Travelodge by Wyndham Lynwood

I know the area well and had just stayed at the Travelodge. The little room was nice and clean, tucked away in the cut. The location was lively, I must say. I didn't see any surface attendance, but it was a good experience overall.

I ended up here after needing a last-minute hotel because of events in Long Beach. I booked ahead and called about deposits and other fees. They told me there was nothing to worry about and that my card would be charged on check-in day. But when I arrived around 10 p.m. Friday, they said the deposit was $200 and wouldn't accept the card already on file. I'd been told I could pay that deposit with a debit card, so I had to step aside and find a credit card. While I was doing that, a couple arriving in two cars tried to book one room. The woman at the night desk told them their deposit would be $400 for some reason, so they left. The room was probably the dirtiest hotel room I've ever seen. There was mold on the bathroom ceiling, pink sludge in the shower tile corners, and silverfish bugs about an inch long. The bathroom fan sounded like its motor was dying, which may explain the mold. The room I booked online was supposed to have a fridge and microwave, but they weren't there until I called the front desk to ask why. They brought them on Saturday night, which I appreciated. A queen bed will probably be no bigger than a full. Be careful walking past the TV: it's screwed into the entertainment center, but broken at the top corner and leaning forward like it could fall. The rooms had signs saying the property was non-smoking, but the hallways reeked of marijuana and cigarettes. I found a half-smoked joint on the supply closet door next to my room, and half-smoked joints and cigarettes were along the staircases. The walls were stained and scuffed, and there was noise. I was stuck there because the room charge went through Friday morning and was non-refundable, so I couldn't get the $330 back or move to a cleaner hotel. Groceries and cheap food are nearby, but don't walk around after dark. Staff seemed friendly and brought new towels each day. The only other service issue was that someone ignored my Do Not Disturb sign. For three nights, I paid $330 plus a $200 safety deposit, which still hadn't gone back to my credit card. Paying that much for a dirty, damaged room facing the freeway was absurd. If I could've gotten my $330 refunded, I would've found somewhere cleaner.

The mattress and pillows were horrible, and the front desk staff were no help. We picked this hotel because it was within walking distance of St. Francis Medical Center. The neighborhood felt very shady, though, so don't walk around after dusk.

The landscaping was lovely, and the pool area looked beautiful, though the pool and hot tub were closed. Being a little off the road kept street noise down, and the location worked perfectly for returning my rental in the morning. The front desk woman was helpful and made sure I got the room I wanted. It didn't have a microwave or fridge, but the staff worked to bring both to my room.