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TripAdvisor reveals America's dirtiest hotels

by Melanie Nayer (RSS feed) on Jan 22nd 2010 at 11:00AM

You've heard about the bed bugs, the dirty sheets and grimy carpets, but have you actually stayed in one of these hotels? Thanks for your fellow travelers you can avoid sharing bed sheets with the guests before you (and before them, and before them). TripAdvisor announced the top 10 dirtiest hotels in America, based on comments from customers and travelers on the popular travel review site.

Grab your antibacterial gel, hold your nose and watch where you step - these 10 hotels are sure to gross out even the most carefree traveler (there's a reason health codes exist, folks). These hotels just make you just want to scream, eewwwwwwwww and run for the showers (which are hopefully clean, wherever you are).

Here are the 2010 Top 10 Dirtiest Hotels in America, and a few comments from the guests who stepped foot inside the rooms:

Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, California: "This hotel is like in a horrible horror movie! The bed was a nightmare. It smelled like urine and had strange spots."
Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, Missouri: "If Hell had a hotel it would be something like this."
Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia: "We called the Virginia Beach health department and filed a complaint. We do not recommend this Place to any human being."
Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia: "I am still recovering from my stay in this hell-hole."
Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: "Our room looked like something from a very bad horror movie. I was scared to sleep in the bed. Just looking at it made me want to itch."
New York Inn, New York City, New York: "We were greeted on our arrival by a cleaner sitting on our bed smoking and watching TV."
Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, Florida: "I had been bitten on my chin several times, my hands, forearms, legs and feet. At least 15% of my body was covered in red, burning, bites."
Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, California: "We spilled water on the floor and cleaned it, and the towel turned brown from all the dirt on the ground."
Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, California: "Mold smell and bugs! Unavailable staff. Dirty sheets and bath tub was gross."
Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida: "I felt more dirty getting out of the shower than getting in."

Gadling blogger Mike Barish tempted fate at the Hotel Carter, last year's winner of the dirtiest hotel award. Have a hotel horror story? Share with us the worst place you've ever stayed.

Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sam W Jan 22nd 2010 12:28PM

I was at the Holiday Inn Select City Centre in Cleveland OH for the Cleveland National Air Show back in Sept of '07 (so yea a few years ago). They must not have used the floor my room was on much, because it was in great disrepair, the shower curtain rod fell off more then a few times despite it being "repaired" when I reported it. There was water stains all over the floor and walls of both the bathroom and main room, wall paper falling off, and the bed was less comfortable then sleeping on the floor, though the mold on in the corners prevented me from considering that option. I did ask for a new room but the hotel was 100% sold out due to the air show. If i ever work at that air show again I never will stay at that hotel.

I really should have called the health dept.

arex Jan 22nd 2010 12:34PM

The absolute worst to me is still the Super 8 in downtown Atlanta, GA. Can you say bed bugs and no windows??

Here's my Tripadvisor review from a few years back.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60898-d89527-r3812498-Super_8_Atlanta_World_Congress_Center-Atlanta_Georgia.html

Emland Jan 22nd 2010 3:00PM

I live in Virginia Beach and now am certainly glad I don't have the need to stay in a motel/hotel to go to the beach!

I've noticed that many of the hotels down at the beach are owned by people that weren't born in the US. Perhaps their idea of cleanliness is different than that of mainstream Americans.

Nick Jan 23rd 2010 5:28AM

The second point you've made - about hotel owners' country of origin and how it shapes their sense of cleanliness - comes across as very derogatory, discriminatory and factually wrong. I have an extensive experience staying in all kinds of hotels/motels around the country, and I would never make this kind of a generalization. Not cool!

Emland Jan 25th 2010 10:12AM

Jeez Nick, don't have a cat. My comment wasn't meant as an insult, only an observation. I believe cleanliness is relative just like serving sizes and what people consider rude.

With those two motels, you get what you pay for. One look of the outside should give plenty warning that you aren't going to get new furnishings and granite countertops in the bath. They cater to college kids that are interested in the beach all day, the clubs all night and a place to crash in between.