MainStay Suites Florence - Darlington

The only reason I gave this hotel two stars was its location. It’s right off the highway, convenient for commuting, with a few food places nearby. I came from Pennsylvania for the Darlington NASCAR and was surprised at check-in because the lobby looked nothing like the pictures. It was very dark and smelled bad. The breakfast area was closed and unusable, even though the site advertised “free breakfast.” My room’s floor and bathroom were extremely dirty. There was a small coffee machine but no coffee pot, and the room phone didn’t work when I tried calling the lobby. In the morning, I went down to see if they had coffee or breakfast, but there was none. If you’re considering staying here, look at other hotels first.

We asked to see a room before booking because of the reviews. Both rooms we looked at were dirty, with bugs on the floor and towels, even though they were supposed to be clean. The family suite advertised with an in-room washer and dryer and other appealing features wasn’t available at this property, despite the website promising them. Take my two cents and spend your money elsewhere.

We were stopping on our way from Pennsylvania to Florida, tired enough that we made the room work by reminding ourselves we camp too. Still, it didn’t meet our expectations, and I wouldn’t recommend it to family or friends. My confirmation was for a king bed and two queens, but we got a pullout sofa and two double beds. When I asked for sheets for the sofa bed, the front desk clerk came with me to the room. There was no ceiling light or lamp, only light from the bathroom and TV. I asked for a light and was told there wasn’t one, just sheets, if he could get into the room to see. I let him in, and my adult son and grandchildren were surprised by the clerk’s visit.

I’ve stayed at both hotels and had good experiences. I have a question: could I rent a room by the month? I’ve seen a couple of people living at the hotel. My family and I are homeless and need somewhere to stay until I find a home of our own.