We had a reservation at another hotel that we normally stay but it was booked with tons of high school kids. The manager of the Country Inn and Suites near the airport was good enough to cancel our reservation even though it was past the cut off time. Most the hotels were booked in Bloomington but we got into the Chateau no problems. My first interaction with the staff was over the phone, I should have taken it as an omen. A male answered the phone and was laughing so hard, (about what I have no idea), and then he hung up. I called back and a female answered this time. I told her that I had just been hung up on, her response was, "OK SO WHAT DO YOU NEED?" In a rather condescending voice. We didn’t want to turn around and go home, as we already promised our kids a weekend of pool time when we arrived we walked into a very grand lobby and thought, “OH THIS IS PRETTY COOL.”, and felt pleased with our decision. Ah but then came time to deal with the staff. I made the statement this place looks like a castle. The female employee stated, “YA THAT’S WHAT CHATEAU MEANS IN FRENCH.” Once again in a very condescending voice, as if I was some type of an idiot. She left and a male staff member came out. Was hopeful to deal with a new person. His voice sounded familiar and I asked him if he was the one laughing in the phone and hung up on me about 10 minutes prior to my arrival. He stated, “I DON’T KNOW MAYBE.” And gave me a dirty look. I was boiling at this point but being a police officer I know how to hold my tongue. Ok to the room and pool. The room at first glance appeared clean and comfortable, I was happy. Before pool time we went to the hotel restaurant for convenience. Two cheeseburgers and two chicken finger baskets for the kids later I dropped $60. I told myself don’t think about it you’re here to have fun with the kids. Ok to the pool. Large pool, large hot tub. The pool areas were dirty and had garbage on several of the deck tables. The pool temp was about 77deg, pretty cold. The men’s and women’s bathroom were filthy and the sauna was in shambles and didn’t work. Time for bed. The sheets did not smell clean, but the beds were comfortable. I went to the front desk to ask for more plastic cups and three more towels. You would have thought I was asking for the clerk’s kidney, rude, rude, rude. Woke up the next morning excited about the hot breakfast, oh boy, this day will be better. The buffet consisted of rubbery french toast, sausage links and powder eggs, yum, not! I thought the staff would address all the things I brought to their attention, dirty pool area, no towels in the pool area and the sauna, etc.... No. The same garbage was sitting in the same place in the deck area and the hot tub had a yellow film floating on top. Disgusted we decided it was time to depart. As I’m checking the room to make sure we had not forgotten any items, I checked under the beds, I wish I hadn’t. Under the beds I found, candy wrappers, a cell phone charger and some dirty socks. This told me the room had not been cleaned prior to our arrival. It was definitely time to GO! Upon checking out I was hopeful for a new nicer staff, no. The clerk threw my receipt at me and stated, ‘THERE YOU GO.” SAVE YOUR MONEY DO NOT STAY HERE!!!!!!!! I DON’T LIKE GIVING MY HARD EARNED MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO TALKED TO ME LIKE I’M SOME TYPE OF IDIOT AND THE filthiness of the hotel has me feeling nauseas.
Jason
