Residence Inn Midland

We checked in around 8 a.m. for a day room booked in advance, with plans to leave around 6 or 6:30 p.m. Our dispatcher had called Marta a couple of days earlier, explained we were pilots, and paid by credit card because she said there was one room left and a card was needed to hold it. At 4 p.m., the front desk manager Erik banged on our door and called the room. I reminded him we had it until 6, and he acknowledged that. Then he came back at 4:30, banging again. When I tried to explain the booking, he kept saying they don’t do day rooms, even though we’ve done this before and had been told this one was fine. He had a bad attitude about something that was prebooked and clearly didn’t know about. Airline and charter crews, beware.

The free breakfast had a little of everything and was good, though no cranberry juice, which was a bummer. Most of the staff were good, and the Friday night front desk guy was the exception. We’d booked the conference room for an event until 12, but he said his paperwork showed 9 p.m. His paperwork was wrong. It all worked itself out, though he was a jerk about it.

There’s plenty of space in these large suite-style rooms, and they were quiet and clean. It’s a decent hotel. Midland usually isn’t my first choice, but if everywhere else is booked, I’d definitely come back.

The staff were great, and I liked the extended-stay setup, especially the quantity and quality of the kitchen utensils. The toaster even fit the kind of bread I like, unlike the too-narrow ones at other brands. The rooms were very clean, but they’re musty, well-used, and showing wear, so they need an update. The microwave light over the stove was out, and the TV had problems: the remote wouldn’t change the volume or turn it fully off, so I had to use the buttons on the TV. I also take a star off places that go cashless. They don’t accept cash at the market.