Best Western Winder Hotel

The location worked well for my meetings, and the night desk staff were friendly and quick to help whenever I needed something. My room was clean and quiet, and I enjoyed the breakfast selection. If I have more work in Winder, I'd book here again. It felt like a home away from home.

I checked out at 6 a.m. just to get out of there. The room I switched to was better than the first, but it had stains on the chair, and this was the worst hotel room I've stayed in. There are no elevators, only stairs if you get a second-floor room. I needed a place for the night with my 90-pound dog after my AC compressor failed in the middle of this crazy heat. This was the closest place to me in Monroe that takes large dogs. I booked by phone and headed straight to Winder. The lobby thermostat read 83 degrees, and it felt that way. My first room reeked of cigarette smoke, so there was no way I could sleep there. The front desk woman accommodated me and switched me to another room.

The free breakfast had no hot food, no milk, cold coffee, and nasty apple juice. There were cereal, bagels, and toast. The walls were so thin I could hear every door close and people next door doing the nasty. Hot water never got fully hot, just barely above lukewarm. The coffee pot shorted out and only worked sometimes. The TV screen was 42 inches, but the picture was scaled down to show only 36 inches. There were spots all over the microwave, stains in the tub and sink, and burned-out outlets in the lamp beside the bed. The room was spotless on arrival but otherwise only decent. I checked my brother-in-law in for a weekend. The guy at the front desk acted like he couldn't care less I was there, couldn't find my reservation, and told me to leave my number for his manager to call later. When I showed him the reservation number and confirmation, he said, 'Oh, you made it online.' Duh? This place is better than the cockroach motel downtown in Winder, but it's still badly lacking in service and customer appreciation.

We're visiting from Tennessee, and Lindsay was working the desk. She was phenomenal, so sweet and helpful. We're glad we stayed here and will choose it again when we're back.