When trying to save a buck, what are your limits when staying in a shabby, fleabag hotel?

Question

When traveling, your hotel room is a big factor in how satisfied you’ll be with your trip. The right hotel can add to your vacation while the wrong hotel can make the entire experience a nightmare. But when you’re on a budget, you might have to settle for a less-than-perfect hotel room. What are you willing to put up with when choosing a budget hotel and what is unacceptable?

Answer 1

Just like everybody else here has said, I need it to be clean. I don't care if there is a swimming pool, mini bar, or any of those conviences, I need a bed, a shower, and clean bedding. I won't accept bugs ons the floor or in my bed, rats or mice in my room. The hotel itself has ot be CLEAN. You don't need some of those wireless and other things that just cost you extra.

Heck just last month, My boyfriend and I went to France we stayed outside of Paris in this little hotel, the people were nice, it wasn't a five star hotel or anything but it was nice, the service was good, My boyfriend and I spent all night watching the local TV and laughing at some of the bad movies that played, I wouldn't have switched that for anything else. =] best memory of my life.

Answer 2

I don't do "fleabag". I also don't do any hotel that is over 100.00. With a little research on the 'Net, a few phone calls and a little coersion, I can usually get a good little hotel for 65-85 per night.

If I am on a road trip and winging it, I find that there are certain hotels - mostly small chains - that are pretty standard in offering clean, comfortable rooms with decent amenities at a good price. I find most of the "motel number" places can be fine in one place and terrible in another - so I avoid them.... If the hotel has a safety glass check in window - it's not for me.

I firmly believe that a trip is ALWAYS about the journey.....so, I make the journey as pleasant as possible with an eye on my purse.

In some larger cities, both here and abroad, I have no objection to using hostels. There are wonderful places - even those that offer private rooms and swimming pools...research the 'Net. In Europe, the small, privately owned hotels offer the best value - and some of the hostels are great. In some countries like Ireland, bed and breakfast offer the best rates.

What is unacceptable for me is anywhere that has the above mentioned safety glass - anywhere, doesn't have anything "nearby" like restaurants, shopping, etc. (don't want anyplace out in the middle of nowhere). Many, many times, I have asked to see the room before I actually reserve it. I check for any "smells", check the corners of the rooms for layers of dirt or dust that the cleaning staff don't address. I look for cleanliness in the bathroom and the bed. I don't accept a sagging mattress, worn bedding, torn or loose drapery, small and cheap towels. I won't tolerate torn or stained carpet, chipped furniture and tiny TV's with rabbit ears. If it is a "drive-up", I want my parking space right in front of the room and a deadbolt lock with a strong safety chain. I want 24-hour front desk service (for any emergency that might arise) and if there are people in the parking lot drinking beer or firing up the old hibachi - I pass it by. If I take the room, the first thing I do is pull back the bedding and look for CLEAN sheets, CLEAN and fresh blankets. If there is any suspicion that those are not clean, I call the front desk and ask for a complete bed change. If they don't want to do it, I ask for a refund and leave.

I travel for personal pleasure a lot since retiring and I am a good traveler; self-sufficient, fearless and a "roll with the flow" kind of person but I do expect good "living conditions" at a good rate.

Answer 3

As for what I look for for my family, I want a clean room. My son crawls still so I would want to make sure the carpet is NOT flithy, and free of debris. The sheets and bathroom are clean. It's also a good idea to check the blanket and comforter on your bed. Those do NOT get changed to often in some places, and you know when someone comes in just for a quickie they aren't pulling back those blankets. So it might be a good idea to bring your own or ask the front desk for a new clean one. Breakfast and a pool are a plus, but not always necessary depending on why I'm staying @ the hotel.These people just complain about the littlest things! Like how big the towels are and such. It's a motel, not your house. A lot of these places don't have all that much money, but most have the policy to make you happy for your stay. Not everything is going to go perfectcall. For instance, we went on a trip to Disneyland, and stayed at a Best Western near the park. It was a very nice place, and in the handbook it said to call the front desk for extra pillows. I called and they said they actually didn't have enough because people would take them all the time and barely had enough for almost every room. They said they had an order coming in. Or like the bugs thing, I don't want them everywhere as well, but whatever if there is a few, especially in a tropical location, they thrive there. I just roll my eyes at these members.

Answer 4

These people just complain about the littlest things! Like how big the towels are and such. It's a motel, not your house. A lot of these places don't have all that much money, but most have the policy to make you happy for your stay. Not everything is going to go perfectcall. For instance, we went on a trip to Disneyland, and stayed at a Best Western near the park. It was a very nice place, and in the handbook it said to call the front desk for extra pillows. I called and they said they actually didn't have enough because people would take them all the time and barely had enough for almost every room. They said they had an order coming in. Or like the bugs thing, I don't want them everywhere as well, but whatever if there is a few, especially in a tropical location, they thrive there. I just roll my eyes at these members. dirty looking sheets, so much traffic and noise on the street that it doesn't quiet down all night, or on the end of an unlit, scary street where you don't feel safe walking back after dark, having a dirty shared bathroom where the toilet doesn't work properly, no water coming out of the shower... I just don't travel until I have enough money saved to afford decent options, because a bad hotel can be horrible. An okay hotel should at least be clean and in a good location, close to the town center but where the traffic isn't too bad.

Answer 5

So it might be a good idea to bring your own or ask the front desk for a new clean one. Breakfast and a pool are a plus, but not always necessary depending on why I'm staying @ the hotel.These people just complain about the littlest things! Like how big the towels are and such. It's a motel, not your house. A lot of these places don't have all that much money, but most have the policy to make you happy for your stay. Not everything is going to go perfectcall. For instance, we went on a trip to Disneyland, and stayed at a Best Western near the park. It was a very nice place, and in the handbook it said to call the front desk for extra pillows. I called and they said they actually didn't have enough because people would take them all the time and barely had enough for almost every room. They said they had an order coming in. Or like the bugs thing, I don't want them everywhere as well, but whatever if there is a few, especially in a tropical location, they thrive there. I just roll my eyes at these members.

Answer 6

I'm not one to go and find the nicest Hotel, because to be honest, when I'm on vacation, were hardly in the room anyways. As long as its clean, with running water lol, and with no critters crawling around then I'm good. The decor of the room, doesn't matter, because I'm not the decor police.
Not to mention, that the nicer Hotels are usually only nicer because there either new, or have been remodeled. If the true be told, they're probably no better than the average hotel, because most hotels clean about the same anyways.. And most all of them never wash the bedspreads after each use, they only do it ever so often.(which is why usually I take my own pillows and blankets) and NEVThese people just complain about the littlest things! Like how big the towels are and such. It's a motel, not your house. A lot of these places don't have all that much money, but most have the policy to make you happy for your stay. Not everything is going to go perfectcall. For instance, we went on a trip to Disneyland, and stayed at a Best Western near the park. It was a very nice place, and in the handbook it said to call the front desk for extra pillows. I called and they said they actually didn't have enough because people would take them all the time and barely had enough for almost every room. They said they had an order coming in. Or like the bugs thing, I don't want them everywhere as well, but whatever if there is a few, especially in a tropical location, they thrive there. I just roll my eyes at these members. ER use the spread. lol

Answer 7

I'm a clean freak and I need to have everything feel clean and comfy. If I had it my way, I'd be visiting expensive hotel such as the Hilton or whatever. But when it comes to family vacations and I get to go to a Days Inn or a Motel 8. These people just complain about the littlest things! Like how big the towels are and such. It's a motel, not your house. A lot of these places don't have all that much money, but most have the policy to make you happy for your stay. Not everything is going to go perfectcall. For instance, we went on a trip to Disneyland, and stayed at a Best Western near the park. It was a very nice place, and in the handbook it said to call the front desk for extra pillows. I called and they said they actually didn't have enough because people would take them all the time and barely had enough for almost every room. They said they had an order coming in. Or like the bugs thing, I don't want them everywhere as well, but whatever if there is a few, especially in a tropical location, they thrive there. I just roll my eyes at these members.

Answer 8

Breakfast and a pool are a plus, but not always necessary depending on why I'm staying @ the hotel.These people just complain about the littlest things! Like how big the towels are and such. It's a motel, not your house. A lot of these places don't have all that much money, but most have the policy to make you happy for your stay. Not everything is going to go perfectcall. For instance, we went on a trip to Disneyland, and stayed at a Best Western near the park. It was a very nice place, and in the handbook it said to call the front desk for extra pillows. I called and they said they actually didn't have enough because people would take them all the time and barely had enough for almost every room. They said they had an order coming in. Or like the bugs thing, I don't want them everywhere as well, but whatever if there is a few, especially in a tropical location, they thrive there. I just roll my eyes at these members.

Answer 9

If it's just me traveling I can take a "loss" on a cheap/crappy motel. If I'm traveling with a girlfriend I would prefer to stay in a comfortable room.

Much like everyone else I prefer a clean room with clean sheets and towels. I don't want to have to do the CSI thing and pull out the blue light to see what kind of stains there are on my bed..and walls..and floors.

Best cheap room: Driving from Anchorage, AK to Amarillo, TX. Stop in Cheyenne, WY during their rodeo and was very lucky to find a room at all. It was a mom and pop place for $50.00 where on any other occasion would have probably been around $26.00. It was rustic and cozy. No frills and basic cable. The window a/c worked and that's all that mattered. Slept like a baby.

Worst: Found a hotel within walking distance to the River Walk in San Antonio through AAA. At $79.00 a night this room offered the hardest, most uncomfortable mattress I've ever slept on. Paper thin towels that couldn't have absorbed a tear drop and felt like sandpaper and a shower head that was full of mildew that you could smell when taking a shower. And this hotel was part of a national chain.

I may be quite possibly taking a road trip this fall back east and sometimes staying in in locally owned hotels is part of the charm. But like Forrest Gump says: "You never know what you're going to get."

Best Wishes.

Answer 10

Darlin, having worked in the industry, I have some "inside" information. That's why when I travel, I have a system/kit/traveling "ditty bag." In this bag, I keep my own pillow, and a satin/polyster sleeping "bag" that I made myself. I put it between the sheets so that those items that touch my body are things that I have control over! The sleeping bag is just two twin sheets in a nice fabric, a few stitches with the sewing machine and viola! my own designer sleeping bag. The sheets are SUPPOSEDLY changed after each guest (it has been known NOT to happen!), but the comforters, and pillows are not washed on any regular basis. It simply is not cost effective for each property to do all of these things. Oh, by the way, keep a pair of rubber flip-flops for traveling as well. Carpeting is SELDOM IF EVER cleaned. Take them to the shower with you and wear them IN the room! A little planning and fore-sight, and you can stay at some really inexpensive motels and you'd be surprised how clean the local Mom 'n' Pop properties can be. Also, those places will give you more personal attention and more personal accomodations! Plus, the money that you save can make all the difference in how far, and how long your vacation can be or last! Don't expect the carpets, pillows, comforters, etc. to be pristine in the upper scale facilities...you may think that with the bigger price, you'll get cleanliness---sorry to disappoint you---it just isn't so!

Answer 11

I just won't go if that's all I can afford. I don't need to stay in the Taj Mahal or anything but at the very least a Motel 6 that's in a decent neighborhood. Anything less than that is just simply unacceptable. If I get there and it's dirty or unkept, I'd take pictures and send them to my credit card company to get the charges removed. I'd also go the the listing where I made the reservation and print it to send also. I'll pay the extra money and go the next step up. No bugs, obvious unsantiary conditions, way outdated linens, or way outdated carpet are absolute no-no's. upon check in I ask the front desk to send someone up to change the sheets and comforter and clean the bathroom. It may some pretentious, but I have SEEN cleaning crews go in a room and make the bed after a guest has checked out. No changing sheets, they just maid the bed. And I am 100% sure the same guest wasn't staying in the room another night because not an hour later I saw a family check into the room.