Holiday Motel

The room was clean, with fresh towels and a clean floor, and the amenities had all been replaced. The heater and air conditioner both worked well and adjusted the temperature quickly. There are several restaurants close by, including Magic Dragon, JackintheBox, and JimsBurgers, and guests get free high-speed WiFi. One outlet was slow or possibly faulty, which was disappointing. Still, it was a good budget option and I enjoyed my stay.

For $70, I expected more. The TV remote didn't work, and I waited about an hour and a half for the owner's wife to return with a replacement. The bathtub stopper switch was broken, so she gave me a stopper and told me to use my own screwdriver to remove the metal screen. There were no bedside lamps, just an overhead light, and no coffee maker, iron, or hair dryer. The sink had two small wrapped hotel soaps, but none of the usual shampoo, conditioner, or body lotion. The ice machine looked like it had been out of service for a while, unplugged and dusty. They also don't provide coffee or breakfast in the morning. I won't be back.

This stay ruined a long overdue trip back to Santa Maria, where I lived for 30 years. I won't return. The room was filthy from top to bottom, with old food in the dresser, hair stuck in the blanket, and pillows that were lumpy and clumped together. The fire alarm hung by its wires inside a plastic bag, and the TV was all static and impossible to watch. Graffiti with rude wording was plainly visible on the wall, and the owner hadn't painted over it. A bar across the street played loud music until 2 a.m. The room felt more suited to an hourly rate than to someone trying to sleep. I think the health department should inspect the place and close it until it meets standards. I considered asking for my money back, but the owner was outside in pajamas, smoking and drinking coffee, and looked hung over. It was bad, but that's what happened.

We found two bedbugs in the morning, one in the bedroom and another in the bathtub. When we pulled back the sheets to check the mattress, it was filthy and covered in what looked like old pen marks. I asked to have one of our two nights refunded because of the bugs, but the office attendant told me I should have rented down the street. Earlier, getting the room had already been a hassle because the reservation was under my companion's name instead of mine. The heater was broken and needed a visit from the maintenance man, and the fridge didn't work. The walls were dirty, and my boyfriend found a napkin with candy under the top blanket. Another guest was fighting with her boyfriend.