Baymont Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chattanooga

We only needed a few hours of rest before getting back on the road with our three daughters, ages 10, 6, and 4. I was cringing at every turn and telling them not to touch anything. The building’s front sign was broken and hanging from one small bracket. The pool was empty and looked unused for years, and a man was passed out in the stairwell. There were marks in all sorts of colors on the walls, ceiling, and doors. In our room, the sheets and blankets were stained, nothing looked cleaned, coffee packets came without cups, the mirrors had handprints, and it smelled like an ashtray. The beds smelled rotten at the foot, the air unit was caked with dust and filth, and the toilet took two minutes to flush with only water in it. There was an empty toilet paper roll on the holder, a new roll on the tub, and half-folded towels, including one hanging on the bathroom door. The only good thing was that I saw no signs of bed bugs or other critters. We’d driven three hours, and after a problem with our reservation at another hotel, my husband was tired and fed up, so he got a room here.

We decided to stay because it was late and our group was exhausted. We’d called the front desk to ask about a room with two beds and a sofa bed for four people, and the person confirmed two queen beds and a sofa bed were available. Wyndham’s website also advertised free breakfast. But after we arrived late and paid, the attendant spent 20 minutes looking for that room, then said he couldn’t find it. He rudely offered either a refund that would take a few days to process, or another room with two queen beds for $80 more, on top of the $100 plus $50 deposit we’d already paid. The motel was mid-renovation, with dirty room floors, a mess outside, and exposed wiring in the bathroom switch panels. The decor was fine. They shouldn’t have been open before finishing the work, and should be removed from search listings until they can provide the amenities and room types they advertise.

We spent about five minutes in the room before deciding we couldn’t take it. The building seemed sketchy from the start, and the room reeked of urine and smoke. The sheets were stained, the bathroom disgusting, and large crowds hanging around made us feel unsafe the moment we got out of the car. A work truck nearly hit our car, and we had to wait almost 30 minutes just to get out. We demanded a refund almost immediately, though we’ll see whether it comes through. It’s nearly midnight, and my husband and I both had to shower because we felt gross just sitting on the bed. The state needs to know about this place, and it should be shut down. If you want to feel nasty and unsafe, this is the place.

Breakfast could be a lot better, but everything in the room worked, including the TV, refrigerator, and microwave. Our softball team booked nine rooms for three nights, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. For the price, the rooms were excellent: very clean, comfortable beds, soft towels, and little noise at night. We’ll stay here again next year for the tournament.