Best Western Crystal River Resort — Attraction in Crystal River

We love staying in Crystal river and we booked a 'quiet room' ahead of time since they were full due to scallop season at the Best Western. We drove in to check in at 4, they took our money and we were told to come back later, the room was not ready. We ran around sight-seeing for a couple of hours, came back and found our room was at the top of steep stairs with no elevator. But what could we do? They were booked? So with a bad back my fiancee dragged our suitcase up stairs and me with a bad foot took it slowly. We were kept up late by a huge storm, only to be awakened by LOUD truck noises at 6 am, because we were facing the street. I called the front desk to document this and was told that was their quiet room. She said I could move elsewhere and I said but you're booked? Our room wasn't even ready? We are going to want to be compensated at check out! At check out I was told the Manager was in a meeting and couldn't see me, I could wait. REALLY? I called the corporate number only to be told this was a franchise the Manager could make whatever decision she wanted. After waiting, she met with us basically saying it was our fault we didn't ask for another room without steps(BUT THEY WERE SOLD-OUT?)(WHY NO ELEVATOR?) No she said they only had 47% occupancy. I said then why did we have to wait and why a room on the street, second floor with no elevator? She said We checked in at 4:12, I said we paid then but NO KEY til a couple of hours later, the room was NOT READY! She offered only 20% off, and I said If you don't treat your customers with respect, then they will pass that on in reviews- which does not help you. She said So you are black-mailing me? I at this point thought I had heard it ALL!! I explained my idea of customer service after many years in Hospitality and said WE WILL NOT BE BACK! We went to this beautiful place for peace and quiet, to rest and to be treated well and this was our experience. No one at the hotel cared nor did corporate.VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. The Kings Bay Lodge (ALSO SOLD OUT-FOR REAL) is THE PLACE to stay. Enjoy Crystal River- but pick wisely where you...

I'm writing this as an employee, not a guest. I'm grateful this place gets such high ratings, because the employees miserably work their tails off for it. In horrible conditions. This place is severely understaffed, under stocked and abusively managed. Employees are called stupid by the management amongst other things. Management hides materials needed for employees to properly take care of things like linens, pillows, blow dryers etc because we're all a bunch of thieves and will steal them if they are left accessible for us to properly do our jobs. The time clock randomly malfunctions so to ensure we are not "accidentally" shorted hours we keep hand written logs of our work times so we can show what hours we we're there when we get robbed of at least a days work at times. Name tags are too expensive for swine like us so we don't get one until we've "earned it". The understaffing issues leaves the housekeeping staff over worked. Sometimes working 10 days straight with no day off and limited breaks at work. It's a shame that guest don't see more of the inner workings of this place, I'm sure they'd be less willing to spend their money at a place that treats employees the way this place does. It's shameful and management should be embarrassed of themselves.

P.S I know a huge complaint is that rooms aren't ready at check in time. That's mostly because there's roughly 4-6 housekeepers cleaning the ENTIRE hotel and the front end starts booking before the rooms are even checked out of. Even though rooms aren't supposed to be checked out until they are cleaned and inspected and then punched in as available. So when you come to check in and are irate that the rooms not ready (which I agree is unacceptable), understand that it's because of all the reasons listed above. When you get there and it isn't ready, we called to rush in and get it ready asap and then rewarded by being called lazy or stupid. It would be a million times easier to have rooms ready on time if we had enough staff, linens and towels...

Nice location and decent rooms that could use some updates. My problem was on our anniversary weekend we stayed here and after going down to the beach at about 8 am. and returning about 10 am to clean up and swim till check out at 11:00. We entered our room and saw our bed stripped, toiletries moved, a candy bar we had in fridge was half eaten by the TV, a strange purse was in there as well as a bag of pork chops by the TV. No cleaning cart was anywhere near our room. Immediately went to lobby and they looked into it. Apparently house keeping was in there and the manager was rude about it, kept saying we thought you checked out. Even though checkout isn't until 11 and we hadn't turned our keys in. He said "there was no luggage in the room" but my toiletries and food were in there and nobody should have ever checked that room till after 11. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be charged damages or anything since clearly the housekeeper was just hanging out in there. Her purse should never be in a guest room and like I said no cleaning cart was outside. Rude manager took $50 off my bill which I didn't ask for anything. His attitude was somehow annoyed at us instead of being upset with housekeeping. I did get all my toiletries back but the Snickers and coke were gone, half eaten anyway. It definitely felt like a violation.. especially since they came in my room before checkout and clearly by having food and personal belongings were hanging out. Who knows how often they go into your room without permission using their master key. Having my things moved and touched and eaten was a real disappointment in this hotel franchise. If something was damaged or missing they would have charged me. They definitely need to address this higher up because manager was not friendly or helpful or apologetic. Girl working the desk was more upset for us then the manager. I'd take pictures of your room before leaving since they allow...