Howard Johnson by Wyndham Tropical Palms Kissimmee

We flew in from NJ and, when we arrived to check in, found out they’d given away our room. Then they gave us some kind of BS explanation that third-party bookings aren’t guaranteed, even though we had a reservation confirmation number. The service was terrible. I’d give them -100 if I could.

It was 10:39 and we were still in the car with the kids, trying to sort this out. I booked and paid for a weekend stay more than two weeks ahead, but never checked in. When we got there, my family member’s room was a disaster, and maintenance wasn’t available either of the two times we called. Because of the property’s condition, my family didn’t want to stay, so I asked for a refund. They told me to contact Expedia since I’d paid already. Expedia tried to reach them, but apparently no manager was there to resolve it. I called myself too, and got voicemail with no answer. Awful place. Don’t stay here. If I could give it zero stars, I would. Save yourself the trouble.

The room was clean enough, but as someone who inspected housekeeping for Wyndham for two years, I noticed the mattress pads had no encasement protectors, the pillows had no protectors, and the shower curtain was nasty. There was no elevator on our side, so getting to the second floor meant taking the stairs. That was manageable for us, though it could be an issue for someone who can’t climb stairs. We booked after seeing good reviews and a rate of $189 for three nights. Beforehand, we told the representative that I have type 1 diabetes and need to keep medication cold. He assured us there’d be a mini fridge. After a six hour drive, we arrived at 1 a.m. to find no fridge. The lobby also needed a deep clean and fresh paint, though that didn’t bother us as much. The front desk woman explained that standard rooms don’t have fridges. She was nice and suggested an ice bucket for my insulin, then said we could ask about a paid room upgrade around 11 a.m. We were going to Disney and couldn’t be at the hotel then. I asked her to pass my name to a manager and have them call. No one called, and there was no upgrade. With our tight itinerary and this being our only vacation that year, I didn’t pursue it further and tried to enjoy the trip. I was disappointed by how little concern or help we got with a medical need. I’d worked in Wyndham housekeeping and at the front desk for years, and this was not Wyndham standards. I wouldn’t return. You get what you pay for.

The room was spacious and clean, and I got a good price, so I’m giving four stars. It’s tucked well behind other buildings and can be hard to find. The place shows signs of having had a better past, but needs a major renovation now. The elevator needs a thorough cleaning. Receptionists were nice, though they couldn’t give me clear information about the billing. They charge a $50 deposit.