SpringHill Suites by Marriott Macon

The shower was barely warm at 11:00 PM and never got hotter, even after I let the water run. I can only hope the morning shower is better. Earlier, the door lock didn't work because its battery was bad. They recognized the problem and fixed it, but it's odd that both issues came up after the previous guest left. This is starting to feel like a pattern. Last night in Nashville, our TV didn't work and we had to change rooms. In Naperville, Ill. at Christmastime, the sheers had a huge, gaping hole that hung open. Come on Marriott, this is ordinary maintenance and housekeeping.

The low price, location just off I-75, and Golden Waffles brand at the continental breakfast were the bright spots. But this was the dirtiest hotel I've stayed in for a long time, and it's a big change from my visit exactly a year earlier. We probably won't return. It didn't feel consistent with the Marriott brand. I heard constant noise from above us all night, as if there were no insulation between floors. The room we rented next door was just as dirty and had a broken safety latch. In our room, the bathroom door wouldn't latch, the toilet seat was broken and wouldn't stay in place, and the air conditioner fan blew without producing hot or cold air to match the thermostat. The rest of the room looked like it hadn't been thoroughly cleaned or dusted in ages. There were red stains on the carpet and lampshade, a brown splatter above the shower, and stains and spots all over the couch. The mirrors had fingerprints, the TV had a film of dust, and broken soap bits were on the shower floor. I mentioned the cleanliness issues at checkout, and the person said they'd pass them to housekeeping.

The staff were friendly, and the rooms were spacious enough to stay awhile without feeling crowded. There's an indoor pool. Breakfast was okay, though nothing special. I found the location a bit out of the way, and we heard some highway noise in our room.

It's a dated hotel, though the location is good. As an elite member, I expected a more professional response from the GM. I tried to resolve things before escalating, but she didn't respond to my complaints about the shower temperature or billing concerns, and didn't seem to take them seriously.