Quality Inn Rhinelander

After a weeklong stay while my family dealt with plumbing problems at home, the hotel began charging my card after checkout, saying a disgusting old shower head was missing and would cost $200 to replace. I showered before leaving and did NOT take it. I asked management to show me a photo or other proof, but they wouldn't. I was told they trusted the housekeeper over me as the guest. I asked if it made any sense that I'd take home a corroded, 20-year-old shower head that sprayed in several directions, especially when they had my credit card on file. Melissa the “manager “ got loud and nasty in front of other guests, said I was responsible for the cost, and told me to dispute it elsewhere. I'll be calling corporate and filing several complaints. I don't want their crusty shower head, and the fact that they had no simple photo documenting it says a lot. They can't show what I supposedly did, yet charged me after I'd spent close to $1000 there. During our stay, a guest threw up in the pool and it was closed with a claim they'd drain and sanitize it. We checked every few hours, and it looked like nothing had been done, but it was open again within 12 hours. Some staff were great, but management was incredibly unprofessional, an embarrassment for Choice Hotels. There are too many nice hotels in Rhinelander for me to stay there again.

The credit card charges after we left were random, and management wouldn't explain them. They hung up on me rudely, so I froze my card and filed a complaint. Don't trust this hotel with your card information. The stay itself was the most unpleasant one I've had, and I travel often. The staff were sloppy and rude, pets were kept behind the front desk, and the lobby smelled like dog pee. The pool was literally falling apart, with scum buildup visible underwater. The place is run down and nothing works, while the trashy staff are the worst part. I can't believe the owners haven't read these reviews and overhauled management. I believe the woman in charge was Melissa, and she was awful and clueless about running a hotel or treating guests. We left early for the hotel next door, and the extra $30 was worth it.

The hot breakfast was the only good part of the stay. We use lots of Quality Inns, so it's a shame this one needs so much work. The hotel is nice, but poorly maintained: the sidewalks are cracked and roughly patched, and my husband had trouble and fell. The ice machine was out of order when we arrived. We booked 11 nights for a snowmobile trip, counting on the on-site laundry and hot tub, especially since I have a bad hip and looked forward to soaking after rides. There was only one washer and dryer, and the washer didn't work. When I asked, they said they were waiting for parts. The hot tub wasn't working either; I was told it had been off for maybe a year and shouldn't have been listed. She said it didn't show in the Choice app, but I had used the app, where it was listed while searching for a hotel, though it disappeared after booking. I wasn't told about these issues at check-in. I also mentioned the low water pressure in my shower and suggested it might need a new shower head. No one has tried to speak with me about my dissatisfaction. For a weekend it wouldn't have been a big deal, but this is 11 days, and so far it's the worst part of our vacation. Without the breakfast I'd probably demand a refund and go elsewhere.

There's no elevator, so ask for a first-floor room if you're with family or carrying a lot of luggage. The property feels dated and run down, and the rooms look like they were remodeled cheaply. The heat and AC unit was extremely loud and inconsistent. The pool looked dirty, with visible buildup in the corners and along the walls. The hot tub was out of order again, just as it was on my previous stay. I'd spend the extra $30-$50 to stay somewhere better, such as the Holiday Inn Express or Cobblestone across the street.