An unexpected stop on a trip through Bloomington lead my sister and I to this Best Western. Typically, Best Westerns have a good reputation for being clean and comfortable places to stay. However, this one was an anomaly. Once we checked in, we made our way down a dingy, dirty hallway and into the elevator, which looked like it hadn't been cleaned or vacuumed in days.
Our rooms were subpar in many respects. The doors looked like they hadn't been damaged and had never been repainted. There were no covers on the peepholes, which is a security concern.
In my room, the lighting was inadequate. It was so dark that I could barely see. It was probably a good thing, because upon closer examination, there was dirt, dust and vegetation along the perimeter of the bed and walls. Clearly, no one was vacuuming the floors.
The bathroom floor had not been cleaned either. There were stains on it. Needless to say, I did not want to remove my shoes or socks. It just felt dirty.
Once I was in the shower, I noticed there was no shampoo. There was plenty of half-used conditioner, but not any shampoo. The conditioner had a disgusting smell, which means it had been opened and left out for a long time. The hotel is not replacing any of the shampoos or conditioners - just leaving half-used ones for future occupants to use.
The soap tray in the shower had residual soap on it. It was a thick layer, indicating the housekeeper had not cleaned the shower.
There was a broken vent, small hole in the ceiling, and other basic maintenance items that needed to be addressed. There was a general feeling of neglect and apathy toward maintaining the hotel rooms.
My sister had to be moved three times before there was an adequate room for her. The first room lacked a functional deadbolt, which is a security issue. The second room did not have a working phone, which is also a security issue. The third room was not cleaned well. There was a fingernail on the floor from a previous guest. There was also pubic hair from a previous guest in the shower.
We chose not to eat breakfast at the hotel because we questioned the sanitation and food preparation, considering the conditions of the public areas of the hotel and the hotel rooms.
The hotel was perhaps the filthiest one I have ever stayed in. I will never stay here again, and caution anyone who values security and cleanliness to avoid this hotel. read more