Having stayed at other properties in the same chain I checked-in with reasonable expectations. Unfortunately this property is a notch below other ESA locations. I booked 5 nights, but bailed after 4 nights.
Cleanliness was a mixed bag. The hallway carpeting on the 2nd floor was seriously stained and dirty. The elevator floor always seemed to be in need of a sweep and mop and littered with papers, gum wrappers, etc. Other common areas also needed attention. I was already concerned before I even walked into the room. Thankfully, the room interior was adequately clean, however, and the bathroom was immaculate, but there was a strong chemical smell which bothered us throughout the visit.
Maintenance and room mechanics left a lot to be desired. The room could use more lighting and one of the lamps in our room was problematic - you had to fiddle the switch several times to find the exact right spot that would cause the lamp to light (accompanied, one time, by a spark). The security latch on the door was badly misaligned - it took quite a bit of force to engage it and doing so lifted the door a quarter-inch on its hinges causing quite a bit of stress on the frame (see photo). The AC/Heat unit was wonky and seemed to have a mind of its own. It was impossible to run the fan and let in fresh air. The thermostat also seemed to make no difference - the unit cycled on and off seemingly on its own whim.
The queen bed in our room was acceptably comfortable, if a little dated. Don't expect fancy bedding that is becoming more common these days. Certainly not the best sleep I've had, but I've certainly encountered worse in some hotels. I didn't encounter any linen fit problems that other reviewers mentioned. The stuffed chair and ottoman were comfortable enough to sleep on in a pinch (and clean, too). The drapes closed without a gap (yay!) and blocked the rising sun nicely if you get a room that faces east.
On my first night, at 5:00 am the smoke alarm in our room went off for unexplained reasons (we were in a non-smoking wing). It was VERY loud (as it is supposed to be). I dialed "0" on the phone and got a groggy attendant that I had obviously woke up (the front desk is not open yet at that time). She was unable to provide any guidance on how to make the alarm stop or what I should do, but it stopped by itself during our conversation. This experience did not repeat the other nights thank goodness, but was almost a deal-breaker for us.
The room has a full-size refrigerator and a 2-burner stove top. The refrigerator worked great - I did not have the opportunity to use the stop. The room includes basic service for two people (e.g. 2 spoons, 2 plates, 2 bowls, etc). The dishes and pots were in good shape. There is also a microwave, toaster, and coffee maker.
The room includes ONE bar of soap for the sink and none for the shower. As is typical for Extended Stay America, you don't get the usual complement of toiletries as you would in a full-service hotel. Also typical for extended stay properties, housekeeping is a once-per-week visit.
We didn't watch TV, but I doubt it would have been pleasant. It was a square 21-inch Maganvox unit that was typical when Dallas and The Cosby Show were popular in the 80s.
The location right off I-10 is very handy but it is difficult to find. A GPS will get you there, but if you try to follow the signs when coming from Phoenix (the airport, for example) you might miss it. Travelers coming up from Tucson will probably have an easier time since you can see the hotel from the freeway from that way. Even though the property is right on the freeway, I didn't notice any traffic noise.
After 4 nights, we wanted to move on to a better property, so we checked out a day early. If it wasn't for the fact that the room was pre-paid through a popular bidding site we probably would have moved-on sooner.
- Extended Stay America Phoenix
- Phoenix Extended Stay
- Extended Stay Phoenix
