Econo Lodge St. Petersburg Central

The staff were friendly and efficient when we saw them, but they didn’t answer the phone or help after hours, despite supposedly being available 24 hours. They were often smoking outside by the stairs, so as a non-smoker I had to walk through it. Check-in was in a closet, with a makeshift desk, bedding, computer, and printer piled on top. That wasn’t the vibe I wanted, and the website should have said the place was under construction so I could have chosen somewhere else. The rooms have new-looking updates, and I think they tried: curved shower curtain rod, desk, new mattress, USB and regular outlets on the nightstand, and new pillows, if you can call them that. I’ve never had hotel pillows like this. They were about half normal size, with the insides broken down into balls of cotton. The toilet paper was serious and Pro, but paper thin. There was a big gap in the closed door, and street noise was crazy loud. The outside is still being remodeled. The photos on other reviews make it look inviting, but I’m not sure it can be fixed up to the level it needs. My son is a Choice Diamond member, and we read reviews about it being newly remodeled, so we thought, why not? It felt late 60s vintage. This is an embarrassment to Choice Hotels, in my opinion. We’re Choice members too. I wouldn’t stay again or recommend it until the work is truly complete. Also, there’s no hairdryer. I’m here for a wedding, so ladies, plan accordingly. I know this isn’t a top tier Choice Hotel, but even the bottom should have standards.

We came from Ontario, Canada, hoping to unwind and enjoy a winter escape, but that didn’t happen. Housekeeping didn’t clean the room or mop, and we kept having to ask for towels. The cleaning lady left our door open while we were out for the day. We also hadn’t been told before our stay about the construction, and the men staring at us made us very uncomfortable. The staff seemed lazy, and the whole trip was a waste of money. We won’t relax or enjoy ourselves there, and we’ll be taking this matter further.

I had a good four day stay. The room was clean, and the beds were comfortable with nice support. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Receptionists April and Tammy were especially sweet and welcoming.

My partner and I stayed over Valentine’s Day weekend, and the room was a pleasant surprise after the negative reviews I’d read on Yelp and other sites. It looks like those reviews may have been from before the extensive renovation work. Our room was clean and seemed recently updated, with new floors, a shower, and furniture. The pool looked clean, though I didn’t use it. Staff were friendly and fixed our TV promptly when we reported it wasn’t working. The hotel is a few miles from downtown and costs a fraction as much. I’d recommend it as a lower budget option that still keeps its quality. Thank you!