Sands Motel

The room was about what we'd paid for and expected, even if it wasn't especially comfortable. What I can't excuse is what seemed like dishonesty from management. When we arrived, the door opened and closed at first. By about the third use, the latch bolt seized, so the door wouldn't lock or stay shut. It looked old and cheap, so we told staff right away. There was a bit of a language barrier, but they soon understood it couldn't be fixed quickly. We asked to move rooms and they agreed. Later, we saw what looked like a locksmith working on the door. We stayed in the other room and were fine. At checkout the next morning, the manager said I'd broken the lock. I denied it, but he insisted that in 20 years of managing hotels, he'd never seen that happen without a guest breaking it. He said a screw was missing on the inside, essentially accusing me of unscrewing it and taking it out. I wondered if he expected me to be non-confrontational and just pay. When I asked why I'd go to the trouble of ruining my own room's lock, then report it immediately and move my belongings, he dropped the accusation and told me to leave. Maybe there was a misunderstanding, but it looked to me like he wanted to pass off responsibility and should have known better. With a cheaper motel, I think you need to trust management not to scam you. This incident seemed very suspicious, so I'd warn anyone considering staying here.

The room was nothing like the online pictures. There was no advertised bathtub, just a small shower, and there was hair and staining on the walls and floor. We got one towel for the whole room. The TV remote barely worked, the heater and AC didn't work at all, and the advertised continental breakfast wasn't there. To get breakfast, you have to go to a different hotel. The price was a complete bait and switch too. Booking.com showed $43, and on the phone they said they'd honor $49.99 with no deposit. When I arrived, the front desk lady said $70, then changed it to $59.99 before tax after I mentioned speaking to the guy. She charged my card $70 anyway. She repeatedly asked if I was staying more than one night after I'd already said no. The front office looked trashed, like nobody cared about the place. I would have left if I hadn't had a horrible migraine and just needed sleep. They lied about the price, rooms, and amenities. This place is a scam and should be shut down or fined for false advertising. I wouldn't stay here again even if it were free. For $70, you can find ten better hotels in St. George that tell the truth and keep their rooms clean.

BED BUGS!!! We stayed for a week while waiting for our apartment to be finished. My children and I brought our own linens and didn't sleep in the sheets. Thankfully, the bed bug problem was resolved quickly, and I was the only one bitten. This place is absolutely filthy and smells horrible. The city should shut it down because of multiple electrical code violations, including outlets and no GFI by the sinks or bathroom sink.

We came to St. George for a soccer tournament and left after the first night, even though we'd paid for four. The room was filthy: the sheets looked like the bed had been made after the last guests left without washing them, and the towels were dirty. The office smelled awful, and the pool was so dirty and foggy that I wouldn't let my kid swim. The man in the office started by complaining that he'd lost money on me because he apparently hadn't changed the online room price and said I'd gotten a great deal. The service was rude. He even got mad at me because he hadn't programmed one of the keys. I don't expect much from a motel, but don't waste your money. At the very least, bring your own sheets, towels, and pillows, and be ready for rude customer service.