Knights Inn Port Charlotte

My wife needed a few days away from our hectic home, for reasons I won’t get into. We live nearby, and Sam at the front desk helped her feel safe and comfortable. Sam and his sister gave her more attention than I’ve had at some five-star places. I felt reassured that she was okay there. There was a disturbance outside, which can happen at any motel. The local police were notified, but didn’t seem to take the advance notice seriously, and I felt like I was wasting their time. Sam and his sister handled the situation and assured me the cameras were monitoring it. I can’t thank them enough for the comfort and security they gave my wife and me. And yes, it’s a motel, not a hotel. I’ve stayed at both many times while traveling, so I know the difference.

That room was filthy. The floors looked as if they’d never been cleaned, and there was mold on the bathroom walls and ceiling. They offered coffee without cream or sugar. Pet fees seemed to vary from one price to another, as if they were just guessing. My little dog is cleaner than that place. I’d rather sleep in my truck than stay in that nasty, dirty motel, especially at those prices.

Every room I’ve stayed in had dead bugs. Check-in staff keep harassing me about my service animal. Management broke the number one rule for service animals by demanding to see ID or paperwork as proof. They claim that FL or Knights Inn don’t have to follow ADA guidelines. Is that detailed enough?

The room was clean, the TV was decent, and the pet-friendly policy was helpful. The cleaning staff were friendly and did an amazing job. Coffee from the office was much better than what you usually get from an in-room pot. Still, I was disappointed that nothing was offered to make up for not having a usable shower. Hot running water is part of what you pay for. Aside from what I hope was a one-time maintenance problem, I’d consider staying again for the price, as long as hot water is guaranteed. I called ahead to reserve, and they charged me $3 more than the quote, which wasn’t a big deal. The bigger problem was waking up to shower before a funeral and finding no hot water. The water coming from the showerhead was ice cold and barely a trickle. After washing as best we could in the sink, I told the office when checking out. They said they knew, since it was the weekend, but offered no discount.