Rodeway Inn

Stay away! Dirty, smelly and unkempt! The bathroom was dirty. The sheets were dirty with make-​up (and who knows what else). There was still food in refrigerator. It smelled like someone died in there. At this point I became very afraid. I went to the front desk to complain and was instructed to look at another two rooms that were in the same poor condition. I asked for a refund and was declined. Please do not be fooled by the photos. You do not want to stay here. I’m in the process of working with my credit card company to obtain my refund. Next steps are to report this place to the Dept of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Health.

ROACHES! ROACHES! ROACHES! TRASHED ROOMS! STINKY BEDDINGS!
How would you like to sleep in a hotel… wait…MOTEL…and suddenly wake up to a COCKROACH CRAWLING ON YOU! The Indian staff were very very rude! It’s as if you are bothering them. I asked the guy why my charges were different from my booking then he started to raise his voice. It’s my right as a customer to question my charges and it’s their job to explain to me everything. I got in my room and SOMEONE WAS ALREADY THERE!!! He gave me a non-​smoking room but the room definitely smelled of SMOKE! It even had ashes on the bathroom floor, a match in the drawer and wrappers of candies as well. The lady kept insisting it is a non-​smoking room, only when we asked her to come and check for herself did she believe us. We got questioned why we are asking for extra blankets. Oh wait the bathroom besides from being very dirty has a sticker that says «we provide the finest towels». Well, the towels could literally scratch your face when you use it. The tray in the bathroom could not even hold my toiletries as it was not mounted flatly on the wall. The carpet was VERY DIRTY! My shower knob wasn’t working. The tv was broken. I had to remove the bedding as it smelled so bad. Every time we called for room service the people at the front desk seemed to be very suspicious. Oh wait maybe because this is not a place for tourists to stay but for drug addicts? The wifi never worked. I wasn’t expecting the place to be at par with even a Residence Inn but common, at least keep your rooms clean, show better customer service and do not accuse your customers of things. That’s not what hospitality businesses do. We were a group of friends who stayed here and we all had our own reservations. The other person assisting my friends accused them that we were all staying in one room. This place deserves a negative star!

If I could give 0 stars I would. Not only was the staff rude and unprofessional but the place smells and there were nasty stains on the cabinet in bathroom and the quilts. Dead bugs were on the bathroom floor. The free WiFi didn’t work and the phones in the room only worked to call the front desk. There was also a dirty stain on one of the towels.

This place is not worth staying in. I was very disappointed. The bathtub was supposed to be white but it was black of so much dirt, with feet prints, we couldn’t shower in it! And the heating system was horrible! We either burned or freeze! I even got sick… Please do not waste your money on this sh… t hole, I can’t stress it enough: do not come here! There is a day’s inn across from there that may be worth your money.

I might ordinarily leave a 3-​star review, and I’m a bit choosy to leave any but an elite few places a 5-​star review. I’m giving 4 stars in an effort to raise the low rating average from all those single-​star reviews.
My client needed a «cheap place, not expensive,» which automatically excludes nearly anything in Philadelphia «proper.» The advantages of this Rodeway Inn: close proximity to Swarthmore College (a necessary stop for my client), nearby lots of shopping, restaurants, coffee options, no crowds, little noise (maybe it’s the post-​peak times we’re traveling?), etc.
The rooms were not the stuff of Martha Stewart fantasy, but the beds were clean and the mattresses were reasonably comfortable. I had a good night’s sleep. Nothing was out-​of-​order: the heat pump-​style air conditioning unit was more than up to the task of keeping the room cool, lights worked, phone worked, refrigerator was small but adequate and kept my perishables safe, bathroom exhaust fan actually worked well to clear steam out after showering.
I found the breakfast to be decent, maybe better than what most motels offer: fresh, «make them yourself» waffles; a few different cold cereals, good selection of bagels and breads (white or whole-​grain); fruit juice; milk; fresh fruit; coffee (a bit weak for my tastes, but it got the brain cells started). I have stayed in swankier locales and have had far fewer breakfast choices than this.
The staffers were courteous, respectful, considerate –even smiling!– and it was possible to get into a brief (but highly interesting conversation) with one of them. (Admittedly, though, despite this staffer’s apparent good nature, he responded to my ‘good morning’ with a growl. However, several times I noticed this employee studiously wandering about the premises, cleaning and tidying up.) I was also permitted early check-​in and late checkout– an entire hour past customary checkout time. What a relief it was for me to be able to relax in my air conditioned room a bit longer on one of the hottest days I’ve experienced this summer.
I agree with the reviewer who gave the other reviewers a well-​needed jolt of reality by reminding us that this is not a four-​star hotel and doesn’t pretend to be. This motel is instead the equivalent of your dad’s unglamorous, but still functional, late-80’s model Buick that takes a licking and keeps on ticking, getting him from Point A to Point B despite that tear on the upholstery and faded paint on the hood, and a broken antenna so he can’t always catch the latest Phillies game. Don’t set your standards too high. Be content with a reasonably comfortable night’s stay.

I’ve stayed in many a dive motel. Generally, you got at least one of four:
(1) Clean
(2) Safe
(3) Friendly service
(4) Cheap
This dump was none of the four. First room I was given a key to had semen stains on the sheets and a grimy floor. Pass. Next room had an A/​C unit where the cord was taped in multiple places. When I tried to plug it in, the whole outlet moved, made a sparking sound, and the A/​C didn’t work. Pass.
Lady at the front desk casually asked if «I had OCD or something.» Next room. Smelled abominably and powerfully of weed smoke. This wasn’t a slight smell. This was an «uncleaned café in Amsterdam» type smell.
I settled for the fourth room. A/​C cord was taped again, but at least it worked. Shower was a bit grimy, but at least everything in the bathroom functioned more or less as intended. Wi-​Fi didn’t work the first night — couldn’t get an IP address via DHCP though the password worked. And the room smelled of cigarette smoke so strongly that people could smell it on my bag the next day!
Lastly, regarding «cheap», I paid $ 75 per night for the dubious honor of staying in this dump. Never again!

Do not stay here! I can’t say that enough. Do not stay here! There was a prostitute in the lobby. Our room had drug paraphernalia on the table that had been left by a previous occupant, even though the room had been ‘cleaned’. I found part of a broken needle on the carpet. The wash cloths in the bathroom had been folded, but were clearly not washed after the last occupants used them. It looked like someone had taken a baseball bat to the smoke detector. The room smelled like urine. We walked in the room and walked out. The woman in the lobby was VERY rude. When I went to the lobby to tell her we would not be staying I had to wait while she was telling someone else who had decided not to stay that they were not going to get a refund. There was also a woman in the lobby on her cell phone telling someone they were refusing her a refund because she to had decided not to stay. And of course I was not issued a refund. The woman at the counter wasn’t peaceable or apologetic. I tried to get travelocity to handle the refund because I had booked through them, but the operator told me the woman at the desk had become angry with her also. We decided to drive until 4:00am instead of spend the night here… best decision ever!!!

Do I even have to give it 1 star?
This hotel has shady/​unethical business practices. The room was dirty (towels looked dirty and were barely folded on the racks, smoke alarm hanging off the ceiling, tiny black curly hairs on the bed sheets, dingy dirty pillow cases), but we figured it was cheap so you get what you paid for (actually we used our choice hotel reward points– regularly $ 63+/nt.). However, it was manageable for just one night (i.e., not worth the fuss of changing hotels). At about 10−11pm after I had put our two kids to bed and fallen asleep myself, I received a call from the front desk: «Pack up your things and leave immediately. I’ve told your husband that too… He was complaining and in my face threatening me and I’m ready to call the police… So get out. Leave now!» WHAT! Um… Ok. It doesn’t sound like something he would do so I talked with him… this is his side of the story: He went to ask for clean towels. When the man gave him stained and dirty ones, he returned them and again asked for clean towels (this time it was a woman). He also told her that the fan in the bathroom was broken. Well this set the front desk attendant (later discovered it was the assistant manager) off… «You are complaining!!!» He said «Yeah, because I’d like clean towels that aren’t stained red.» She then insisted that he leave the room. He said «My kids are sleeping and I don’t want to wake them, but if you have a clean room, we can move.» She insists, «No, we don’t have any other rooms. They are all like that. Just leave the hotel. You are complaining so you must leave. Leave before I call the police» That is the gist of what happened before I was called… It was a Sunday night so my husband had no luck in reaching Choice Hotels. So then I went to see what I could do so that I wouldn’t have to wake my kids up so late. I said «My husband has explained his side to me… can you please tell me what happened so that I may clearly understand the situation here?» She told me the same story with the addition of «we want to make the guest „happy“, so I „played dumb“ with a few more questions: Me: „Please tell me the steps from asking for towels to being kicked out?“ Her» «Oh, I’m not kicking you out. You are complaining. I want to make the guest happy, so that means you have to leave.» Me: «Okay, well I want to stay because I don’t want to wake up my kids.» Her: «It’s too late. You have to leave now or I’ll call the police. You’re husband was threatening me.» Me: «That doesn’t sound like him, can you explain how he was doing that?» Her: «He was complaining. Look, this happens all the time. Guests don’t like the rooms, they stay the night, and then after their stay demand their money back or call Choice Hotels… we have to pay for that. so now, if a guest complains, then they must leave.» (She admitted that if you complain, they will kick you out– her words, not mine). Me: «You say that you want to make the guest happy, explain how making them leave will make them happy? And what steps does the hotel make so that these problems don’t keep happening?» Her: «The first step is giving their money back. People just need to keep it at the hotel level rather than going to Choice Hotels. I told your husband that I am already giving your points back. So just leave.» Me: «Ok [thinking that these business practices are absurd!]… well. I don’t want to wake my kids, so what needs to happen for us to stay?» In the end, I signed a form stating that I wouldn’t call Choice Hotels to complain about the room (I added: pending we receive our points back). I shouldn’t have had to do that, but in the moment, my kids rest was more important. I might still call them to inform them of this hotel that is disgracing their brand and request that they remove this hotel from their chain. We have been Choice Hotel club members for years and therefore, know that these are not typical practices for this chain. AND I will definitely post on review websites. We will never stay there again.

1^st landed at PHL called to get the «shuttle» after trying to make this lady understand me she says «there’s no shuttle» so since I lived in the Philadelphia area I hoped on SEPTA R1 then MFL then 109 when I finally got there check in was easy got to the room & said it’s alright then the problems started 1^st TV you had to tap the Comcast box to get it to stop snowing (you know you get it with antennas) 2^nd walked into the bathroom no soap no shampoo just mold on the window & comet smear all over the bathroom & kinky hair on the sink & hairs in the tub 3^rd went to bed got up at 4am & my hips were KILLING ME waddled around to get ready went to the breakfast that was okay when I came back I realize there was NO «business center» (if you call 2 yellow books a business center) then in the room a coffee stir sticking out of the hole in the ceiling. Even with my Farm Bureau discount for choice hotels I will NEVER stay here again

had to call the board of HEALTH AND buliding code for room 173. in the middle of a major snow storm, no heat, outlet in bathroom looked like it had caught fire, there were bugs in the window, the bed wasnt made, the refrigerator had a terrible brown liquid in the bottom of it, and the phones didnt work to call the front desk. go across to days inn and get more than that place offers .for the same cost

A step down from the Holiday Inn, but a step up from seedier dives I’ve seen,
Some of the reviews here are a little unfair. If you want or expect the Ritz, then go somewhere else. This is pretty ideal if you’re looking for a quick stay for 1 night for a cheaper cost (though the Days Inn across the street looks better). We stayed for 1 night and aside from sleeping, we just spent maybe a couple of hours in the room overall with no problems.
Anyway, being from NY, I’ve seen a LOT worse places than this as far as filth and all that comes from a seedy motel. The person at the desk was nice enough, so no problems there. The room overall was clean and pretty much what I was expecting… red and orange walls and all.
The tub was clean… enough, but there were mold stains around the tub just enough to give you second thoughts about bathing in it. There were enough towels in the bathroom however, so I had no complaints. The soaps and «hair conditioner» are pretty much garbage to begin with, so bring your own. There was some sealed cups and some coffee packets, with a coffee machine. The clock/​radio was good enough, with an outlet you can plug your iPod into if need be. The rooms come with a sizable refrigerator, which was perfect once I turned it on. The bed was comfortable enough, but the pillows were small and not great. There’s also a desk, desk chair, and seat in the room. There were enough outlets in the room for me and I’m not as picky as some of the other reviewers on here who demanded there be one at the bedside table, so I was ok with that. There was also an iron and ironing board, but I didn’t use it.
The TV was good enough and had a generally basic channel selection. If you’re with small children, do not give them the remote as there was a completely view-​able porn channel mixed in there and they might come across it. Apparently they deactivated the channel after we left, but we’ll never know for sure. They had free WiFi, but it didn’t work for us. I didn’t venture out much past a couple of hours and sleep, so I can’t really comment on their «continental breakfast» or anything else.
Good location with plenty of eateries and stores within easy driving distance or even if you want to take a walk.
Overall, you get what you pay for and if you’re looking for a cheap and easy stay somewhere, this is an ok place and you could do a lot worse — though again, the Days Inn across the street did look better. You get what you pay for and if you’re really looking for a 5 star hotel, then go someplace else. For those who claim this is the worst motel anywhere… what I can say, get out more often before you make ridiculous and untrue comments that certainly isn’t accurate. Come to NY and then rethink your statement because this IS the Ritz compared to other dives I’ve seen.

This is the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed at…
–No power outlets.
–No wifi.
–The room smells like cigarettes.
–Hardwood floors.
–Rude employees.
I would have gladly spent the extra 20 to 30 dollars on the 3 star hotel down the road if I had known all of this.

Ew! Doesn’t even deserve one star!!! Please never ever stay here! I wouldn’t wen stay here for FREE! I stayed here once because I has to have work done in my house, and it seemed nice for an ok price. But the room was filthy. The carpet was moist, and dirty and the room stunk. The bathroom door was broken and there were burn marks all over. I felt gross laying in the bed, and let me tell you– I didn’t sleep. I did pull the covers up to my face and one point, and it smelled like 100% body odor. They obviously don’t wash anything. this place should get knocked down. Absolutely horrible!

Stay Away! This place is awful. I helped my mother in-​law check in the other day and it was a miserable experience. First of all, every room has a pointless step to get in, including the handicap rooms. This must be a violation of some sort. They should be fined.
My mother-​in-​law had her mother with her, and she is handicap. They were running her around to see alternative rooms, none of which were any better. And, they said they would charge her more if she took one of them. Criminal!
The woman behind the counter was very rude too! She has no clue what it means to serve the customer. She was very stern with my mother-​in-​law as if she was some child trying to get one by her.
And, the rooms are small and not well kept. This place should be shut down!

Nightmare is exactly as I would describe it, the door to my room wouldn’t open all the way, I had to hit it with my shoulder to open it, it got stuck on the carpet, every lamp was unplugged in the room and after plugging them in they still didn’t work, I had to use the overhead light which looked awful. The wireless didn’t work so I picked up the phone in the room to call the front desk and that didn’t work.
I expect water pressure to be low in a hotel room but this wins the prize for the lowest water pressure ever in history.
The housekeeping didn’t show up to my room for 3 days, I think I was the only one staying in the hotel, his housekeeping cart was a shopping cart. I thought at first a homeless man was trying to break in. The hair dryer didn’t work and the remote for the 1980’s TV wouldn’t turn the TV on or off or work the volume.
It was 21 degrees when I checked in and the room was 15 degrees, the only good things about this hotel are that the heat worked and I got a parking space right in front of my room, because no one else was staying there.
I refused to eat there on the advise of the dead cockroach I saw in the lobby.
I’m surprised this place is open.
They should have paid me to stay here.

I am not surprised by the previous comments. I had an associate who used to be a prostitute who stated that this was a hotel that she and her customers frequented often.

Nightmare on Elm Street! Can’t imagine anyone would approve of this dump – and I camp out, so my standards aren’t that tough.
Cleanliness Rating: 0 – we ordered a nonsmoking room, but the only significance was that they had emptied the ashtrays from the last occupant (though they left the ashtrays in the room) – it reeked! My wife refused to walk barefoot on the floors, and I had to remove a half-​dead beetle from the sink
Bathroom Rating: 0 – Tiny, with only one towel and one wash cloth (for three of us) in the room on arrival.
Amenities Rating: 0 – breakfast consisted of cereal and reconsituted OJ and a waffle mix that appeared left from the day before – and the business center had a computer whose screen was frozen on the banner page for Porno-​dot-​com
Value rating– 0 – my wife said that «At free, it would still be overpriced”-and she’s right-​what a dump
Best feature: the story we will be able to tell for years about the worlds worst motel

If you only need a bed and a clean room, this hotel will suffice. This hotel should have had a 3 or 4-​star rating. My husband and I have spent 48 nights, this year, in hotels… and this is a slow year for travel. This hotel was below average in many ways:
PROS:
1. Room was clean.
CONS:
1. The hotel advertises wireless service, but it was not working. We were told that we would have had to bring our laptops to the lobby for any wireless service.
2. There was not a way to charge cell phones at both bedside tables. C’mon folks… this is 2010, not 1960. :) Hotels should always have an electrical plug at each bedside table.
3. The electrical plug in the bathroom did not work. Sorry, but I cannot subject the world to my bedhead. :) Using the hotel’s blow dryer at a working electrical plug would normally not be a problem… except that the only mirror was in the bathroom… and there was no electrical plug within 10′ of the bathroom.
Again, if you don’t need to charge your cell phone, style your hair, or need to contact family via email this hotel is great. However, if you do live in the 21^st century, you should look for another hotel. :)