La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Portland DT/Maine Med — Hotel in Portland

Avoid This Property at All Costs – Unjust $400 Charge

My pregnant wife and I recently stayed two nights at this La Quinta location while traveling through Maine. We are both non-smokers, do not vape, and abstain from alcohol entirely due to religious beliefs. Despite this, we were abruptly awoken by a $400 charge notification on my credit card—allegedly due to a violation detected by the hotel’s new “smoke/vapor sensor system.”

This accusation is entirely false.

I documented the situation, including video of both the Manager on Duty and the Head Housekeeper inspecting our room. They confirmed there was no evidence of smoking or vaping and expressed clear frustration with the hotel’s new sensor system. Both staff members admitted they were unable to reverse the charge and actually encouraged me to dispute it through my credit card company.

La Quinta subsequently contested my dispute.

I am now escalating this issue by submitting full documentation and video evidence to my credit card provider, and I am filing formal complaints with the Maine Attorney General’s Office, the Maine Division of Environmental and Community Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, and Hospitality Maine. I also intend to contact local news outlets to shed light on this predatory tactic.

This appears to be a systemic attempt to exploit unsuspecting guests—particularly those from vulnerable or lower-income backgrounds—who may not have the resources, credit access, or time to challenge such arbitrary charges. It’s unethical, potentially unlawful, and absolutely unacceptable.

Do not stay at this property unless you are prepared to fight to protect your reputation and finances.

*EDIT (Follow-Up): * In response to the owner’s statement, I want to clarify that while I did initially succeed in disputing the $400 charge, La Quinta subsequently reversed the outcome by contesting the dispute and having the charge reinstated to my credit card. I have since compiled and submitted clear video evidence, including footage of both the Manager on Duty and the Head Housekeeper explicitly confirming that there was no smell, no haze, no smoke, and no vape in the room. They acknowledged this is a chronic issue caused by the hotel’s newly implemented sensor system—a system they openly criticized. One employee even described needing to involve law enforcement over a prior false charge.

I strongly urge potential guests to proceed with caution. Based on what I’ve observed and documented, this policy disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, including:

• Elderly guests, who may lack the digital awareness or access to catch these charges in time.

• Unhoused individuals, who often rely on extended hotel stays funded by nonprofits or family members—those charges can easily go unnoticed until after reconciliation, especially where the payor is not actively in the hotel.

• People with disabilities, who may be especially susceptible to this policy due to their circumstances (including the 2 mentioned above) and overlapping vulnerabilities.

I have now retained legal counsel to address both the time and undue burden this situation has placed on me and my family, including additional personal considerations. It is also worth noting that I operate three nonprofits focused on supporting these same at-risk populations, and I find it deeply troubling that a hospitality provider would institute a system that exploits and preys on anyone, especially the very people my teams work so...

I stayed at this hotel on the nights of Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13, 2018. I have never been so disappointed in a hotel experience! When I arrived at the hotel somewhat late in the evening, the entire building was under construction! Parking was a huge challenge! This was upsetting because I was not told about the construction when I'd made my reservation and I was looking for some quiet time to rest and relax. I was in the area on a business trip but looked forward to returning to a quiet, relaxing hotel room at the end of each day. The employees at the front desk were somewhat pleasant when I checked in but gave no extra effort to make me feel welcomed. As I settled into my room on the third floor, I noticed trash between the wall and the bed, the white bedspread was noticeably stained, there was black hair (not mine!) and dark flecks of something in the bed and the bathroom sink was clogged. One of the amenities I was looking forward to was use of the fitness room and when I asked where it was located and what it had to offer, I was told there was at minimum a treadmill and an exercise bike for guests to use. When i went to the fitness room, all i found was an exercise bike and a weight machine of some sort, both of which appeared to be out of order. The first night in my room was not too bad, yet I didn't feel I could sleep in the bed. It was late, I was exhausted and calls to the front desk went unanswered. I did not sleep under the covers either night! I didn't have time to find someone to express my disappointment to, since i needed to get to a meeting very early each morning and got back to the hotel somewhat late each evening. Perhaps I should have made more attempts to complain but I felt that my complaints would not be heard. The atmosphere at the hotel was constantly chaotic. On the second night, there were undesirable people hanging out in and around the parking lot. I felt unsafe and I hoped my vehicle would be safe and not tampered with. The hallways were loud, people seemed to be yelling, partying, ALL night long and again, my calls to the front desk went unanswered. I did not feel safe enough to leave my room to venture down to the front desk so I just endured the noises, from people LOUDLY having sex in a room beside mine and partying very loudly in the room on the other side of mine. It was as if the walls were paper thin! All this was followed by people stumbling up and down the hallway, obviously intoxicated, laughing, yelling each others names, tapping on my door, etc. It was a very long night! I do a lot of traveling and have never had such a horrible hotel experience! LaQuinta Inn and Suites is completely off my list as a place to stay...

I usually book more reputable hotels but thought I'd give this one a shot based on previous reviews. Note to self...not always the best thing to go off of. Area looked safe and hotel looked decent on the outside. Walked in and the ceilings were very low. I'm saying that as a short person too. Check in was a breeze and the young man at the front desk was polite and helpful. Walked to the room and it reeked of dog urine. Dog hair on the bedding, and the back of the door. No carpet?? I soon realized it was a pet- friendly hotel. I have a dog and never does my house smell or look like this. The front desk clerk said the hotel was full when I checked in so I knew that there would be no other options as far as switching hinges rooms. It was late and I just needed a place to rest my head for a few hours. The floor was sticky, and the room was decorated cheaply. I felt nauseated all night and couldn't wait to leave. The toilet seat had urine on the underside of the seat. Thankfully I've learned to carry disinfecting wipes with me but still? I checked out, and told the front desk clerk about the dog hair and the smell of urine. My fault for not knowing it was a pet-friendly hotel beforehand but regardless, the room should've been cleaned properly. It doesn't help that my daughter gets allergy shots and was subjected to the filth in the room. The clerks response was that he'd give me a $20 credit. Are you kidding me? I agreed to it just to get out quickly. I got in the car, told my husband about the whole ordeal and started itching and scratching on my legs only to notice I had flea bites! What the????? Needless to say, I've got the corporate office involved so hopefully I get a full refund. FYI..90% of La Quinta hotels are pet-friendly. I didn't know that until I talked to corporate. So friends....dont cheap out. Pay the extra money for a...