Red Roof Inn & Suites Newark - University

The room looked clean, but it smelled bad enough that I had to use Febreze, and there were roaches running around. The heater and elevator didn’t work. For this badly managed motel, the deposit is way too high for the room’s quality. I’ll never return. If this is what Red Roof has to offer, hard pass.

The service and communication have been the most disappointing part. I normally don’t leave reviews, but after trying staff and IT support privately, months of repeated issues with little follow-up finally pushed me to share this. I’d still call the stay a solid 3.5. I’ve been at this Red Roof Inn long-term, and things have steadily worsened. The free Wi-Fi has been unreliable for months and completely down for over a week. I’ve filed several IT tickets, contacted support, and spoken with the front desk repeatedly, with no real fix. I need internet for coursework and daily use, so I’ve burned through my personal hotspot while the advertised Wi-Fi is unusable. My sink has also been broken since April despite being reported. There have been roaches and what appears to be black mold, which is concerning in a place people pay to live. The advertised gym or fitness center has been unavailable or “out of order” for long stretches while prices keep climbing. Some nights I’ve paid significantly more even though amenities weren’t working properly. Smoking rules also changed suddenly, with no proper covered designated area for guests. In cold or rainy weather, we’re expected to stand outside instead of using the patio.

It’s in a good spot right off the highway, but the customer service was horrible. I booked a jet pool room and it didn’t work. I called the front desk to report it and got no response. The sheets left me itching the next morning, which made me suspect bedbugs. I’m very disappointed and wouldn’t recommend this place, even for a quick rest. The apparent safety and hygiene violations make me think it needs demolition and renovations.

Convenience is about the only reason I ever stay at a Red Roof, and I wouldn’t recommend this location to anyone. The customer service was hands down the worst, with rude, arrogant people running the place. There was also a cockroach so huge I could have put a saddle on it and ridden it to the store. It’s crazy that customers are treated this way. Red Roof is really going downhill between here and the one in Christiana.