Budget Inn - Punta Gorda

Andrea at the front desk is wonderful, and they respect your privacy. Towels come each day, and good strong coffee is included with the stay. The pool is clean. It has an inn-like feel, with both short-term and long-term guests.

Andrea, the manager at the desk, was so sweet and made check-in and checkout easy for me and my daughters. I never felt unsafe, even with some eccentric guests, and I'm from Florida and used to motels like this. The place did remind me of The Florida Project, though: very dingy, and the rooms need a thorough scrub and probably new furniture. I had one of the worst-looking rooms, 112, after seeing into some others' windows. I killed two roaches in the two nights I stayed while looking for an Airbnb, but thankfully didn't find bed bugs. The door stuck so badly I had to use full force to open or close it, and the toilet clogged, so I went to the front desk. Andrea was SUPER SWEET about helping. The beds were surprisingly comfortable, and the pillows felt like a cloud, almost like on my Disney cruises. I think many guests live there full time. Their “best prices in town” line doesn't feel right when it's $90 a night and you're afraid to touch things. The Airbnb I found was $93 a day, and the Days Inn over the bridge has free breakfast and clean rooms for $110. It seems like they clean the rooms themselves and rely on faith instead of a checklist.

The owner was really rude. While we were trying to park our trailer, he sped around us in his Tesla and acted like an entitled jerk. The woman at reception was rude too. There were even three screws sticking out of the headboard, and one scratched my head. I'd rather sleep in my car than stay at this sleazy place.

The grounds are nicely kept, with a shaded garden seating area, a guest BBQ grill, and a clean pool that felt great after a hot Florida day. I was greeted and checked in promptly, and the room smelled clean and welcoming. It was tidy and had plenty of towels, plus complimentary shampoo, soap, and even makeup remover towelettes. The air conditioner cooled it down in minutes, and Wi-Fi connected easily and stayed strong. The motel has made big improvements overall. It was a relaxing stay, and I'll come back.