Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Altoona — Hotel in Altoona

I wish I could say 5 stars, I really really do, but after my last (and final) stay here, I gotta call it what it is. So I was a regular here (bimonthly trips to visit family) and always paid up to get a Suite. The last few times I stayed, the Front Desk Agents were awesome. Super kind, fun to talk to, and very accommodating. I've thought for awhile now about whether or not to write this review, but now that we're booking our return visit to Altoona, I was reminded of our last stay experience and promptly decided to change our hotel altogether, opting to not return to the Microtel :(

Apparently, something changed in the months prior to our last visit. My last stay, the girl who checked my wife and I in was spectacular, however the agent that worked the last two days was absolutely horrible. She was lazy, unkind, and pretty much incompetent, and kept making up excuse after excuse and giving problem after problem over trivial things. Firstly, we got food poisoning and were sick most of the stay. I have a 1 year old child. We were told - not asked, TOLD - to "quiet him down", meanwhile, the same agent literally allowed people to scream in the lobby. We specifically asked for a room away from stairs and elevator, second floor. They put us RIGHT next to the stairs, first floor, in a room lacking basic items, with water still in the tub. We asked FOUR different times for garbage bags - she never brought them. My wife also ran into an issue with the night auditor, who apparently told her that she was not a guest at the hotel and refused to let her back into our room where my son and I were sleeping. She had gone outside for a cigarette, her card deactivated, and she had to literally beg the agent at the front to let her back in despite having all the proof she needed. We specifically asked for (and have ALWAYS received) a late check out (12pm). At 1030 and 1051am, the agent called us twice TELLING us we had to check out. I went up to the desk and stated "we requested late check out" to which she told me - verbatim: "No you didn't. We don't allow late check out." I asked how late we could stay, because my son had JUST woke up, and she said "11 is check out". I ONCE AGAIN asked for a bag for garbage, to which she said she'd bring one down, and she never did. As a result, we left our room with a bunch of trash lying about, which I HATE to do. We normally fold our blankets and whatnot to make it easier for house keeping, but her rushing us out the door resulted in us leaving in a hurry, so the room was essentially trashed. We were embarrassed by this - if any housekeepers read this, I am SO SO sorry for that. Blame your front desk agent.

I worked in Hospitality as an Agent and Supervisor for 7 years (Marriott & Holiday Inn) so I KNOW there are stressful elements to the job, but the way she handled our situation was simply unacceptable. She did not do anything that I would deem okay or accept if she were my employee. As a result, I am not risking the same quality of stay. We have changed our preferred hotel, and that'll be the end of it.

Just be wary, anybody else considering staying, that MOST of the agents and staff at Microtel are awesome, but I personally practice the philosophy of "you are only as strong as your weakest link", and in this case, the weakest link broke the chain.

Housekeeping - 5 Stars. Awesome....

If you are looking for a stop over for a rest, clean hotel, near an interstate, mostly quiet and at a good price and don't need a big breakfast this is your place.

The rooms were clean and seemed updated.

The breakfast options even for a budget value hotel were limited. Everyone knows that hotel breakfasts are not great, but hard boiled egg and no bacon/sausage or potato is limited nowadays. Since your breakfast is limited, there is a Sheetz close by and Tom and Joes in town is excellent breakfast alternative.

I found the rooms to be quiet and my room was facing the back of the hotel. A buddy had a room at the front and found that there were racing motorcycles all night.

It is convenient to get to the hotel because its near an interstate 99 exit. Getting back on to a main road is slightly odd due to the one way street in front of the hotel.

It is not the most scenic place as your view out the front is of a UHAUL store and the view out the back is a residential neighborhood.

The rooms had a mini fridge, nice tv, hair dryer. DirectTV is the provider.

Paint could dry faster than the elevator getting to your floor to get on.

I didn't need one but in case you do there are no EV chargers that I saw on the premises but I did see many in the local area.

There were a number of dogs visiting and they must put those guests on the first floor so they were mostly out of sight out of mind.

Service was very good but potentially hit or miss. The morning check in clerk was great as was the evening one. The afternoon staff member suggested an early check in was $25 when a buddy of mine got a free early check in an hour earlier than my request. The pool was under routine maintenance on Friday. I was in the lobby when a family with two children whom were really looking to hop in the pool after a long travel and were bummed when they couldn't get in. The hotel should schedule routine maintenance early in the week since most people wanting the pool would be nearer...

Three cheers to Maggie, she was awwsome!! We had a wedding and had thought we booked 10 rooms and we didn't, and she was so kind and patient and helped us through our mess and that hotel was then completely booked!! Give that lady a raise, she is a rarity in todays world, I can not believe how wonderful she was for our 2 night stay! In a world full of discord and discontent , we all need a lil Maggie in our lives, she was such a breath of fresh air during a semi stressful time! The hotel is newer and very well kept and so decorated for the season!! The kids loved the big spider🤣 in the lobby and the Skelton hand in the flower pot! It is that kind of welcoming place that we all want when we are away from home! Breakfast was great too, hot and fresh, beds were very comfortable and the tubs were deep. My granddaughter is on chopsticks( her nickname for crutches) and they put us on the first floor, with easoer access for her to everything. I just can't say enough about Maggie and what an angel she was to our entire family in all 10 rooms!! Thanks Maggie we love you and you have become part of our daily prayer list🥰 God bless you and the...