This comment is directed toward the Econo Lodge Motel on National Road in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
Background: I am in my 60’s. I have traveled extensively in 36 states, five other countries, and in all 88 counties of Ohio. Conservatively, I would estimate that I have stayed in 200 hotels/motels.
We arrived in St. Clairsville around 7:30 pm after a long drive and were headed for the Day’s Inn. When driving past the Econo Lodge, I suggested that we inquire there for a room.
My friend registered and paid the Saturday rate of $120 for a room with two queen-size beds. We intended to go to the room to freshen up and then go out to a local restaurant for supper. The first thing I noticed, I recognized because my mother owns pets, the smell of urine inside the elevator. Upon entering our room, I did not specifically pay attention to the room cleanliness as we were in process of going out for supper. The overall appearance was one on the very low side of “economy” for a $120 room rate. Later, I was to find out in this motel “econo” stood for "poor/non-existent housekeeping."
We returned after 10:00 that night and proceeded to carry our suitcases up to the room. Again, I identified the smell of urine inside the elevator. In the morning, I discovered why when I saw a man walking his dog in the grass strip in front of the motel and another family entering their car in the parking lot with a dog. The motel permitted pets. However, that information is not readily available at the registration desk for those who may have allergies.
Back in our room, my friend got ready for bed. I watched TV. My friend was in her bed and I now decided to get into my own bed. When I pulled down the bed cover, my bed was missing a top sheet. I slept without one and this made me in direct contact with the light blanket, which may or may not be changed and laundered each time of use. I venture it is not.
In the morning, we could not get the bathroom light to work. I removed the cover and jiggled the fluorescent tube and it came on.
The next morning I followed my friend to check out. I waited for the desk clerk to ask the usual, “Was everything alright?” “How was your stay?” or something similar. I intended to reply about the missing sheet and the bathroom light. When he did not say anything, only “I’ll get your receipt,” I speculated that he was so used to hearing complaints that he was not going to ask for them. When he gave my friend her receipt, I spoke up. “I have a question. Aren’t you supposed to receive two sheets on your bed?” To this, he answered, “Yes,” or more likely, “Yeah.”
Now here comes the test – a reflection of the business policy of Choice Motels Corporation, which owns and operates Econo Lodge, for they hire and train their employees and dictate customer policy. Instead of beginning his reply with a “sorry,” included somewhere, he said, “Why didn’t you call the desk and we would have come and made your bed.” I stated, “Is that it?” indicating was that to be his only response. I proceeded to tell him that it was past eleven o’clock, we were tired, and my friend was already in bed asleep. Being a specialist in contracts, I proceeded to inform him that our contract called for the sum of $120 to be exchanged for the amenities of a motel room for the night. That Econo Lodge had not fulfilled (i.e. breached) their part of the contract. For the $120 inflated Saturday rate, one should expect Econo Lodge to upgrade their quality of service to match. Consequently, there should have been a top sheet, because they would implement a policy that insured that all rooms were cleaned properly and all amenities were in place, such as a checklist or room inspections prior to use.
I have stayed in “economy” motels before. Outside of a rare comment written upon a hotel/motel comments card, I have addressed any concerns to the desk clerk at checkout. It is the mention of deficiencies for normal amenities that were intended to improve stays for other people, as well as help the motel provide better service. Never have I been this disappointed with the response. Even an offer of a $10 refund or a coupon for a percentage off the next stay, at that time, would have been accepted. For it was the acknowledgement of the motel’s deficiencies I was looking for. However, it was the failure to acknowledge fault, or even offer an apology, that angered me. I had kept the room’s comment card and I pulled it from my pocket. “I am going to use this and send it to corporate headquarters.” He replied rather smugly, “That’s alright; it comes back to us anyway.”
If this is true and he appeared to have no apparent concern, then this must be an indication of Choice Motel’s past stance on these deficiencies and his type of conduct.
I regret the need for so much detail for what may appear to be minor compared to what I read later here on Trip Advisor. Now I am appalled at what I read. I immediately removed my own bedding at home and laundered it in hot water, and sprayed Lysol Disinfectant on my mattress and suitcase.
I do not consider it a rash decision on my part to add. To all my fellow travelers: Use my detailed incident, but more so, the horrendous comments made by those before me on tripadvisor.com and the many, which will appear after me. Do not stay at this motel!! If you choose to boycott all Econo Lodge motels, bravo for you! This is what my friend and I intend to do.
For those I have read here and to those people who will have unsatisfactory experiences at this motel in the future, do not let it end here. Please post on all relevant web sites. Provide a complaint to the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal who licenses motels. Contact Mr. Jeff Bucher there. The pool and bar are under the jurisdiction of the Belmont County Health Department. Help your fellow travelers who will later be subjected to the same outrageous circumstances as you were.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
