Best Western Plus Vermilion River Inn & Suites

At nearly 4 a.m., after driving more than six hours and having our original hotel cancel our room, we were exhausted and just wanted to sleep. That hotel called here and spoke with someone I assume was the manager, Dana, who said rooms were available. But when we arrived, the man at the front desk said there were none and nobody had called. The original hotel then asked me to go back inside so its clerk could speak to him. After more back and forth, the front desk man reached someone I again assume was Dana, and we were finally given a room. He quoted $79 before tax but never told me the final room price. I later saw a $91 charge. The room wasn't in great shape either: the sheet under the comforter was dirty, and the bathroom door wouldn't close properly. I was too worn out and frustrated to ask for another room. Dana did manage to get us settled, which is the reason I'm giving two stars instead of one, but check the price carefully when booking.

The A/C started smoking, so we had to move to another room, which was appreciated. But then the manager on duty acted as if the equipment failure was somehow our fault. That assumption made me furious. The building also had an awful smell, like onions, boo boo, and toe cheese, and the manager needs lessons in courtesy and accountability. I don't complain much, but I won't stay here again or recommend this place to anyone.

Check-in was easy and the employee was great, but the room was disgusting. It smelled moldy, the tub was cracked in several places, and the floors and doors were rotting. The carpet was filthy, and the dampness was so bad the bed felt wet. Water ran for 20 minutes without getting even slightly warm, except at the kitchenette sink. The bathroom sink took an hour to drain, and the bed was rock hard and felt like it might collapse.

The front desk staff apologized and helped us cancel for a full refund after we reported the bugs. Their reaction gave me the impression they may already have known about them. In our room, what looked like small roaches were crawling over the walls, bathroom, and kitchen. It looked clean at first glance, but still felt very dirty. There was a chemical smell in the building, like fresh paint, though we saw no sign of painting. Trash and maintenance gear were left out by the hallway elevator. We later learned the hotel had changed names under several major brands while keeping the same ownership. Make of that what you will.