Super 8 Stamford/New York City

The worst part was that the whole place constantly smelled like weed, and it seeped into our room. The hallways and elevator were really bad. Our room was mostly clean, though there were wall stains, a cigarette burn hole in a blanket, and some lamps didn't work. During the one day we had breakfast, a woman came down wrapped in a hotel blanket and loudly said, “This is my hotel and I can walk around nakedness if I want.” I assumed from what she said that she had nothing else on. She kept talking loudly to herself about those things near the breakfast room. Staff were just around the corner and didn't ask her to leave. Thankfully, there were no children there.

I chose this place because I needed an inexpensive hotel near someone I was visiting, and it definitely felt like a case of getting what you pay for. The property is run down. There was ground-in grime in the elevator, and the third-floor button looked like it came from a different elevator. Neither the room clock nor the microwave clock could be set, so I unplugged the one that kept flashing. The people who serviced my room were great. The front desk help wasn't, which is why I gave it two stars.

The highway location is convenient, but I left feeling uneasy and uncomfortable. The hallways and lobby smelled strongly of marijuana, and other guests smoked openly in shared areas. There was noise throughout the night and early morning, including people walking overhead. I had to turn the TV way up to cover it. Other guests have described similar noise and traffic in the halls. Getting help at the desk was a problem. It was left unattended for long stretches, and I waited around 45 minutes for change without anyone showing up. I called the hotel, but no one answered. Other reviews also describe an empty desk and poor service. My room smelled of smoke and had stained-looking carpet. Some other guests have reported dirty bathrooms, mold on ceilings, crooked curtain rods, dead bugs in light fixtures, old trash, or beds left unmade by previous occupants. I can't speak to all those reports, but they added to my concerns. The elevator rattled and felt unsafe, and the halls sometimes gave the impression that people were living there. At times, the place felt more like a drug hangout than a legitimate motel, and I worried about my safety whenever I left my room. Reading the other reviews, I wasn't alone in noticing how rundown and chaotic it felt. Until management gets a real handle on cleanliness, staff presence, and safety, I can't recommend staying here.

We had to leave within an hour of checking in. My fiancé and I both had severe asthma attacks, even though the manager kindly tried to help. The first non-smoking suite smelled strongly of cigar smoke, which the manager acknowledged, and moving a few doors down didn't really improve things. Smoke from the floors where smoking is allowed seemed to come through the walls and into every room, even with the windows open, the AC on, and the bathroom vent running. The motel should be designated smoking-only, since one non-smoking floor clearly isn't enough to keep the smoke separate. I've never had this problem at other places with smoking and non-smoking areas, which are usually in separate buildings. I felt for the staff, including a pregnant housekeeper who looked unwell. I was also left wondering whether we might have bedbugs or some other problem. We rushed out with all our belongings and walked to another hotel, despite how dangerous this part of town felt. On the way, I saw prostitution and drug deals in the parking lot. I couldn't get away quickly enough. I've stayed in budget motels before, but never experienced anything like this. No one should have to stay or work in that environment.