast was good. The first room smelled bad, and the beds had hair and stains on them. The linen hadn’t been changed and there was no carpet. We asked to change rooms, and the second one was much better. Still, this wasn’t worth the money. Never again.

The hotel didn’t refund me, apparently because of its policy, even though I never stayed the night. I arrived and was first offered a room with a pet smell. I told the check-in staff my son has asthma, so that room wouldn’t work. They gave me another one, but it was filthy: unmade beds, beer cans, and a strong cigarette smell. Dirty beds for children seem to be acceptable, but no refund isn’t. DIRTY. CIGARETTE SMOKE.