Vagabond Inn Executive Old Town

The room was filthy, with hair all over, and the fridge froze everything we put in it. One light was out when we arrived, then the other stopped working during our stay. I called for someone to fix them, but nobody came. We were left with the bathroom light. That night I went to the desk for help with the lights and towels, but there was no one there. We asked for towels and never got any. The service made me feel like a burden. This matches what I’ve seen in other reviews, and I won’t stay here again.

The staff were courteous, and parking was free. The price was good, though the room could have been cleaner: we found long hairs on the sheet when we opened the comforter at bedtime. The location worked well for us, near Old Sacramento and a short walk from the state Capitol. Our room was close to the freeway bridge, so we could faintly hear passing cars.

The room smelled awful, with a strong smell that seemed to come from fresh oil-based paint that hadn’t aired out, plus another odor we didn’t want to think too hard about. The lobby bathroom floor was also covered in water for no clear reason. Breakfast was laughable: bad coffee, no cream, and only bagels and bread with nothing to put on them. The room was dirty too, with a black sock and feet, and a burn hole in the blanket. The door had to be slammed to open or close it. Staff were unfriendly and distracted by their phones and personal lives, and checking me in seemed to annoy them. In the morning, we came back from a walk an hour before checkout to find the room being cleaned as if we’d already left. The cleaner even argued with me. The location in Old Town was excellent, though. I start every rating at five stars and take them away, and this place used them all up. A quick Google search said the rooms had been used as a homeless shelter in 2024, which might explain the fresh paint and dented doors. Given how it’s being run now, maybe it should go back to that.

The problems just kept piling up during our three-day stay. The TV didn’t work, and other guests we spoke with said theirs didn’t either. The desk blamed wind and rain, but when it finally came on, the weather was clear and only the weather channel showed. There was no housekeeping, fresh towels, or coffee. The alarm went off at 6:30 a.m., and the advertised continental breakfast was a frozen croissant or chocolate muffin, with no butter. There was plenty of syrup, but no pancakes. Coffee wasn’t available 24/7 as promised. I had mentioned my mobility issues, yet our room was on the second floor because the elevator never worked. I took my daughter to Old Town for her birthday, and this was the worst place I’ve ever stayed. Save your time and money.