Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, West Bend, WI

Room 204 seemed mostly clean, and it looks like they’re working on some much-needed improvements. Still, the red chair was so stained and dirty neither of us wanted to sit in it. The toilet wasn’t firmly secured: one nut was missing and the other barely caught a few threads. The shower curtain rod was loose and sagging. I handed the front desk a list of these problems when we checked out.

The free breakfast was enjoyable, with a decent mix of hot and cold food, and the room was comfortable and clean. Front desk staff were welcoming, and the water pressure was good. Another useful perk: even without an on-site fitness center, the hotel can give guests a free pass to a nearby gym. I had a few small problems. Two bulbs in my room were out, my key card stopped working after the first night and had to be reset, and my late checkout was extended by only 30 minutes instead of the usual hour. They seem to be remodeling, with lots of furniture outside at the back and front. It was still a pleasant stay, and I’d consider returning to West Bend.

The room was nice, but getting decent sleep was impossible. Staff made noise constantly in the hall, banging doors against the deadbolts and yelling back and forth in a language I couldn’t understand. If you’re a night owl or sleep during the day, forget it. Also, about half the switches in my room didn’t work. The hotel doesn’t clear Netflix or YouTube login details, so remember to sign out yourself before leaving.

The mold was so bad that my partner and I got physically ill while staying there. Our room also had filthy floors, hair everywhere, and dirty bedding. Being asked to change my own sheets because staff wouldn’t do it was unacceptable. I was promised a 15% refund but received only $27. The manager was rude, dismissive, and unprofessional when I tried to sort this out, shifted the responsibility to me, and expects me to wait for a call during my workday. That wasted more of my time. This felt like a failure in cleanliness, guest safety, customer service, and management. The conditions were hazardous, and allowing guests to stay in a room like that was negligent and dangerous. This was easily the worst hotel experience I’ve had. I strongly urge people to avoid this place if they care about their health, time, or being treated with basic respect.