Quality Inn Goldsboro

The hotel Wi-Fi didn't work at all, and after stay upon stay of excuses with no fix, I've had enough of this company. I've also dealt with nasty, unclean rooms, roaches, and no Internet at other stays. I feel Choice ignores nearly 200 stays I've had in a year: they reset my status from diamond-elite to platinum and withhold points, so I'm giving away my remaining points and moving to Wyndham. Its membership levels seem more realistic, and the points amount to a free room about every four nights. That would have meant almost 50 free nights with Wyndham, compared with the 16 I got from Choice. Here, I tried to use saved Choice Hotels points for a free night. The reservation was the highest points cost by far, with no usual points-plus-lower-rate option, so one night cost about twice what it would at almost any other Choice property. At check-in, they said a computer glitch meant they couldn't take points, and I waited nearly 30 minutes while they tried to sort it out. Then they asked for a card for incidentals, in case I smoked or broke something. I said I didn't smoke and was checking in at 8 pm for one night, but gave them a card anyway. They said it was declined, then said the same about my second card, and finally accepted my debit card. After I got the key, I saw alerts showing $150 charged to each credit card and another $150 to my debit account, about $450 total for incidentals on a free points stay. I went back inside, waited another 10 or 15 minutes, and told them. They said nothing could be done until the manager came in the morning. I would have to wait a week or so to get that money back into my account. I joked that those were a lot of incidentals. Between this process, the disruption and stress, the lack of perks, and the weak points system, the membership isn't worth it to me.

As a corporate District Manager, I know hospitality and customer service, and what happened at Quality Inn was unacceptable. The overnight employee, Alexis, either couldn't or wouldn't handle a basic request for a paper plate. When I got one myself, she accused me of stealing, even though I was a paying guest visiting family for the holidays. She then kept her private phone call going while sharing information about me, my room, and what I looked like. If she's on her phone, apparently it's better to wait until she's finished. Quality Inn should have trained staff, good judgment, and basic hospitality, and I saw none of that. Stay safe and go elsewhere.

The location is great and the front desk staff have been good. As a travel nurse, I've usually had good experiences with Choice Hotels and discounts for 13 week stays, but this one offers no discount. They also won't address the people smoking pot, whose smoke fills the air. This has happened every week since mid-December. I smoke regular cigarettes outside, and the midnight desk clerk told me it was just smoke blowing back from a propped door. I don't think so: it comes under my door, and the smell runs down the hall. I never see them when I'm outside.

The beds were very comfortable, the place was clean and safe, and breakfast was what you'd hope for. For the price, it's a good choice, no pun intended. Most of the furnishings were in top condition, though there was the occasional worn-out item and the pillows were oddly small, both shown in the pictures. There was an aroma of medical cannabis in the common areas. No regrets, but I might look at other options.