We stayed here on October 11, 2011. The hotel seemed fine, but I awoke to find three bites on my butt. Not having any experience with bed bugs, I thought they were mosquito bites. I continued to get bites back at home, when a friend pointed out that formation (rows of three or four bites) looked more like bed bugs. We did our research, finding out what bed bugs look like, how they breed, how to remove them, etc. We eventually found just one dead bed bug in our sofa, but we continue to inspect and spray. Although we never found an infestation, I continued to get bites for well over a month after the stay.
As soon we figured out what was going on, I called the hotel. Twice I left messages for the manager, but he never called me back. On my third call the front desk receptionist told me that the hotel's lawyer informed them not to comment on the matter. I asked if I could speak to the manager, but she wouldn't let me. She eventually hung up on me. I called back, and this time the manager picked up the phone. He repeated the line about the lawyer, but I continued to ask him if he would just please talk to me. He told me that if I didn't stop this conversation, he would call the police and report me for phone harassment. He then hung up on me too.
I called Best Western's corporate customer service number and told my story. The person I spoke with filed a report and said she would get back to me. After two weeks of not hearing back from anyone, I called them again. This time I was told that according to the hotel manager, he had spoken with me. This never happened. The manager also said in his report that we never actually stayed at the hotel on October 11, but that we had stayed there in August. This is also untrue, and just plain bizarre.
Best Western's customer service department claims that they don't get involved in bed bug cases- that they merely act as an intermediary. And since the hotels are independently owned, they have no authority to check registration records to confirm or deny the hotel manager's allegation that we never stayed in the hotel on October 11.
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing a bed bug check before staying in this hotel. And beware that if you do find bed bugs, Best Western will take no responsibility for the matter. Overall a really bad experience. I've since read similar reports about other Best Western hotels around the country. So for me, I wouldn't stay at a Best Western again.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
19 March 2012
Dear Guest,
We have an active pest control contract here at the property and perform precautionary sprays nearly twice a month. Recently, we underwent a Best Western Property Inspection & won the Director's Award, which is limited to the top 20% of Best Western's around the world. My staff and I take pride in our product and strive to present industry-leading cleanliness here at the property.
In addition, Best Western is the first hotel chain in the world to utilize UV Wands to disinfect guest rooms and public areas. If you were to stay again, you may catch our housekeepers using these nifty devices which kill 99.9% of bacteria. We use them in all areas of our guest rooms, and public areas of the hotel. Management and Head Housekeepers also inspect sheets/surfaces with black lights to find stains or blemishes that are invisible to the eye. This way, we are assured that the bed we present to our guests is flawless.
We are sorry you had a negative experience, but hope you will give our property another chance!
Warm Regards,
Sagar Shah
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC