Ramada by Wyndham Fresno North

Customer service was good, but the rooms I've stayed in over several visits have all been in disrepair and badly need updating. The plumbing is faulty, the smell is unpleasant, and the showers don't work properly. Sinks are unreliable, toilets are bad, and the lighting isn't adequate. The carpet needs replacing too. It doesn't feel clean, so I won't walk barefoot in the room or even in the shower.

I paid $71 total per night, and for that price the value was there. I used the hotel as a base for Yosemite Valley and Sequoia NP; the drives are long, but it cost much less than staying closer. The location was good, with plenty of food within walking distance, and the parking lot is secure and gated. Staff were great, and the breakfast was good for someone happy with cereal or toast. There was a decent sized breakfast room too. I stayed five nights in August in a spacious top-floor room. The AC worked well in Fresno's heat. The bed was good, though the pillows were average, and the bathroom was a decent size with good towels. The shower was average, with only one spray setting, and the soap and shampoo pumps were placed awkwardly and took up space. The TV was good, but the channel selection was limited. I'd stay again; the downsides weren't deal breakers.

I stay here probably every weekend and have a great experience each time. It's affordable, with nice, accommodating staff, a gym, and a pool. Nobody bothers you, and there aren't weirdos lingering around. Breakfast in the lobby restaurant is free and pretty good: the waffles and eggs were great, and the cook was very nice and smiled while accommodating us. They take your license plate number at check-in, which helps reassure me that my car will be okay. There are all kinds of fast food places within a mile, and the 41 N and S freeway entrance is right next to the hotel. I'd rate it a hard 10.

The room itself wasn't acceptable. There were blood-like stains on the carpet, and it smelled strongly of cigarette smoke despite being labeled non-smoking. We were too exhausted to report it, especially since we thought another room probably wouldn't be available. We had arrived around 6 a.m. to confirm our reservation and early check-in after being awake for over 24 hours while my mother was in the hospital at Saint Agnes. Before we got there, Priceline called the hotel to confirm a 7 a.m. check-in, and the website said the same. Emiliano told us we couldn't check in until 8. When we explained the confirmation, he said third-party bookings “always get the information wrong.” He said he couldn't find our reservation because he'd already printed them for the day and was confirming them. We told him we'd booked by phone only minutes earlier. After searching, he said the reservation showed 3 p.m., making it seem like we'd have to wait until then. We repeated that Priceline had called, but Emiliano dismissively said he “didn’t speak with anyone” and that 8 a.m. was the earliest check-in. We reluctantly agreed to wait. After an awkward silence, my husband asked if Emiliano needed anything from us to confirm check-in. He rudely said, “I don’t need anything from you. I can’t do anything. I can’t check you in until 8:00 a.m.” We waited in our car for two hours. At 8, a different desk agent said no rooms were available and told us to return at noon. She couldn't help when we explained what had happened, and no manager would be available until the next week. We left exhausted, emotionally drained, and frustrated. They should have told us no room would be ready so we could look elsewhere. We went back at 9 to ask if a room could be expedited, and were suddenly told one was available. No one had told us, and we might have missed it if we hadn't asked. They also overcharged us for the early check-in fee. Poor communication, conflicting information, and unwillingness to help made an already difficult situation more distressing. **Edit:** After we spoke with upper management, they put all the blame on us and didn't address or acknowledge our concerns. The hotel should take accountability so this doesn't happen again.