Comfort Suites Southgate-Detroit

We couldn’t use the pool at all, even though it was the main reason we picked this hotel for a trip with the kids. The chemical smell was so strong that it was uncomfortable to be around, and although we were told pool hours were 12 PM to 9 PM, it actually only operated from 3 PM to 9 PM. With checkout at 11 AM, that didn’t work for us. Breakfast was disappointing too. The waffle machine was the only saving grace, and the other choices were limited and below what we expected. Staff were okay, but didn’t seem very flexible or ready to find solutions. The beds were very soft and made it hard to sleep. I wouldn’t recommend this for families, and the stay didn’t meet our expectations.

We had breakfast one morning, and although several items had run out, the staff worked to restock them quickly even later in the morning. The food was good, and the dining area was clean. Everyone was also excited for us and so friendly during our wedding weekend. They cheered us on and complimented us while we took bridal party photos. The room was clean and smelled nice, and the girls got ready there on the wedding morning. Our photographer met us at the hotel, and everything went smoothly. We’d hoped for a late checkout so we could take it easy, but they weren’t offering it temporarily because of short staffing. We didn’t truly need the extra time, so we packed up and went home.

The room wasn’t very clean, and there were water marks across the walls that made it look like water might be leaking through from a plumbing problem. The pool was usable, though it smelled strongly of chlorine, and breakfast was very basic. Those weren’t the main problem for us. The front desk woman with glasses and feathered hair had a rude attitude and poor customer service. We were charged a $100 authorization, then bought a $2 water and had that charged as a second authorization. I hope the charges go back to our card in a couple of days without trouble. She admitted it was their mistake but didn’t try to void the second one. I also asked about getting our room serviced and was told no, only rooms that had checked out would be serviced. We had to ask her for anything we needed. My husband has stayed at many Comfort Inns as a trucker, and this one was very different. I booked based on its four stars and reviews on Choice Hotels, but Google showed only three stars and poor reviews. I’ll research more carefully next time.

The complimentary breakfast was the best we’ve had in a long time, and the room was clean and comfortable for a reasonable AAA price. We travel now and then, usually just for one night. We’d stayed at another Comfort Inn not far away on an earlier trip and weren’t impressed, but the Southgate inn was much better.