Econo Lodge Inn & Suites East Matthews

The room was filthy, and the towels were so dirty they seemed to have no housekeeping at all. The same guy at the front desk seemed to be doing everything. Worst hotel on earth. The management is filthy and the rooms are extremely bad. A cattle shed would be better than this cesspool.

I booked this because it was near the event space I was attending and the reviews made it sound like a great place. The hotel looked nothing like the online photos. Getting a key card in a cut-up mailing envelope set the tone. In the room, the comforter was stained, there were brown marks under the sheets on the mattress and an even bigger stain beneath it, the lights flickered, and the TV turned on by itself. A connecting door was blocked with a table, and the curtains looked as though they hadn't been cleaned in years. The lobby and rooms were outdated. The bathroom was the only part that looked decent. It felt like a horror movie for my son and me. We went straight back to the desk for a refund, then paid a little more to stay at the Hampton Inn up the street, where we felt more comfortable sleeping.

This was the only room I found under $100 within an hour of Locust, but after tax it came to well over $100. The front desk person was rude, there was no drinking water, and the room was cold and nasty. I woke up about every 30 minutes to nudge the heater so it would come back on. Cigarette burns were everywhere, including holes in the duvet and sheets. If needed, pay extra for a rideshare to get to a better hotel farther away.

I'm writing this from another hotel an hour away. I arrived to check in at 4 a.m. after driving for over 12 hours, exhausted and needing sleep. The man behind the counter was extremely rude, with appalling body language and mannerisms. He said he was a 30-year Navy veteran, but came across as condescending and obnoxious. I asked about the pet policy and was told no pets, with no dogs over 25 pounds. My highly trained pet therapy dog is a 30-pound boxer, and he didn't care. I don't usually get upset with people, but this man shouldn't be in customer service. I drove another hour to find somewhere to sleep before getting back on the road. I've never experienced such disrespect or lack of professionalism. I'm a retired, disabled veteran who has traveled all over the world, and I'll never darken the door of an Econo lodge again. Do better or get out of the travel lodge business.