Days Inn & Suites Manheim Lebanon

Tammy was a huge help. She kept a birthday cake for us and kept it secret, then, after noticing we’d booked the wrong Comfort Inn, found a last minute opening and offered it so we could celebrate my friend’s birthday without driving 20 minutes out of our way. Thank you, Tammy. We’ve used this place for Ren Fair for years, but it’s been slipping for a while. It’s the closest hotel to Ren Fair, so rooms need to be booked months ahead, and we still often miss out once it sells out. Now that it’s a Days Inn, I’m not expecting much improvement. Our air conditioner was painfully loud and needed repair. Without it, the room was stifling, and either way I couldn’t sleep. The toilet paper holder had fallen off the wall, and the towels sat on a cheap little freestanding shelf, though maybe that was for accessibility. Either way, something nicer would be better. I hope the new ownership brings some repairs and upgrades, but I’m not optimistic.

We booked this because it’s near the Renaissance Faire, then tried several times to cancel within the cancellation window after reading reviews about poor cleanliness. Nobody answered the phone. We booked with another hotel chain, went in person the next morning to cancel, and they still wouldn’t let us. The lobby smelled of smoke even though there were no smoking signs, and the public bathroom was really gross. It seems no one there can process a cancellation. They kept my money because they wouldn’t return it, and no one picked up the phone. Zero stars. I don’t recommend it.

Tammy was amazing. Without her, and if zero stars were possible, that’s what we’d give. The room had dirty sheets, a spiderweb on the ceiling, old food in the fridge, a broken railing, and no hangers. The driveway hadn’t been plowed when we arrived at night. They advertise breakfast, but it was subpar, to put it kindly. The pool was out of order. They also say there’s a fitness center, but it had a bike and an elliptical that didn’t work, plus one pulley machine. Both lobby bathrooms were out of order because they said they had no one to clean them. Calling the desk didn’t get us through. We asked for extra towels and had to go pick them up ourselves. It was absolutely terrible.

People make this place sound like a pit, but when I stayed the people were super nice, there were no bugs, and the price was right. The rooms are dated and could use new carpet, but it was close to where I wanted to be. If you’re going to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival or Yuletide, you can walk to PARF. I’d stay again during the Festival if I can get a room.