When Trips Don't Go As Planned: Hotel Hell
A few weeks ago, my fiance's family celebrated their family reunion, so we drove down to Virginia for the occasion.
For this particular trip, we utilized Hotwire to book a hotel in the Newport News area. Instead of booking outright through the site, we decided to gamble with their "Hot Rate" feature. This means you pay before you know which hotel has been selected for you. You are also told the reservation is non-transferable and non-refundable once booked. We set our rate, crossed our fingers, and hoped for the best.
Point Plaza Suites at City Center was the hotel that was chosen for us. I, being the junior sleuth that I am, started doing research on the hotel immediately. I was horrified by my findings.
There weren't many positive reviews of Point Plaza. And when I say "there weren't many" I am being generous.
My go-to website for third-party hotel reservations is always Booking.com and for reviews, I generally trust Trip Advisor.
That being said, Point Plaza did not have much positive feedback on that site. Despite, I tried my best not to be discouraged. I reminded myself our stay was only for a few days (most of the time being spent outside of the room). What was the worst that could happen?
Boy, was I not expecting the next turn of events...
After a long drive from Maryland to Newport News, I was more than ready to check into the hotel and get settled.
Once my fiance and I arrived at Point Plaza we noticed the parking lot was virtually empty, and the structure of the building looked pretty war-torn. Police cars circled in and out of the parking lot over the next 30 minutes.
The lobby smelled like the year 1978, menthol cigarettes, dust, and Aqua Velva (in that order). It felt old and grungy. Still...I remained positive.
The key wouldn't work to the door, so we had to make the trip to the front desk all over again.
Once in the room, I felt like I was in the middle of a crime scene from First 48. I was up in that room checking for fluids/DNA! Where's the black light when you need it?!
The couch & walls were horribly stained, the room smelled like mildew and bad decisions, the wallpaper sagged, the toilet ran non-stop, and there were dead bugs & grime in the corners.
Oh! And did I mention a door to the bathroom was punched clean through and the closet door was sitting inside of the closet?
Also -- how are you going to have a "desk chair" with no desk?! That's just disrespectful!
Oh - and we really got a kick out of the VHS player and old school "big back" TV.
My fiance laughed hysterically the whole time. I was mortified! We got out of there immediately. I tried to call Hotwire while my fiance went to go talk to the front desk staff.
And wouldn't you know...the man at the front desk said he couldn't accommodate us with another room! I spent the entire day traveling between the new hotel we booked in a pinch (Residence Inn), and Point Plaza, all the while desperately calling Hotwire and spending hours on the phone trying to get a refund. Our day ended at 11PM that night with me playing phone tag with Hotwire while standing in Point Plaza's dank, seedy lobby.
Afterwards, we were escorted out by a gigantic, flying cockroach. I sprinted to the car faster than Usain Bolt!
Unfortunately, we lost a WHOLE DAY spending time with family due to these Hotwire shenanigans. Thank goodness for The Residence Inn & Suites on St. Johns Road in Newport News. They have a great staff, the rooms are comfy and clean, and breakfast is free and plentiful. I also didn't have to worry about whether a drifter would kidnap me and turn my bones into wind chimes.
Oh, bee tee dubs I did get a full refund (minus travel insurance) -- but I'm never using Hotwire again! Totally not worth the gamble in my opinion nor all the time we wasted!
Have you ever had a hotel hell situation? Tell me about it below!
For this particular trip, we utilized Hotwire to book a hotel in the Newport News area. Instead of booking outright through the site, we decided to gamble with their "Hot Rate" feature. This means you pay before you know which hotel has been selected for you. You are also told the reservation is non-transferable and non-refundable once booked. We set our rate, crossed our fingers, and hoped for the best.
Point Plaza Suites at City Center was the hotel that was chosen for us. I, being the junior sleuth that I am, started doing research on the hotel immediately. I was horrified by my findings.
There weren't many positive reviews of Point Plaza. And when I say "there weren't many" I am being generous.
My go-to website for third-party hotel reservations is always Booking.com and for reviews, I generally trust Trip Advisor.
 |
| Ratings of Point Plaza from Trip Advisor |
That being said, Point Plaza did not have much positive feedback on that site. Despite, I tried my best not to be discouraged. I reminded myself our stay was only for a few days (most of the time being spent outside of the room). What was the worst that could happen?
Boy, was I not expecting the next turn of events...
After a long drive from Maryland to Newport News, I was more than ready to check into the hotel and get settled.
Once my fiance and I arrived at Point Plaza we noticed the parking lot was virtually empty, and the structure of the building looked pretty war-torn. Police cars circled in and out of the parking lot over the next 30 minutes.
The lobby smelled like the year 1978, menthol cigarettes, dust, and Aqua Velva (in that order). It felt old and grungy. Still...I remained positive.
 |
| "Welcome to Point Plaza...we've been waiting for you..." |
Next, we were given our key by the front desk clerk. We then traveled down a musty hallway and back outside to where our room was located. It felt as if I had been transported into an episode of American Horror Story: Hotel.
The key wouldn't work to the door, so we had to make the trip to the front desk all over again.
Once in the room, I felt like I was in the middle of a crime scene from First 48. I was up in that room checking for fluids/DNA! Where's the black light when you need it?!
The couch & walls were horribly stained, the room smelled like mildew and bad decisions, the wallpaper sagged, the toilet ran non-stop, and there were dead bugs & grime in the corners.
Oh! And did I mention a door to the bathroom was punched clean through and the closet door was sitting inside of the closet?
Also -- how are you going to have a "desk chair" with no desk?! That's just disrespectful!
Oh - and we really got a kick out of the VHS player and old school "big back" TV.
My fiance laughed hysterically the whole time. I was mortified! We got out of there immediately. I tried to call Hotwire while my fiance went to go talk to the front desk staff.
And wouldn't you know...the man at the front desk said he couldn't accommodate us with another room! I spent the entire day traveling between the new hotel we booked in a pinch (Residence Inn), and Point Plaza, all the while desperately calling Hotwire and spending hours on the phone trying to get a refund. Our day ended at 11PM that night with me playing phone tag with Hotwire while standing in Point Plaza's dank, seedy lobby.
Afterwards, we were escorted out by a gigantic, flying cockroach. I sprinted to the car faster than Usain Bolt!
Unfortunately, we lost a WHOLE DAY spending time with family due to these Hotwire shenanigans. Thank goodness for The Residence Inn & Suites on St. Johns Road in Newport News. They have a great staff, the rooms are comfy and clean, and breakfast is free and plentiful. I also didn't have to worry about whether a drifter would kidnap me and turn my bones into wind chimes.
Oh, bee tee dubs I did get a full refund (minus travel insurance) -- but I'm never using Hotwire again! Totally not worth the gamble in my opinion nor all the time we wasted!
Have you ever had a hotel hell situation? Tell me about it below!
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