Sleep Inn Phoenix North I-17 — Hotel in Phoenix

NOT RECOMMENDED IF YOU ARE JUST TRAVELING THROUGH TOWN FOR A SHORT STAY!

I was traveling solo with my small, frail dog. The hotel is kept nice and tidy, but since most of the guests are people who live in the hotel as their permanent residence or long-term guests employed in local construction projects, there are weird and demeaning rules that the hotel applies to guests traveling through town on a vacation or for a 1-2 day business trip. I chose the hotel, because it was near a physician with whom we had an appointment and the Sleep Inn website described the hotel as "pet-friendly." When we arrived in town a few hours before our medical appointment, I called to ask if we could check in early. I was told my room was ready and that checking in early would trigger an additional $25.00 charge. So we stayed away until after our appointment. When I checked in they asked how long I was staying and then the manager spoke on and on about all the wonderful sights to see in the area as if she was enticing me to stay longer. There were standard forms to complete in order to register when we arrived. Then we were given a separate little note that I was required to initial. The little note said that I understood that if I did one of 15 things, the hotel would charge me $500.00. All I recalled was not leaving the pet in the room and not bringing the pet to the breakfast that was supposedly included in the hotel cost. I asked for a copy of the pet policy form two different times from two different desk clerks and was told twice "NO! The manager says we never give our pet policy to anyone." There were two women clerks who stayed together whether they were behind the desk or patroling the hallways. I later asked them, if I brought my dog with me to the doorway of the breakfast area, if the front desk clerk (seated six feet from the breakfast area entrance) could hold my pet's leash for two minutes while I got my "included breakfast" to bring back to my room. As an alternative, I asked if I could stand at the doorway to the breakfast room with my dog and tell the attendant what I would like for my "breakfast included with my room fee." I thought that these seemed like the kind gestures of one human towards another who was not allowed to leave her pet in the room as per the 15 point list they had me initial when I checked in. First they told me that they would ask their manager and text me the answer. After they did not contact me after three hours, I went to the front desk and asked the two women again. This time one of them called their manager and, with the manager on the phone, she told me "The manager says we only make boxed breakfasts for construction workers who have to get up early." I told her "Great! But what is the answer to my question?" She talked to the manager on the phone some more and hung up the phone. Then she proceeded to tell me, "The manager said emphatically that we will only do this once for you and this WILL NOT happen again for you." Recalling the manager's comments enticing me to stay longer when I checked in, I thought about replying, "Then it is good that I am leaving in the morning and never coming back." Thinking that they might use that comment against me as a violation of their hidden 15 point pet policy, I kept quiet. Breakfast was fine. We slept well and I was more than thrilled to leave this Sleep Inn property in the morning. If you are traveling solo with a pet, you might consider a Best Western. They have work arounds for the pet in the room and breakfast policies when solo travelers are involved. They try to work with the guest rather than making the guest feel as if the guest is an unwanted inconvenience as was done to me at this Sleep Inn...

I’m writing this after night 1 of (unfortunately) a 2 night stay. My husband booked this place because he got a “deal” on Expedia and only looked at their star rating (at the time of this writing it’s a 4.1). Based on the hotel name, I knew it was no where near our destinations for visiting, so I decided to look up Google reviews. For the last 5 days I have been apprehensive about this trip and he has tried to get a refund (non refundable, no travel insurance) from Expedia, the hotel, and Choice hotels, and nope, we were stuck staying. While we haven’t had some of the extreme issues many others have listed, here’s my breakdown of the good, the bad, and the ugly, including accessibility, as I am blind.

Accessibility: for those who have accessible needs like myself, the hotel did not have an accessible entrance. We went in/out the “main/front” entrance, so if there is another and it happens to be accessible, I will update (I will ask the front desk, as I am not wandering the property - see below for why). There is one elevator and they were out of accessible rooms (unsure how many there are or where they are located, though there are only two floors here). Had the elevator not been working, I’m not sure how I would get to the second floor. Since we did not receive an accessible room, the room was obviously considered standard/basic, and while the room itself would accommodate a wheelchair, the bathroom will not (while I do not use a wheelchair, I am consciously aware of the needs of the disabled community).

Good: only reason it’s 2 star on service is the man that checked us in was friendly and professional. Second good point, shower pressure was great. Literally stayed in the shower longer just to try to release the anxiety and stress from the rest of the experience.

The bad: dated, worn, broken items (ex. fixtures) in room, peeling paint, stains on carpets. Uncomfortable bed, torn bedding, horrible pillows. Shower can use a reglazing. Air conditioner kept making a loud rattling sound while on (earplugs at night did help drown out the sound). Dirty walls. Hallways were also dated and worn, and unkept. Everything could use a scrubbing and major cleaning. You receive “tickets” for admittance to breakfast, which, judging the way the rest of the hotel is kept, there is absolutely no way I’m eating anything served here. Wifi is slow, if you can get a connection.

The ugly: undesirable location. We arrived in the afternoon and it was obviously daylight. Be on the lookout for random homeless and addicts along the street. We encountered a couple of the latter staying in the hotel. We left for dinner and arrived well after sundown. Driving back at night did not get better. My safety, especially being disabled, is a priority (to me) and I did NOT feel safe here. Not in the parking lot, not walking down the lobby hall, not in the hotel room. Not at all.

Would I recommend, even for a night? No. Would I stay here again? Absolutely not. Do your research and read the reviews. Don’t ever book non refundable, and get the travel insurance. There’s a reason there...

This has to be in my top five of worst hotel experiences in my life!!!! The staff (with the exception of the male that works overnight) were poorly educated, not helpful. Mean. And just downright nasty! I booked through a booking site and had issues through them right off the rip. I was told there was no deposit needed, that the 100 dollars I already spent was sufficient. This is not true. I get to the hotel and I am informed by this person I need another hundred dollars on my card. Ok, so I can't be mad at the hotel for this, it was the booking agency's mistake. Yet I still feel the person at the counter could've been a tad bit more helpful. I was just stonewalled and told "no refunds, tough luck". I left and it took me 2 more hours to get the hundred on my card I went back and shifts changed. The night worker then told me that the day person was incorrect; it was a $250.00 deposit!!!!! But he was actually helpful (and human) and assisted me in checking in (it was passed midnight at this point, my companion had work at 5am). The next day no issues. My truck is still broken so I extended another night with no problem. The next day however; I learned my vehicle is still broken (I live a 2 hour drive up north) so I tried to extend another night or two. Nope! The same person I first encountered said I couldn't stay. I asked why. She said she didn't know. Not could she possibly find out. I have not caused any problems. I have been quiet and clean. I asked to speak with a manager. And surprise surprise; she's the only one there! So now I have to check out with no vehicle in 110°F heat with no place to go. Oh. I haven't mentioned yet that I have a deadly blood clot in my leg a small vlot in my lungs, and miscarried my baby not even 2 weeks ago. I have never been treated so badly before at a hotel. I do NOT recommend staying here at all!!! And I feel I should mention these points as well cause their website does not: No pets are allowed at all. They don't tell you this when you book, they ask you how many pets you have at the desk to trick you into admitting you have a pet then tell you no pet policy and no refunds, and tell you to leave. You also cannot have any visitors at all at any time of the day. If you have a visitor you are kicked out immediately and they keep your security deposit plus the nightly rate. Please heed my warning. Do NOT waste...