Regency Inn & Suites Sarasota — Hotel in Sarasota

"Just fine." "Sufficient." "Adequate." I will start by saying that there are definitely much worse places. This place is probably quite good for the area at this price point. I've been told there are certain things one should simply expect in this region of Florida. That said, here's my honest review: while the space is perfectly adequate, there is enough hot water in the shower, and there are just enough plates, spoons, and bowls if you have food you've already made. However, there is visible mold on the curtains, and less concerningly and most expectedly, in the shower. To my surprise, the air coming out of the air conditioning vent smells like it's burning dust or something. Why it would do that on a cooling cycle is beyond me. The filter looks like it's got white paint or powder or something sprayed on it. The mattress is dented badly on one side, so it's not level when one tries to sleep, and yet the sheets, blankets, and pillows are of good quality. The pots and pans are, in my opinion, insufficient for the kitchen. With two burners, no oven, and no toaster, don't expect to make much food here. In general, the place is older and more shabby than I expected. It really comes down to what you expect in a place, I guess.There is no smart TV in this room, though apparently, some of them do have those. There is no provided USB outlet anywhere; most who think ahead will have one of their own. To my dismay, walking around barefoot, the bottoms of my feet got black quickly, but it is a first-floor unit with luxury vinyl flooring. I'm sure most people just keep their shoes on. There's light coming in all of the windows, both front and back of the unit, and the windows are not properly covered with blackout curtains. Some might appreciate the natural lighting, while others might be surprised that it's a small, and fairly normal-looking, neighborhood backyard back there. Even though it has a separate bedroom, the rooms aren't really separate because, most likely for airflow purposes, the wall itself has windows cut into it. Some would feel this is better than a single room at a standard hotel.I could probably go on, but the main point is that it is not really comfortable for a multi-night stay. I don't mean to sound overly critical. Obviously, some people give it good reviews. It's just not for me. If it didn't make it so difficult to breathe due to the mildew (and possibly burning dust), the bed was more comfortable, there wasn't so much light coming in the windows, and I felt like I was getting something useful from the mini kitchen, then maybe I would try to stick it out. But I don't think it's worth it. The word that keeps coming to mind is adequate. It is totally adequate, and it's not gross. If I were driving across the country and needed a single night somewhere, I'd be fine with this. But being here for multiple days, I would prefer to spend a little bit more to experience a little...

Upon arrival I get a call from a older gentleman asking if I was still coming in for my room reservation and did I still need the room I said yes he asked me what time I’m coming I said I’ll be there around 7 when i get to the office with my license and credit card I give it to the guy and he asked me how many guest I said two while checking in my boyfriend asked to use the restroom the guy said oh is he with you I need his identification I said okay but why he said it’s our policy to get everybody info I’m like hmmm never heard of that but okay the guy points at the sign and says I’m not making it up see i said yes it says have your id and card ready referring to the person who’s the room under the guy then said I can give you a full refund and you can go somewhere else i said no i would like my reservation I asked the older guy for a manager he said he was and I asked for who’s over him he said no one this is a privately own hotel I said hmm okay I stayed because my family was already there and I wanted so badly to leave because I don’t like the way he spoke to me but I brushed it off it was just a two night stay I got the room it was nice bathroom need an updated and view wasn’t so good neighbor hood was okay for the money not what I expected fast forward to day of check out since there is a no smoking policy my boyfriend left his cigarettes in the car so he goes out for a smoke as he did all the time and had his shirt off because of the hot weather which many of the other male guests were seating outside shirts off and enjoying the beeze an Arab or Indian guy who works in the office came up to the car and told him to put on a shirt my boyfriend pointed out all the males who were Caucasian sitting out there with shirts off he came back angry so I went to the office to see what happened and the guy said the reason he had to put on a shirt because he could run off potential customers if they see him with no shirt on what does that even means so i ask him so the other males who sitting by their door wouldn’t he said no I said I’ve seen males with their shirt off walking all weekend he said no they stay at their door I said how do you know what they do you don’t work all day he said because I know they stay by their door at all times at that point I just showered and checked out I never had to leave a bad review and I honestly regret even staying on top of everything 200 dollars were held on my card for a deposit I never pull a race card but this is beyond me and I see racism is very much still...

Motel was NOT as described. The photos posted by owner are completely deceptive. Not sure WHAT had been renovated… everything looked old and gross! Rusted lamps, dirty walls no hangers, ironing board was disgusting. Stains on furniture, dirty bed skirts, cigarette burn in one of the old, thin, polyester, olive green blanket ( nothing like they advertise!!!) There was a gross smell in cabinets. Kitchen items listed in inventory were missing and what was there was dirty! Including rusty pots with bits of food on them! They provided NO dish soap, so even if I WANTED to use any dishes or utensils I couldn’t. The glass cooktop corner was broken. Coffee maker was sticky?! AND dirty inside-where you pour water ( so not even a cup of coffee was available!) The bathroom tub had a corroded plug. Floor was filthy, mirror was broken. Policy says no smoking in rooms so people sit outside their doors and puff away on cigarettes etc… awoke in the night to the smell of something… being smoked. Also, someone moved/ took the chairs provided outside our room. When we were gone… This motel should not charge more than 80 a night! ( I’m guessing they get away w/charging three digit rates because there are lots of contractors in town and displaced people from storm damaged areas south of Sarasota.) No real amenities at all.Area around it is sketchy… and there is no chain/sliding lock or any type of second second security lock on the door. The only reason we stayed was because there was literally nowhere else to go! If the hotel weren’t so deceptive in their phots and advertising… I wouldn’t have been so frustrated to find that it was an old, rusty, property in a skeezy, dodgy area. But, they post beautiful shiny photos and bill it as a fully renovated,kitschy 60s style property. I would stay here again only if they ACTUALLY renovated the place and the rooms were as nice as they are sold to be. ( or if they lowered their prices to be more appropriate for what you get! This was so very disappointing. I travel to Sarasota often bc I have a kid in school in the area. But, I will be looking for a cleaner place to lay my head. ( I’ve posted lots of photos so you can see I’m not making this up. It’s nothing like...