The Guest Lodge Gainesville

Update: someone did take the time to mail the package, and I got my watch back after thinking I’d never see it again. I let them know how much I appreciated the person who cared. It restored some of my faith in people. Before that, the customer service had felt cold and uncaring, even though I would have rated the room pretty well. Breakfast ended at 9, and everything had been put away, so nobody offered me anything. I’d left my watch in the room and asked about getting it returned. They quoted $50, then said I could send a prepaid return envelope. Once it arrived, they asked for a $20 handling fee because apparently no one could drop it in the mail. I asked for a secure way to pay by card and was told they’d send a form to fill out and return, which didn’t seem secure at all. They also said they’d already passed their lost-item holding period, even though it had only been two weeks. I told them to keep the watch and heard nothing more. At that point, it felt like zero customer service and zero heart.

The staff were extremely kind every time we dealt with them, and the location was convenient for what we needed. I came with my family for a ceremony for our father at Alta Vista cemetery. It was great that the hotel allowed pets and our room had no carpet. I only wish there were more counter space. Depending on where your room is, other guests can be bothered if you’re loud in the social areas by the pool. Someone complained mid-day when my dog barked at kids playing there. Later, we cut family time short before 11 pm, even though it was Saturday. We’re New Yorkers and I guess we’re just loud. Breakfast was pretty terrible apart from the coffee.

The room was comfortable and clean, but there were no towels. I had to go downstairs to ask for some, and the body wash and shampoo bottles held the same liquid.

The front desk staff were very nice, and the room was a little worn but not awful. But there were roaches everywhere. We killed eight in one night, including two in the shower with my husband. A train ran all night, and road noise was loud too, though it eased up by midnight.