Baymont by Wyndham Tuscaloosa

I left after about two hours, checking in on February 8 and out on February 9. The required $100 deposit I paid with my American Express was returned at first, but a few days later another $100 appeared on my statement. The hotel said it was a smoking fee. I do not smoke, and I did not smoke in the room. I asked politely to speak with the general manager and wanted to know what evidence supported the charge: what kind of smoke, when they inspected the room, and whether anyone else had access after I left. I was told to call the next day, but then heard the manager was unavailable. I left my information and got no call back. After trying several times, I was told the general manager had “refused” the refund without speaking to me. Staff were rude and suggested I was “antagonizing” them just by asking about a charge that should not be there. As a paying guest, I had every right to ask for an explanation and basic respect. The fee feels arbitrary and unsupported, and management's refusal to talk to me directly raises serious concerns about how these fees are applied. This was an extremely disappointing stay and an unacceptable lack of customer service afterward. Ignoring guests and refusing to show proof is how they handle disputes, so I strongly recommend staying elsewhere. I will escalate this through corporate.

Breakfast was amazing, five stars for the waffles. The rest was a zero, especially the bed bugs that hitched a ride home in my suitcase. The bathroom looked like an industrial scrapyard, with exposed springs in the fixtures and towels. Staff greeted us with all the enthusiasm minimum wage can buy. Welcome to the Mold Palace, apparently every room comes with a free biology lesson.

The staff were amazing and always smiling, and the room was pretty clean. Beds were comfortable, linens clean, no bedbugs or funky smells, and the hot water was actually hot with good pressure. The fridge and microwave worked. I used the hairdryer, though not the iron. The one annoyance was the key card. It failed about half the time, but I was too stubborn to go to the front desk and usually got it working after around ten tries. Renovation workers were updating the furnishings while we were there. It's a quiet spot, about a 6-15 minute drive from the University and nearby areas, with restaurants all around. Definitely would stay again.

We had a nice stay, and everyone was friendly and accommodating. We'll book again and tell our friends about it.