Stay Express Inn & Suites Atlanta

We had a comfortable weekend stay. The peaceful atmosphere and convenient parking helped make it enjoyable, and the room was spotless with a cozy bed and WiFi that worked perfectly. Staff were polite and quick to help whenever we needed them.

The young man at the front desk did handle our problems when we first arrived, and that's the only good thing I can say. We had to switch rooms twice because each one had its own issue. The third-floor room smelled awful and had a mini-fridge that leaked. The second-floor room had a toilet that wouldn't flush, and in the first-floor room the shower drained slowly. The website falsely advertises a pool and free breakfast, but neither is provided. The beds feel like sleeping on springs and will wreck your back. The “blankets” are basically sheets. When we asked for extra blankets, they gave us an itchy throw that wasn't fit even for a dog. The pillows might be worse than ones in American prisons. The hotel looks and smells as though it hasn't been updated since George W. Bush was president. This place is absolutely horrible. Save your money and avoid it at all costs. You'd be better off sleeping in your car.

I only stayed one night, and that was plenty. The manager was outside by a silver BMW when I went to ask about a refund. He started out overly friendly and flirtatious, then turned cold and aggressive as soon as my boyfriend came over, insisting the deposit was “non-refundable.” Later he sat in the idling BMW watching us. It was really uncomfortable. The room itself was dirty. I found a fairly big dead spider with its legs curled up on the pillowcase when I pulled back the blanket, and went straight to wash my hands because it made me feel sick. The sink was no better: water sputtered out in short bursts, with gritty bits like tiny rocks in it. It didn’t seem clean at all. Between the room, the plumbing, and the manager’s behavior, I wouldn’t recommend the place.

The online pictures make the place seem warm and inviting, but that’s not how it looks in person, so they need updating. The only exception was hearing a conversation in the background about whether the area was safe.