ET
Erin Tucker
Dec 19, 2025
Upon arrival, there were several stray cats on the property. The front desk staff advised they had been dumped years ago and have lived there ever since.
About five hours into our stay, while relaxing in bed, I saw a bed bug crawling across the comforter on top of me. I immediately picked up the hotel phone and pressed the “front desk” button, but a man answered and said I had called his room. It was nearly 11:00 p.m., so I apologized and explained I had simply pressed the front desk button. He was clearly upset and said, “I hope this isn’t going to be an issue.”
At check-in, I had received a welcome text stating I could reply if I needed assistance, so I replied asking for someone to contact me. No one responded.
Meanwhile, my two children kept eyes on the bed bug so we wouldn’t lose sight of it, as I wanted staff to see it firsthand. This stay was meant to be a surprise to celebrate my daughter’s 12th birthday, but it quickly turned into a nightmare.
My 15-year-old daughter walked to the front desk to get help. While she was gone, my 12-year-old and I used a flashlight and video to monitor the bug as it ran across the comforter. When my daughter returned with a staff member, the employee initially tried to downplay the situation, stating bed bugs are very small and doubting that I could actually see one. I pointed it out, and she took photos. She then noticed another spot on the comforter, looked closer, and said, “Yep, it’s moving,” before immediately backing away and asking us to return to the front desk to discuss options.
The only option offered was to move to another room with one king-size bed, which was not suitable for four people. Additionally, I did not want to risk transferring bed bugs to another room.
We began packing and asked for bags to protect our belongings and vehicle from contamination. Initially, we were offered the small plastic liners from ice buckets. After declining and requesting larger bags, we were given only two 13-gallon trash bags, which was clearly insufficient for four people.
When I went to formally check out between 11:00–11:30 p.m., I stood at the desk for an extended period before being acknowledged. Once I explained we were checking out and declining the alternate room, the staff member’s demeanor changed. She avoided eye contact and stated she had other tasks to complete, such as “running the night batch.” When I asked for a full refund, she told me to call a number on a business card because the manager was gone.
I requested documentation verifying my checkout time and was told none could be provided until after 3:00 a.m. When I expressed concern about that, I was told that if it was “that important,” the cameras could be checked later.
As I turned to leave, the staff member muttered something under her breath. When I asked her to repeat herself, she said, “Sorry we didn’t meet your standards.” The comment felt sarcastic and dismissive. I responded that bed bugs do not meet anyone’s standards.
The following day, I called the number provided and asked to speak with the manager, Misti, but was told she was not available. The person I spoke with said she was aware of the issue and would process a refund but didn’t know how yet and was waiting to be shown. I asked for documentation confirming the refund and was told none would be provided and to monitor my bank account over the next seven business days.
At no point did management contact us directly. The only staff member who showed concern was the employee who came to the room, but her visible panic and disgust occurred in front of my children.
This experience ruined my daughter’s birthday. Although we were local, we didn’t arrive home until midnight. We had to strip down in our driveway in the cold to avoid bringing “hitchhikers” (bed bugs) in. Several personal items have been discarded. We were forced to research bed bug protocols ourselves, as the hotel offered no guidance or follow-up.
The hotel moved on without acknowledgment or accountability. Management has still never contacted us.