Motel 6 El Cajon, CA - San Diego

Daniela showed me a room that looked and smelled very clean, so I'll be recommending this hotel to my visiting family. She was great with customer service and deserves every chance to succeed here or wherever she works. I'd come in politely to ask to see a clean room before my family booked. The male employee at the counter immediately said they couldn't show me a room, though I could walk around the hotel if I wanted to check it out. Luckily, Daniela offered me a quick tour.

I didn't spot the cockroaches in room 131 until the next morning because I arrived late. As I was getting ready to check out, the front desk woman said I should have called sooner and told me to contact the manager later. I called to report the problem, and he said he'd call back, but I never heard from him. If you find bugs in your room, call right away.

The front desk was kind and respectful, and both the lobby and laundry room were clean. Booking on Booking.com was easy, and since I didn't have my driver's license with me, they let me show a phone photo of the front and back of my ID. The queen room was clean and about what I'd expect from a motel. There were cigarette burns on the blanket and one bath towel, but they didn't bother me. It's pet friendly with several spots for pets to go, and I had a good stay.

I wouldn't recommend this place or stay here again. I checked in Saturday at 3 o'clock and was put in room 159, where the mattress was badly stained and looked like it might have bedbugs. They moved me to 116, but it was the same problem. I took pictures and showed the hotel representatives, who seemed to shrug it off. I left my number and asked for a manager, but they said he wasn't in and would call soon. When I called around 3 pm, I was left on hold until I hung up. I only wanted to ask about a discount for the first night, because the room was disgusting and uncomfortable. The room switches also made us late for a wedding ceremony. Room 147 was finally decent enough to stay in. Finding a room was hard because of the March or protest, as they called it. At least the ones in Las Vegas are much better. People living there long term because they were homeless were okay, but if conditions are below standards, that must be against the health quota. There were small kids there, and mattresses like that aren't okay for anyone, homeless or not.