Quality Inn near Manatee Springs State Park — Hotel in Chiefland

A very nice 6 day stay over a week spanning end of Feb and first week of March 2017. So many good things but start with the big let down that makes me rate 4 stars not 5 stars - use of the beach and a tip worth considering if being "on the beach" is your desire for multiple days.

Despite being beach side, there is no visibility of the beach and ocean from the beautiful pool areas. Even an firther beach side deck from the pool area with loungers(for smokers) has $100/day rental cabanas, right in front of it, that block the ocean view almost entirely. The only ocean views, not on the beach are from the beach bar and it's large decks, but that's not good for extended periods - just sitting in chairs, or at tables. Then, on the beach, the only beach chairs available and set

up daily are nice loungers with pads - 2 chairs and an umbrella are $30. So, to be on the beach and enjoy the beach and ocean means paying $30-100 extra daily, or sit and lay in the sand. Oh and resort towels are not allowed on the beach, so even the rental loungers you lay on and paid for have been used by many other previously, no cleaning, just stacked and reused the next day. that would gross my wife out. It looks like all other hotels and resorts in the area at least provide plentiful free wooden loungers. I was really offended by this design and use of the resort pool and beach beach and lackof ocean/beach enjoyment other than sitting on the balcony or on the sand on the beach. To me this was a real abuse of their excellent location and beach and, for me, this ruined the best part - beach part of the stay for me. I don't understand this resort treating their customers this way, especially when you are

cut off from the sand and ocean unless you go out on the sand, no towels allowed and only paid loungers - just a money grab or they feel it is too much work or not enough room for ones who would want to beach? There is plenty

of room to set up enough free loungers to satisfy a pretty large crowd.

My best tip if you want to be on the sand and max out on beach and ocean is to go to local inexpensive outlets and buy some cheap chairs and shade AND TOWELS, if you want to be on the sand, even if you leave it when you depart , at $30/day, only 2 days use would probably save money. There is a large Surf Style shop almost directly across the street, from the resort. Wal Mart is just a few blocks east along the ocean side highway that runs in front of the resort. If you drive here, bring your full beach setup - cart, water toys, TOWELS, blankets, chairs etc, if you want to be on the beach and ocean - not all day by the pool or paying for beach set ups. The beach is free public and you can set up anything you like as long as you take it with you at the end of the day.

I was also a bit let down, that this resort offers no water toys - kayaks, hobie cats, SUPs, or jet skis. That seems to be left up to concessions on the beach. During our stay there was only a stand with a few jet skis for rent. It was perfect conditions for kayaking and SUP - but nothing available - discouraging, since I also came here for that. Later in March and for erst of the high season, it sounded like more stuff was available to rent, but not from the resort.

Ok that's my rant and warning and the only downsides for me. The rest of the resort was excellent and very impressive, especially for the price. This hotel has one of the highest ratings in the area on Tripadvisor and for good reason - a great value and family resort but also good for others. All rooms have balconies with great ocean views, especially above floor 2. We were on floor 9. The rooms are decently roomy, great amenities, good housekeeping, full size refrigerator, microwave, flat screen tv

with many channels, chairs and table on a comfortable sized balcony. All employees we dealt with were very friendly and exceptional at "beyond requested" levels of service and treatment of customers. Like many resorts and hotels in this area, beach side is for rooms, views and beach use with parking landside across the street. There is a tunnel under the street to the parking so you don't have to dodge traffic and the hotel has a constantly running cart shuttle, if you don't want to make the short walk to the parking lot - plus it's free parking and shuttle.

The grounds around the pool are beautifully landscaped with a lot of loungers and tables available. There is also a very large deck area of tables and chairs around the beach side pool area. No crowds while we were there off season. Entertainment by live musicians from 11 AM until about 6 - 7 PM, then a quiet steel drum type entertainer until 9 or 10 - nothing bothersome for sleeping. Pool side

movies each evening for kids and family. A nice splash park for the kids.

All in all a great value and no wonder so highly rated. Definitely a great resort for families and others. I only wish they made the beach and ocean more accessible without paying or view able from deck lounging areas. Some equipment rentals such as SUPS or kayaks and hobie cats would be great. Two days were absolutely...

If I could rate below 1 star, I would. The room we were given had not been cleaned at all. There was toothpaste and what appeared to be a saturated dog biscuit (Yes dog food!) in the sink, dust (lots) on the tables and stands, a bits of trash on the dresser. The only thing straightened were the beds but I’ll get to that in a bit. I called the front desk to inform them that the room had not been properly attended to by housekeeping and that it wreaked of smoke though it was a non smoking room. Shannon’s (I believe that was her name) exact words were, “I can check you out and you can find somewhere else to stay.” I was applauded to say the least. I asked if she could have disinfectant cleaner or something brought to the room and I’d clean it myself. About 7-10 minutes later she arrived. She cleaned the sink and wiped down the tables. When she left we immediately left behind her to go eat because we’d come to town and been at a track meet near town at Santa Fe High for about 12 hours. When we finally got back to the room, we unpacked and began using the restroom she checking the “made up”. Half of the pillow cases had stains on them and the shower and back of the toilet had many strands of hair. There is no way housekeeping cleaned that bathroom. They must have made the bed with used sheets and pillows, half rinsed the tub and walked right out of the room! I tried calling the front desk again, but no one answered! I very rarely leave reviews, even when I am not pleased; but this was unacceptable by this hotel and should be reported. No one should ever come to an accommodation they pay for and walk into an unclean room. Just disgusting! So glad it’s just one night at this hotel of horrors!

*Forgot to also add that the towel that was left on the shower to place on the floor was dirty. And the tissue in the room was not a newly unwrapped roll of tissue. The lady that came to clean the sink when I initially complained realized we had a used, almost empty roll of tissue and brought us a new roll. We ended up going to the Walmart up the road and bought sheets, disinfectant sprays and cleaners...

Checked in on Friday. At bedtime within 10 minutes, I began itching all over. I pulled the bed linen back to look at sheets. Didn't see anything. Stayed in room with 3 other people, which had already fallen asleep by this time. Tossed and turned the rest of the night. When I got up, I told my roommates that I had been itching all night from head to toe. They began looking to see if they had any bites on them which they did. We all found little red spots on us. Realized we did NOT check the bed when we checked in!!! BIG MISTAKE! LIFTED UP BEDSHEET AND.... YOU GUESSED IT, FOUND BED BUGS!! MY FRIEND TOOK A PICTURE AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE OFFICE. EXPLAINED WHAT WE FOUND AND ASKED IF SHE WOULD BE REFUNDED FOR THE STAY. The Desk Clerk stated she did not have the authority to do so. She said the manager would be in at 7 a.m. We went to Walmart to get trash bags to put our belongings in. We went on to our destination then at 7:05 called to see if manager was there, now all of a sudden the manager will not be on duty until Monday. Called Choice Hotels Customer Care and they said it would be investigated. My friend offered several times to send the picture that she took, representative said no it was not needed that the hotel would have to investigate anyway. Now it's Monday, my friend called the hotel to inquire about the issue of getting her money refunded and they stated not likely. Called the Health Department she was then directed to call Florida Department of Business Regulations. She tried to call but to start a claim requires doing so via email. That will be our next step. Almost certain this is and had been an ongoing issue. I THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND THE MONEY...