Days Inn by Wyndham Birmingham Vestavia Hills

The waffles at breakfast were really good, and for what we paid the hotel was nicer than expected. The rooms were clean, if a bit in need of renovation. We've never had trouble with staff, other guests, key cards, sinks, or showers, and we always book non-smoking rooms, which never smelled smoky. We also haven't seen bedbugs, roaches, or ants. My husband and I stayed three times this past month while traveling to house hunt in our new city and then move there. I was surprised by all the one-star ratings, since we've even recommended the place to relatives traveling a few days after us. If you're after a four- or five-star hotel with shiny new everything and concierge service, you won't be happy at any Days Inn. For this price, it met what we expected.

The room wasn't serviced once during my week there, and on the first morning I had to ask the desk for toilet paper because there was barely any. The TV screen was cracked, the microwave was too disgusting to use, and the fixtures were all dusty and rusty. There were cracks in the bathroom walls, water damage on the ceiling, and almost no water pressure. Bring a fly swatter, because there are so many flies. The pool was closed. Every hallway and the supposedly non-smoking room stank of both kinds of smoke. Don't expect a quiet night, either. I needed to leave early at checkout and was told the office stayed open around the clock. At 5 a.m. the doors were locked, nobody was around, and no one answered the phone the whole week. I'd have found another place, but bookings were scarce and expensive between a major holiday and a big local event. I should've looked harder. This place was awful.

We booked two rooms, and both were run down and disgusting. One was dirty and dusty, both smelled like damp, moldy clothes, and neither had a working phone or refrigerator. The dresser drawers were broken, there were no towels, and the ceiling looked like it could fall at any moment. We checked out and went to the Red Roof Inn down the street. The prices here are unjustified. Wyndham should consider taking away this location's franchise. If you're staying in this area, I wouldn't book this place.

Nothing worked, from the vending and ice machines to the microwave. The room wasn't cleaned and had bugs, while the check-in staff were rude. The breakfast was just a paper bag with a cereal bar and four ounces of water. The advertised rate wasn't close to the final price. I asked for an adjoining room when I booked and was assured I'd get one. On arrival they said they didn't even have adjoining rooms. I usually try to find something positive, but this hotel has nothing going for it. Don't waste your money, the listing is definitely not what you'll get.