Hotel Red Roof Inn Palatine (Palatina, USA)

The front desk people are very helpful and friendly, as indeed are all staff members, including cleaners. The entire hotel has benefited from a renovation program which includes new staff and effective procedures.

There has been an improvement in the breakfast content and in the service, which is now very good. There is a hope of the re-emergence of the waffle machine as part of ongoing hotel improvements!

There are hotels in the area that are far more expensive than this. From a financial standpoint, a stay here can only be a good investment. Members of staff, it has to be said, are a major asset. Regular visitors note that real improvements are taking place. Certainly, the free WiFi, cable TV and effective cleaning staff can be seen as a significant step forward.

It seems that some rooms have already been improved and possibly, the remodeling program will see an extension to this activity. In some rooms, though, carpets remain dirty and furniture is old; so are mattresses and bed linen. Consequently, these rooms are a hotbed for bed bugs.

There’s strong evidence of drugs and drinking going on here. It doesn’t feel safe at all. Some very unsavory characters hanging around the corridors. It is warm … but some of them are stark naked! There’s only a liquor and convenience store within walking distance. The overall effect is quite intimidating. It’s quite short on amenities, but they’ve still chosen to close a major one – the pool.

Sound proofing between the rooms is non- existent. More important, they advertise the hotel as being ‘smoke-free’ ... and yet some areas smell like an unemptied ashtray.