Econo Lodge Kent - Akron West

The highway location is convenient, but that's about the only good thing I can say. We won't return to this Econo Lodge, or probably another one, and I'd pay double to stay next door instead. The booking on Priceline showed pictures of a king room with a jacuzzi tub, and the description listed an "open air tub" separately from the bathtub and shower. At the desk I was told that was another room type and would cost around $60 more, which felt very misleading. My girlfriend and I were out at an event most of the evening and got back around midnight. We decided not to stay because of the room's condition and the missing tub we expected. I asked again about the issues and requested a refund, but was refused. They also wanted $1 for "amenities" and couldn't explain what that covered beyond cable TV. The listing said streaming services were available, but they weren't. The room smelled nice, but the bed had cigarette burns in several spots and dirty-looking corners. The tub looked a little dirty too, and the bottom of the door looked as if someone had tried to kick it in. Staff weren't very friendly. A cranky man took about five minutes to show up at check-in, and the younger woman at checkout seemed uncaring when I raised my concerns.

For one cheap night, it might do, especially if you need to be close to car repair shops, but I wouldn't call it good value. There were no bedbugs, the microwave worked, and the indoor pool and decent free breakfast were positives. Still, the dresser and fridge were in rough shape, there were cigarette burns on the beds, and the elevator needed maintenance. The yard by the parking area was covered in pet mess. The carpet looked like it hadn't been replaced since 2005, the entrance wasn't very wheelchair friendly, and the shower swung between very hot and lukewarm. It's only a few hundred yards from the highway, but don't let the bargain rate fool you.

One of the better rooms I've had lately, and one of my better stays at the E.L. It's an affordable choice for a last-minute booking or a short visit. The free WiFi uses a known, very undesirable "Ruckus" router, though, and I'd recommend not connecting to it.

The jacuzzi worked well, the room was clean, and I didn't see a single bug inside. The hotel is dated, with peeling drywall, and you should expect a two-star place. Front-facing rooms also get a lot of noise from the interstate in the morning. My fiance and I booked one of the jacuzzi rooms at a reasonable price. The service was great: the kind gentleman at the desk offered us extra towels before we were even done checking in, which feels like common courtesy for that kind of room, but no other hotel with a jacuzzi room has done it for me. We asked for an early check-in and were told no, which I can't really hold against them. It wasn't quite a five-star experience, but it wasn't unpleasant either. I'd stay again.