Comfort inn in Lenoir used to get good reviews because it was a clean reasonably motel in a good location close to the mountains. Lately, however, the motel which badly in need of renovation is in bad shape. The carpets are old and show age, old TVs that shows only few channels, out of service elevator that was not fixed and apparently was not getting regular maintenance. It used to have a decent breakfast but the quality is getting worse and their so called Bold coffee is so weak , it is like hot water.

On a recent visit with relatives, we had the pleasure of staying at the Comfort Inn in Lenoir. The hotel is on the main road making it very easy to find and close to restaurants and a Wal-Mart. There was ample parking. We were very pleased with the room and the hotel itself. Unlike a past reviewer, we noted the hotel room to be updated. Yes, the TV was the old style, but the picture on the TV was fine. The furniture looked to be new with no chips. The room was very clean, and it did not smell. The bathroom had been redone and the shower was not tile but a white rebuilt plastic. The vanity was clean with no marks. The carpet looked clean. We were told at check-in and when we made reservations that there was no smoking allowed in the rooms, and we had to sign a statement at check-in that we acknowledged the no smoking policy and could be fined it was later determined there had been smoking in the room. A very nice buffet was provided every morning. The staff was friendly and helpful. Although our stay was brief we were very satisfied, and would stay again. An added benefit--the pillows they used on the beds were so comfortable that I'm replacing my pillows at home with memory foam.

I reviewed Comfort Inn after staying there a few months ago and mentioned that it needed renovating. Recently the management responded to my review saying that the motel has been redone and please give them another try, so I decided to see about it.

I was surprised at how little has been changed. The old wallpaper in the rooms has been replaced with knock-down (which looks like stucco) and painted, and the carpets are new. But that's it. The bedspreads are still the same; I don't know about the mattresses. The TVs are still the same old clunky things that were there before, and the long cabinet that the TV sits on had chips in the finish, so those aren't new either. The bathrooms are still the old tile (with small chips in places) and old laminate countertops.

To add to my annoyance, I was put in an old smoking room, despite noting on my reservation that I needed a non-smoking room. So I had to go downstairs and request to be moved to another room that has always been designated non-smoking. The clerk did move me, which I appreciated. But the fact that the room still smelled of smoke despite new paint and carpet leads me to believe that the bedspreads and curtains haven't even been cleaned recently. I questioned the front desk clerk about the "renovation" and she claimed everything was new, and I told her it sure didn't look like it.

Comfort Inn could have done a much nicer job while re-doing the walls and carpets. They should have installed new bedspreads, new flat screen TVs, and new furniture. The bathrooms would have looked much nicer with new paint and updated countertops.

To make matters worse, the AC unit switched on/off constantly, plus it put out a moldy odor. Thank goodness last weekend was so cool in Lenoir so we turned the unit completely off, and ran a white noise machine to help us sleep.

What a disappointment.

This was our 4th stay at the Comfort Inn in Lenoir. Love the location - Great staff, rooms and service. Every stay has been great. Thanks