Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Huntsville

I work at a four-star hotel, so I know what good quality looks like, and this stay pleasantly surprised me after the reviews had made me nervous. It was quiet, the sheets were clean, there wasn't a bad smell, and the floors weren't wet. It was an affordable last-minute stay, and I'd come back if I needed to.

We couldn't stay in either room we were given. In 108, one bed hadn't been made, the sheets were dirty, and there seemed to be vomit stains on the carpet on both sides of the bed. I asked to switch and was sent to 217, which was even worse. It smelled of smoke, the window was wide open, and the pillows had fresh blood stains. The carpet was filthy too. An open window like that is a hazard with small children. I got my kids and our things, and we left for the Holiday inn across the street, which had a much better five-star view than Microtel. This is unacceptable. The whole hotel needs remodeling and new management, and I won't return to microtel.

The photos of the exterior are misleading. We picked the hotel because it was fairly close to our event and included breakfast, without downtown prices. Our first room reeked like it had been smoked in for twenty years, so I went straight back to the desk after stepping inside. I hadn't asked for a smoking room, and I didn't know those were even still a thing. The replacement room smelled better, but had exposed wires and outlets, a shower curtain with no liner, empty tissue box, rusted hinges and vents, a bathroom door that wouldn't close, and mold on the ceiling. We only stayed one night and tried to be there just to sleep. I can't believe Wyndham puts its name on this place. Breakfast was awful. One of the two juices was unavailable, there was no hot tea, and the bagels were soggy on one half and stale on the other. Toast had no butter or cream cheese, and both vending machines were out of order. I ended up taking a banana. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

I had trouble getting the booking app to reserve a room, so I went inside. The front desk smelled like a perfume bottle had broken. The clerk quoted me $35 more than the booking app for the room I wanted, so I went somewhere else. I'd already read reports that the place was dirty and unsafe.