On Friday, July 14, 2006 I arrived early and registered but had to return to pick up my card key. Upon arrival late that night I noticed a number of Hispanics and Blacks standing around watching my every move in addition to others at a nearby hotel standing on a balcony watching everything.
In general, this is a motel that seems to accommodate construction workers and a few people such as myself that just want to have a place to stay for various reasons. I was advised that this area (south of Airport Boulevard and to the west of the I-10 Interstate Beltline) is subject to infrequent rapes, robberies and intrusions.
However, although I noticed that I was being watched I was armed and well prepared after having been informed by a friend to be aware. Therefore, I experienced no such intrusions upon my arrival and stay for two nights.
My main complaints were with regard to how the motel was managed and I will outline them below:
01. Small refrigerator was overset and the freezer area was almost non-functional because the ice tray area did not include any ice trays and was frozen over.
02. Small microwave oven worked.
03, Shower and faucets of bath tub leaked and did not operate properly and caused leaks onto the bathroom floor.
04. After my first night, having left over a half full container of my two liter cola in the refrigerator, I returned the next night to find that my over half full two liter cola container to be missing. I made a complaint to management which was not received seriously. Therefore, I was required to purchase canned drinks from vending machines which cost me an additional $1.50.
05. Air-conditioner was very loud and helped to mute highway traffic although such noise did seem always to be in the background it did not disturb me that much. If you are not from the local area you should be aware that the city of Mobile does not back up its laws regarding mobile noise (boom boxes). This is not a fault of this particular motel...it is the fault of the city of Mobile and those not residing in this area will receive a cultural shock with the complacency of our city not enforcing their laws regarding noise in this city.
06. Television with cable worked fine and I enjoyed watch boxing on channel 61 and news of various channels.
07. You get what you pay for but this motel, although having the name of "Family Inns" is not really for families but more for construction workers and transiets.
Overall, I would consider this motel to be rated as it has been. It is not a family inn and should not be visited as such.
