When I arrived, I was greeted by a friendly receptionist. She used my debit card for the room fee transaction, but when she tried to use the same card for the 'security deposit', my card was declined. I then gave her my CC, and it was also declined. She then asked if I had a 'hold' on the cards and said I could call my bank and have it removed.~ ~ After nearly an hour on the phone with my bank (hold times and being transferred from one department to another), my bank could find no indication that there had ever been an attempt for the $100 security deposit fee and my cards were OK to be used. I then drove to an ATM machine where I withdrew cash for the security deposit. An hour later, I drove back to the hotel and waited my turn in line. ~ The nice and still friendly receptionist was the only one on duty and there was a line. I actually felt sorry for her, since she was alone at the desk on a Friday night. ~ ~ And as for the room ... I spent several years as the Quality Assurance Inspector for a small hotel chain and was their "White Glove Room Inspector". I don't always expect perfection, but the floors in my room were dirty (especially around the edges), the desk, a night stand and the tv table all had sticky residue, the bed linens were extremely thin and worn, there were several long, dark hairs on the bath towel, and the chrome in the bathroom was very spotted and dirty. I could go on, but I'll stop there.
