Valley Lodge Motel

I tried to rent a room for a month, but the rooms are disgusting and don't look anything like the photos on the website. Think twice before going, and find somewhere else to stay.

When I arrived to check in, the owner, who was also the only staff member, wasn't there. He'd asked someone else to cover while he was away. That was the second warning. The first was that payment could only be made at the establishment, not through Expedia, where I'd booked the room for my friend and me. The room was awful: filthy, with stains on the sheets and floor, tiny enough that a double bed barely fit, and an old box TV. The AC didn't work, a window was broken, and there was nothing else in the room. The listed amenities weren't there except for Wi-Fi. The building looked nothing like the pictures. It felt like the kind of room where you'd expect to see needles on the floor and shady deals. I called the owner to try to get a refund, and he ended up yelling at my friend and me when we explained why we wanted one. It looked like a $30-a-night room at most. My only regret is not taking pictures. One star is only because zero stars wasn't an option.

I've stayed here for over a month and have no plans to go anywhere. Some guests have been here for more than five years. Even without a car, it's comfortable: Turkey Hill and a strip mall are within walking distance. Behind the small property, oak trees and benches, plus a grill for barbecues, give the grounds a country feel. This lodge is right off the highway on rt 11 and 15, in the heart of the strip, with hundreds of vehicles passing each day. The rates are hard to match around here. A night elsewhere is usually about $150, while the weekly rate here works out to around $35-40 per night and the monthly rate about $25-30. Every room also comes with access to a full kitchen that's already equipped. Most negative reviews, in my view, come from people breaking the agreement. Weekly and monthly rates aren't prorated or refundable. When people want their money back, there's no limit to what they'll do.

There was blood, dirt, and bedbugs on the mattress, and the bed didn't even have sheets. The ceiling had huge cobwebs and there were holes in the wall. We left immediately, told them we weren't staying, and asked for a refund. They refused. It was awful, and even one star is too much.