Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hoover/Birmingham

For a last-minute night when you don’t want to spend a fortune just to sleep, I’d stay here again. The rates are fair compared with nearby hotels, the staff have been pleasant on my couple of visits, and the air-conditioning worked well in each room I used. I’m giving it four stars, the rating it already had when I reviewed it. It could use a few improvements, sure, but that would likely raise the price too. I can’t give it a full five, and I’m not going to knock the rating down either.

The room was decent, but it was very small, and I was charged close to $100 for it. I saw a $77 rate on Booking.com and asked about it while I was already at the hotel, but they wouldn’t match it or offer that price. Then an emergency involving my mother meant I needed to cancel the second night. I hadn’t canceled 24 hours ahead, so they refused, even when I asked if they’d make an exception or refund half. Booking.com also asked them to help, but they still wouldn’t work with me. I understand hotels have policies, but I was asking for help because of a family emergency, and they wouldn’t make the cancellation free or return any of the money. I don’t want to stay with them again.

I only stayed two nights, and that was enough. The room was tiny, with the bed taking up most of the space, and it could’ve been cleaner. Everything worked, though it was a bit old. I wouldn’t bring my wife here.

For $250, I really didn’t expect to share a bed with roaches. There were bugs in our rooms, and the air-conditioning didn’t work in one of them. The hotel smelled like stale cigarettes, and having no air in the middle of summer was unacceptable. The front desk clerk wouldn’t refund us and only offered to move us. I wasn’t convinced that would help, since roaches in one room might mean they’re in the others too. Don’t waste your money.