Arrow Motel by OYO Near Downtown

We asked for two beds and a fridge, but got one king bed and no fridge. There weren’t any trash cans either, and the outlets were above the door. At check-in we waited outside for about ten minutes, with nobody in the office. There was a button marked for the doorbell, but it didn’t ring. Eventually a woman came out of room 101, checked the computer, and said the deposit was $25 even though the website said $20. When we went to leave, the office was empty again. We waited nearly 15 minutes before a man pulled in, and he finally checked me out while I was on the phone getting help. That’s not the hotel experience I expected.

I paid for the room online, where it said the check-in deposit would be $20. At the desk they wanted to charge $100 for my service animal, which I believe breaks federal law. Then they changed what they called the “deposit/charge” and said it was for the room deposit instead. Now I have to wait for the money to return to my disability card, and I’m homeless. There’s a frost advisory tonight, with temperatures as low as 32 degrees. My service animal and I are out on the street. Great job, OYO.

They canceled my booking before I arrived, so I had to rebook and pay 50% more. The room had plenty wrong with it: uneven floors that were a trip hazard, a ceiling hole covered with 3/4-inch plywood, and a TV stand in pieces. There was no toilet paper or TV remote, and the end table and TV stand drawers wouldn’t stay shut. The microwave even switched itself on while I was across the room. I was only mildly surprised there weren’t bed bugs.

We had a layover and came here with my wife, our three-year-old son, and our 11-year-old daughter. Over the phone they called it a hotel, but when we arrived it was a motel that looked like a scary movie set. We stood outside in the freezing cold waiting for someone to let us in, but nobody came. The sign said to ring the doorbell, though there was no bell. I’m thankful I hadn’t paid online, but why say you’re open and take bookings if nobody is there to check you in? The phone staff made it sound like they were in on it, telling us the place was open and offering a great discount, while the service and area were bad. I believe God kept us from staying somewhere unhealthy. The place we found afterward wasn’t the best, but it was much better, and the staff member who helped us was amazing, like God had sent him. We’re grateful. For a fair-priced alternative, I recommend Bel air-motel. The black guy with the dreads there is amazing.