Rodeway Inn Ventura Midtown

I tried to check out early because my travel plans changed, but they wouldn’t refund the night I didn’t stay. The room itself was in terrible shape: the floor was so filthy I couldn’t walk barefoot, the bedcover had a cigarette burn hole, and the old stained furniture made me put a towel on the desk chair to keep clean. The towels felt like sandpaper, and the Wifi was so weak that I was better off using my phone as a hotspot. This is one of the worst Choice hotels I’ve stayed at in over ten years and shouldn’t be part of the Choice Hotels brand. Do not stay here.

The staff were nice, the bed and pillows were comfy, and the bare floor and bathroom were clean. Coffee in the office was good, thank you! The photos on site match the simple, no-frills rooms. There’s a microwave and fridge but no coffee pot, which was fine since coffee was available in the office. We didn’t need a pool or fitness room this trip. If all you need is a place to sleep and go, it does the job. There was a great view of the hills in the morning. The room needs more detailed cleaning. I used to own a janitorial business, and I think the cleaning staff need training. Dust had built up on baseboards, in corners, behind furniture and the bed, and cobwebs were on the wall. There were dirty fingerprints and splashes on door jambs, doors, and other spots. It only takes another ten minutes to clean and sanitize the places people touch. A broom can easily get dust off baseboards and door panels. Pics provided. For a Tuesday night, there was a lot of police activity at the hotel while they took care of a “problem,” which seemed like a good thing. The next morning, two emergency vehicles were there. That felt less reassuring.

I booked a queen room for my daughter and me, with a kitchenette as advertised. At 5 pm, an unfriendly clerk said our room wasn’t ready and offered one with two beds, but said we could use only one because we’d paid for one bed. I said they might as well give me the room I’d booked, since it was already 5 pm. Instead, she gave us a room without a kitchenette. It was very dirty, with stains on the bedcover, a wobbly toilet bowl, and a toilet seat smaller than the bowl. The location is good, within walking distance of the beach, and the place looks nice from outside. I still wouldn’t recommend it.

The staff were friendly and the beds were comfy, but the rooms need detailed cleaning. We arrived around 9 pm and saw three cop cars. They said, “We’re just taking care of a problem here.” The next morning there were two EMTs in the parking lot. It’s a “sleep and go” kind of place.