Courtyard by Marriott Dayton North

The staff made this stay especially good. Everyone was friendly, courteous, and quick to help, whether I needed extra bags, had a question, or just wanted a little conversation. The room was clean and everything worked. It had Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffee maker, a fridge that was larger than I usually see in hotels, a microwave, and plenty of towels and soap. I didn’t understand why the coffee pot was in the bathroom, but that was quickly changed. It also didn’t have the musty budget-hotel smell, which was a plus. Breakfast had waffles, bagels, muffins, toast, cereal, yogurt, coffee, water, and more. There are lots of places to eat nearby, from sit-down steak and lobster to a Big Mac drive-through, plus gas stations, convenience stores, and Walmart. I stayed four nights at Quality Inn on Miller Lane. The front desk was thorough and welcoming, though the $100 deposit seemed high compared with other hotels I’ve used. For a budget hotel, I’d give it five stars.

The room was a bit dated, but clean and fine, and the staff were friendly, responsive, and nice. What gave me pause was the way in: the entrance felt uninviting, and the worn hallway rugs looked very old. The halls smelled of cigarettes or cigars, too. Those are the first things you see on the way to your room, and they made me wonder whether I should stay. With some investment in the entrance and hallways, I think this could be a four out of five. Please update those areas.

The staff did accommodate us when we asked to switch rooms, but we ended up moving three times because of electrical problems and cleanliness, and each room seemed worse than the last. The bathroom smelled like weed, and I saw someone smoking weed in the stairwell. The Motel 6 across the street has better reviews and doesn’t cost much more.

We were told breakfast started at 6, then in the morning the clerk said it was 7 and seemed annoyed about bringing the food out. The waffle machine didn’t work, and when they ran out of napkins we were told to use tissues. There was also poor communication between the night and day shifts. Our room problems started with having to change rooms three times. The second floor smelled strongly of smoke despite the hotel being non-smoking, and the heater didn’t work. Towels were stained and there weren’t many of them, though at least the showers were hot. The smart TV needed a Wi-Fi password, but we couldn’t figure it out and the front desk offered no help. The entry light switch didn’t work, and the other lights were so dim it was hard to see. It’s one of the worst Choice Hotels we’ve stayed at, even as Platinum Members. The highway location is convenient, with a Cracker Barrel next door, but that’s about all I can say for it. Definitely don’t recommend it.