Econo Lodge Cranston - Providence

The rooms were better than I expected for the price. I booked through the Choice Hotels website, and the staff were accommodating and efficient. I did see two different guests argue with the front desk about booking problems involving third-party travel sites I hadn't heard of. There are an absurd number of flagship brand stores within sight, so shopping options are everywhere. In the room, the bed was comfortable, and the refrigerator with a separate freezer was bigger than what I usually see in hotels. The bathroom was nice, with a large accessible shower and a door that didn't get in the way. There were plenty of lighting settings, from reading light to extremely bright, and more TV channels than most hotels. It was a great value.

I left disappointed. The room felt damp and uncomfortable, and it smelled bad. The bathroom was tiny and dated, the towels were dirty, and the toilet paper was very low quality. The sheets and blankets weren't changed, just rearranged. Staff at the front desk were rude and didn't even greet guests. Room service knocked loudly very early, and when asked to come back later, refused. The laundry service also often didn't work. I wouldn't recommend this hotel.

We arrived late in the evening with a reservation that had been confirmed in advance, but the hotel refused to check us in and cancelled it on the spot. It was snowing and bitterly cold, and they knew we had nowhere else to go. Being left stranded in those conditions was unacceptable. The man managing the hotel was dismissive, disrespectful, and completely unprofessional. He showed no accountability or basic consideration. This was the worst service I've ever experienced, and his conduct was shocking and embarrassing for someone representing a hospitality business. A confirmed booking should be honored even when guests arrive late, especially in dangerous weather. The lack of empathy and responsibility was disgraceful. The whole situation was stressful and humiliating, and the management reflects very poorly on the hotel. Be cautious about booking here, because your reservation may mean nothing and you could be left without support.

I'm 72, with chronic bronchitis, asthma, and a bad heart. A cold could kill me. My wife and I had booked ten days and arrived at 12:40. The desk clerk first said early check-in would cost $35, then asked for $45, saying $35 only applied at 1 p.m. When we tried to sit on the lobby couch and chairs, he told us those seats weren't for people like us. We had come by Uber and had to stand outside in the snow and cold for 20 minutes. It was horrible and cruel. They also charged a $115 deposit instead of the $100 deposit. In our first room, the TV wouldn't play properly, the shower handle came off in my hand, and when I turned on the tub, the spout shot across it. It had just been placed over the pipe for appearance and wasn't soldered on. We changed rooms, and after that things were great. Staff brought towels and other things around daily on a cart, and they cleaned the room. I watched them scrub the tubs and wash the floors in vacant rooms. I was very impressed with the cleaning and the rest of the staff, and the stay ended up being pleasant.