Holiday Inn Express Bethlehem by IHG — Hotel in Winder

My wife and I just stayed in this Holiday Inn Express in Bethlehem, Georgia and I must say it was one of the worst experiences we've had with this group. To start with I was basically dismissed when I entered the building. The two men behind the counter were looking at something on the computer and didn't even acknowledge I was there. When I was finally tended to, it was cold and very direct as if I was interrupting their day.

Next issue we had was the noise level. Apparently it was okay for them to throw a party in the lobby area at 12:30 in the morning. The noise level was so bad that I had to call the front desk to ask if they could ask them to quiet down as we really needed sleep. The front desk lady said she would try. Really? When the room upstairs was taking a shower a loud pop was heard continuously in the wall until the shower was done. Obviously an issue with the plumbing. This was just another loud noise that kept us from sleeping. The air conditioning unit sounded like an airplane when it turned on and the room was nowhere near the temperature what the thermostat read.

Another issue we had was my room wasn't cleaned. The first day we left for the majority of the day and when we returned my room was just like we left it. Not cleaned. We repeatedly saw bugs in the room throughout our stay. I had to go to the front desk to ask for some clean towels and you'd think I asked them for a kidney. Reluctantly the front desk clerks helper went back to get some towels only to return saying there were none cleaned. Really? A big operation like this and no towels? I went back to the room and they brought me 2 towels later . No hand towels or anything. One of the towels was holey and had lots of threads hanging off because it was coming apart. This is the first for me at a hotel. I will attach pictures.

The breakfast was horrible.  All 3 days they had the same thing...some stale biscuits, sausage gravy that looked like it had been sitting for a long time, and some pancake looking eggs (obviously powdered). The waffle maker was there but there was nothing to put in it and it looked to be unused for a long time. The coffee was another thing that was off. It tasted sour for some reason. I don't know how you can mess coffee up but they did.

The place was a mess too. Stains all over the carpet in the hallway along with trash. To top off our stay I go to check out of our room, I walk to the front desk only to find nobody there. It was approximately 6:30 a.m. I stood there waiting and nothing. The lady that was "cleaning" the area where the party was at said the clerk should be there in about 5 minutes. Now I was fed up. I just wanted to get my receipt and leave but I couldn't even do that. I attempted to call the front desk from my cell phone in hopes the clerk had a phone on him. No luck. Now I'm angry because I shouldn't have to track someone down to check out. Totally ridiculous! Finally the clerk shows up 10 minutes later and I swear he was drunk. He was wobbling and as I stated what I needed he repeated it back to be slurring his words. He stared at the computer with a bank stare as I stated again I need to check out. I see all the receipts for all the guests checking out right in front of him. He finally notices them and finds my room number then hands me the receipt and says nothing. I walk out of the building STUNNED at the unprofessional way they conduct business. I feel ripped off and will not return to this location.  I expect this from a motel 6 or a Days Inn but not a Holiday Inn. I'm...

Bed bugs room 202!!!

While the hotel looks nice and has great reviews, this did not exclude them from bed bugs. I was bitten in at least 3 places. My arm awoke and my eye awoke almost shut. This was all prior to having to be at a wedding. There were no real solutions to this as no one manager on site had power for resolution. At the rate paid per night and with great views this shouldn’t be an issue. The room itself was not cleaned appropriately with someone’s cologne and a small bottle been left at the bedside and what looked like bedding stuffing on the floor. The seat beside the bed was filled with dog hair imbedded and on top of the chair. At breakfast someone’s dog sat in a booth resting on the table. The bed had quite a bit of silky hair of a texture not like mine in it and the sink. We got in around 11pm I believe and rooms were booked out, the staff lady said their room attendants are slow and running behind also so aside from the bedbugs, everything else noted upon entry could not have been resolved at that time anyway.

Back to the bedbugs I had to go to an urgent care where the doctor confirmed that my photos were indeed bed bugs. I had to receive a steroid shot to stop some of the itching and swelling. I had to go find another (better priced and nicer experience with a commonly frequented brand) hotel last minute, buy clothes to change in, wash every item that contacted the room including my husbands tux, wash and dry all the clothes at the new hotel, steam all items including the suitcase and bags that contacted the room. It was a heavy inconvenience and the shorter Hispanic lady instead of trying to be more considerate told me she has a dog and that wasn’t dog hair it’s chair fabric (no it was clearly dog hair). She couldn’t refund us but called the location manager who doesn’t answer. I too called her and have not heard back. This all occurred yesterday 3/18. This same lady told us she needed to verify the room condition first although she knew rooms weren’t available at the time so she understood if we needed to leave as we need to do what we need to do. She also kept saying well I can’t say it’s a bed bug bc I’ve never seen one. I told her me neither bc I don’t have them and don’t work in hotel service however Google showed great pictures that match mine from their room. I found a presumably dead one in my bed and while packing up to get out, I checked the other bed and nothing was visible at that time. Before we could walk out, a live one appeared on the bed. To not have a manager that can make real resolutions on weekends is bothersome for me. Never again and this ruined out photos for the wedding and I was very stressed and anxious trying to resolve all of this prior to the wedding and almost missing it. Also considering my claims couldn’t be verified by the correct management that could make resolution, I’m sure the room was turned over and utilized again by other guest. This was a hotel I was scouting for an upcoming sporting tournament room block because we need 20+ rooms within the next few months. This will not happen and I will ensure not to send any of my travel clients to this location as well.

This occurred Saturday morning and I’ve yet to hear from the owner as I wasn’t refunded...

I sent this to the corporate site as well as here on the review.

Hello,

I am writing today about our recent stay in Bethlehem GA at your property. It was a 2 star at best. Other family members have stayed there in the past and gave good reviews. This past weekend we were in town for a wedding and booked a week. The room was made up but lacked a few items, coffe pods only had towels for two people even though it was a Suite  (sleeps 4-6 per online booking) no hair dryer, no blankets in the closet and a broken shapoo dispenser mounted to the wall in the shower.  We checked in late and brought this to the attention of the desk the next morning and went on about our day and came back to nothing had changed.  We talked again with the front desk and were told they only service stay over rooms once every 4 days. I Found that odd also were told that if we wanted a room served, we needed to request it by 11am. Which we had, it didnt a full service just bring up the items that were missing.  A few hours passes and my wife got fed up and went to the desk, returned,  surprised me with a service hamper with the towles and extra blankets we requested ( Hair dryer too).  At day 4 we asked if the room would be made up. Were told it would. And again disappointed to see nothing done.  When I approached the manager to ask why? I received a canned answer of  "the DO NOT DISTURB sign was on the door". I informed her I know she was flat out lying to me because that too was one of the items missing from the room. The arrogance and unapologetic demeanor of the management was astounding!!  HOLIDAY INN was a name brand that ment something,  apparently not anymore. This review will be sent to many locations. Im not looking for a refund or points to my rewards program. I'm canceing my rewards program and trying some other.  My parents were also staying at the same property this week and had similar issues.. many excuses were made... to the extent of the manager who was sleeping on property and since the hotel booked to capacity she had to sleep in her car! Seriously,  my jaw hit the floor when those words hit my ears. How unprofessional is that? If there is only enough staff to work at 50% capacity to clean and sanitize. Then thats the rate you operate at... if not, you are putting others who trust Holiday Inn brand at risk. But no, the hotel operated at full capacity and even opened the pool atfer hours to a wedding party that arrived to a Waffle House reception at 930 pm in the lobby. I guess the "quiet time" signs are only a suggestion and can be modified at will? At least put the reception in the conference rooms...not the Lobby.

I recommend you replace the 3rd party management company and management staff representing your Brand.

And attached will see a picture of garbage set in the hallway on the 3rd floor....it was there for two days. Absolutely nothing will get me to book with Holliday Inn ever again.

I would appreciate a...