Days Inn Freehold

I only stayed because nobody else nearby had availability, and I felt unwelcome the whole time. The lobby was locked, with a sign telling guests to call for someone to open it. I called at least six times before anyone answered, then they opened the door reluctantly and asked, “Why are you here?” I explained that we had a booking.com reservation. Check-in took about 10 minutes, with no conversation beyond asking for my ID and card and handing me a key. For $130, the room was poor: the bed was uncomfortable, the TV didn’t work, and it smelled like stale cooking spices. They refused to move us to another room even though the hotel wasn’t full, and also said no to a late checkout. They knocked on our door several times an hour before checkout to ask when we’d leave, then said we’d be charged if we stayed past checkout time.

From the road, the Red Roof Inn in Freehold looks like a typical roadside motel, but inside it was a different story. I came for one night and ended up staying a week. Sha and the staff gave me superb service, and the room was immaculate, with a modern shower, cable TV, a large comfortable bed, and white comforter and linens. The coffee maker was great, and the staff kept me stocked with Java. After I’d been out for a few hours, the bed was made, fresh towels and washcloths were there, and they’d replenished the coffee and creamer. Thank you, Mr and Mrs Sha.

Everything in the room worked, and it was very clean. The staff were extremely nice, which made the whole stay easy and pleasant.

The outside looks less cared for than the rooms, and the reviews had made me nervous before arriving. The owners and their family turned out to be welcoming, respectful, and friendly, and the price was reasonable. The bed and pillows were comfortable, and the room, shower, and microwave were clean. Wifi did cut out a few times, but I had a very positive stay and will come back.