Red Roof Inn & Suites Madison, GA

The building is dated and was being renovated during my last visit. There’s no elevator to the second floor, but if you have a disability or medical need, they’ll find you a room downstairs. Staff are friendly and helpful, the room price was great, and they’re pet friendly, which is handy since it can be hard to find a place when traveling with pets. The free breakfast is what you’d expect, and the coffee is good and hot.

I’d reserved a king bed, but the first two rooms they tried had queen beds. It took three failed attempts to get me into the room I’d booked. The third room had a king, but no blanket or towels, and a powerful odor I can’t describe. The hallways smelled strongly like an ashtray, too. This was the worst hotel experience I’ve ever had. I got my money back and went somewhere else.

The staff really made this quiet little hotel feel special. Everyone was courteous and quick to help. We were traveling with an older family member and our cat; we couldn't get an ADA room because our cat isn't a service animal, but that worked out fine. The room was reasonably clean and safe for our family member, and breakfast was good, simple food. I heard from staff that a renovation is planned soon, which the place needs. Clearer signs would help too. It's a diamond in the rough, and a few upgrades could make it shine.

The staff were very nice, and pets are allowed without an extra fee, but I wouldn't recommend staying here. We booked through hotel tonight while driving through because the price looked great. The “single bed” turned out closer to a full than a king, with barely enough pillows, and we were told we couldn't change rooms because we'd booked that way. There was a strong perfume and cleaning-product smell, though the room didn't look clean. The lampshade had red stains that looked like blood, the sheets were pilling, the remote batteries were dead, and there were dead bugs in the bathroom. It was noisy too, with yelling and doors slamming. Breakfast was just grits and an old, dirty Mr Coffee machine.