Rodeway Inn Fresno near Yosemite

The staff were genuinely friendly. The woman who checked me in was very polite, and the manager was courteous and tried to help when the TV kept cutting out every minute or few minutes. He offered another room, but I use my own sanitation routine and knew moving would be too much work. He also offered a discount for the inconvenience, since there was a technical issue affecting three rooms. When my son spilled juice and I needed extra towels, the manager sent a maid over. She brought only two, even after I explained how many people needed to shower, and wrote something on her clipboard. I called to check, and the manager apologized and assured me there would be no towel charge. With the dining area closed, they gave us a small breakfast bag with granola cookies and bear claws. The beds were comfortable, we slept well, and most of the room seemed clean. We paid $94 a night for six through priceline.com, or $106.69 with tax, choosing this cheaper place over the Comfort Inn & Suites I usually use because we planned to sightsee the next day. It felt like a Motel 6 with a fresh face, while older problems remained: pipes, holes in the wall, chipped tub porcelain, a cigarette burn on the cover, and a glittery liquid sprayed on the dust ruffle. There was a blood stain on the bottom sheet under the fitted sheet, and I noticed dog paw prints on the comforter. The bathroom felt humid and stuffy, with poor air circulation. I also overheard the woman next door ask her roommate whether the TV still worked, so I wondered if they'd been moved because of the same issue. I don't think the room had been thoroughly cleaned after the previous guests. During the pandemic, staff should have been wearing masks. The manager only put his on when we asked before he came in to check the TV. The front desk woman was behind plexiglass, but there was an upside-down tea division opening where germs could pass if she sneezed. She didn't sneeze, but should have worn a mask. I'm hard of hearing and had to stand closer than six feet to understand her, which made me uneasy. If you want an inexpensive place that looks okay, this could work. Spending another $40 at the newer Comfort Inn & Suites would be a better experience, though the people here were nicer and understood our needs.