Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Walterboro

I was coming home from a funeral when I accidentally reserved a room for Tuesday instead of the Monday I needed. I called right away to correct it, but since I had booked through Hotels.com, they wouldn't change it. No adjustment and no refund, even though this seems like it could have been sorted out easily. I know the booking mistake was mine. Still, the complete lack of flexibility or even a little sympathy was disappointing. Microtel won't get any more of my money.

The room we ended up paying for was dirty, with stained sheets and pet feces on the floor. We paid the hotel a second time after midnight because the online reservation had rolled over to the next day and wouldn't let us book the same day. It was already late, the reputable hotels were full, and we were told the manager would fix the mistake. That brought the total to over $300. The manager later denied a refund, saying the booking was nonrefundable. We had been assured by Expedia in a message that we'd get our money back, and Expedia had tried to resolve it right away, but the hotel refused because no manager was on duty. We've stayed here around 10 times, usually without trouble. It's a quiet area and a convenient overnight stop on the way to Florida. Most people arrive late and just need a clean room. The hotel encourages online booking, which can be up to 40% cheaper, but this time the reservation problem left us paying twice. I have a rewards card on file, and this is how they treated a returning guest. Buyer beware, especially at the WALTERBORO SC Microtel. “Nonrefundable” seems to be the answer when the product is poor. They have lost our future stays, and I don't want to stay at another Microtel either. Pics attached.

Gail from housekeeping was so helpful, friendly, and kind. I wish the morning desk clerk had been more like her. At 5:40, after taking my dog out, I saw yogurt in the breakfast area just inside the door and asked to take one to my room. The clerk told me to put it back because breakfast didn't start until 6 and I could only get coffee. I was only trying to bring one yogurt back with me. After checking out, I tried to use the back door I'd been using, but it was stuck shut. Several men by the breakfast nook couldn't get it open either. The desk clerk didn't seem concerned, so I had to go out another door and walk around the building. Glad there wasn't a fire. The room was clean and the pet area was nice, but the TV was small and the picture didn't fill the screen, making it even smaller. I travel this way a few times a year. This was my first stay here, and with so many hotels around, I'm not sure I'd return.

The shower water was only lukewarm, so we kept our showers short. It isn't a crisis, but someone should look into it. We had a pleasant one-night stop on our way south. At checkout, we noticed a $10 pet charge on top of the $25 pet fee. It didn't spoil the stay, but management could mark more rooms as pet rooms, or set the fee at $35 and give a $10 discount to guests assigned a room set aside for pets. Just a minor billing detail.