Red Roof PLUS+ University at Buffalo - Amherst — Hotel in Town of Amherst

To begin, you should know I am writing this absolutely horrified at what I encountered at this Red Roof PLUS location. I arrived around 5pm to check into my hotel room, after a busy day of shopping. Now before I get started, I was not expecting luxury. Red Roof's are thru way motels, not a four seasons. All I ask is that the room is clean.

I am disappointed, disgusted and disgraced. We were notified upon check in (which by the way the lobby absolutely REEKS) that our room might potentially smell like smoke. This is because guests have apparently been smoking in every room, even the non smoking ones.

After we were exposed to second hand smoke in room 127 we complained and then moved to room 237. No better. This time not only was there a stench but there was also a gigantic hole in the wall beside one of the beds. They then brought us to room 242, nope, stench, holes and MUD everywhere...

My friends and I gathered outside of the reception area where we agreed that this was unsanitary and I am sure, against multiple government health violations.

Monica, the lovely receptionist, suggested she let us try one more room. Poor lady was the only staff member working from 7am-11pm that day. I did feel for her so we agreed to try one last time. Just when I thought things couldn't get worse...ANTS ON THE CEILING. How this business is up and running and taking money from the average hard working folk is beyond me. Aside from the ants, there was a USED towel on the back of our door and the shower curtain was COVERED in stains. Not to mention you couldn't even see out of the hotel room window... because it was filthy.

We just couldn't do it. As I walked back to the main, stinky, reception I passed mounds of garbage (see photos) cigarette buds and hotel towels that were bunched up covered in dirt laying in the sad attempt at a "garden" area. The sad part... this is a red roof inn PLUS... I wanted to inquire what the plus was but I was just happy to get out of there.

I highly recommend you steer clear of this hell hole. I would sleep in my car before I ever considered stepping foot on this...

As we went to our rooms that evening, before even getting into the rooms, there was a strong smell of urine in the corridor leading to the room. It was extremely unpleasant, but we went on, realizing that this didnt impact our stay inside the rooms. When we got in the rooms, in both rooms, the sinks were filthy and were clearly not cleaned. One had long black hair in it. The other had used, dry toothpaste in the sink. More significantly, one of the bathroom doors was physically broken. Near the top of the door, the wood was split for about 18 inches, and it couldnt really close. There was an employee outside our rooms in the corridor, and I called him in to show him. I wanted to make sure that there was a witness that the damage was done prior to our arriving. He said he was new, and in building maintenance. He was appalled with the dirty sinks and the bathroom door. He took a picture of the door and insisted we would be placed in two new rooms.

When I went to the front desk to tell them about the dirty rooms, there was no apology, just a comment that apparently it was the first day of the cleaner of those rooms. You would think that after that experience, the front desk would make sure to place into CLEAN rooms, correct? Unfortunately that was not the case. We went to the second pair of rooms, and again, filthy sinks and also a filthy bathtub, with hair in it. If it wasnt late and we werent tired, I would have switched hotels. We did not have the energy to do so after taking our luggage now to 2 sets of rooms.

A little while later when it was time to shower, I noticed that each room had only one bath towel- I called down and asked if they could send up more towels please. They said that no-one was available, and we'd have to come down to the office to get them.

Oh- and one other surprise- there was leftover food in the fridges from the previous people.

I emailed the manager of the hotel, Rohan Patel, and he did not even give the courtesy of a response.

What a gross and disappointing...

Let me start by saying that my stay at Red Roof MINUS+ University at Buffalo - Amherst was like diving into the hair-raising depths of a horror movie. I remember my stay from two years ago—I mean, who doesn't love a good scare?

Upon entering the room, I was greeted by a mysterious aroma that I can only describe as a blend of old socks and regret. I immediately noticed that the tub was clogged, and I called the staff for assistance. Little did I know, they were probably too busy hosting a "How Long Can We Ignore Room Issues" competition in the back.

My dear aunt, bless her heart, took matters into her own hands. Armed with a glove and a brave spirit, she embarked on a plumbing expedition. Lo and behold, after a few minutes of battle, she triumphantly emerged from the bathroom, proudly holding a hairball the size of a Chihuahua. Yes, you read that right—a Chihuahua! I didn't know whether to be impressed or horrified.

It's heartwarming to see a hotel that encourages guests to bond over shared challenges, but I draw the line at forming a hairball removal task force with my family. The staff's absence during this crisis made me wonder if they were on an extended coffee break or perhaps attending a seminar on "Effective Ignoring Techniques 101."

On the bright side, the room was as budget-friendly as ever, reminding me that some things never change. It was conveniently close to Niagara Falls, which I guess makes up for the fact that my shower experience felt like a scene from a low-budget horror flick.

If you enjoy DIY plumbing adventures and discovering hidden pet-sized hairballs, Red Roof MINUS+ University at Buffalo - Amherst is the perfect destination for you. Just don't expect the staff to join your cleanup crew—they're probably too busy perfecting their disappearing act. You get what you pay for, and in this case, I paid for an unforgettable hair-raising experience. Bravo, Red Roof...