Rapids Inn and Suites

We only ended up here because we had an annual event in town, live a few hours away, and everything else was booked. The place was pretty bad, and I hate complaining, but it was hard to stomach. We asked for a second pillow and had to leave a $20 deposit to make sure we returned it. The non-smoking room was hazy and smelled like decades of smoke. My throat hurt all weekend, so we went out and bought air freshener and our own towels. The room was dirty, the walls were stained, and the bedding had cigarette holes and stains. I brought Clorox wipes to clean what I could on the hardwood floor. The deadbolt didn’t work, either. I understand the room is on a budget, but basic cleanliness and upkeep matter. Outdated is one thing, dirty is another. It reminded me of the Bates Motel. Sorry, but it was really bad.

I booked this place for work and was sleeping during the day because I worked nights. On two separate occasions, the hotel manager let himself into my room while I was asleep. Very rude, with no respect for a guest’s privacy.

I left after just an hour and a half. The room was noisy, dirty, smelled awful, and didn’t feel safe at all. The bed was falling apart, and I’m pretty sure there was blood on the wall. At $58 a night I wasn’t expecting much, just somewhere acceptable to sleep for one night, but this wasn’t it. Don’t stay here. The woman at the front desk was genuinely nice, pleasant, and smiling, though.

I like places like this. It’s a good spot to be by yourself, get away from everything, and spend some time writing.