October 8, 2019

Random Acts… Nashville’s LaQuinta Inn goes to the dogs

Posted in Travel at 4:54 pm by dinaheng

NASHVILLE – My flight into Nashville arrived late in the evening, so I told my friend Christine not to come to the airport to get me. I could get a hotel room for the night, and we’d meet the next morning.

Browsing various offerings online, I booked a room at the La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Nashville Airport/Opryland using United Airlines points and cash (through its United Hotels, a partnership with Hotels.com).

The hotel was listed as being 2.5 stars, clean and quiet. It offered free airport shuttle service, a free breakfast, and accepted pets, among other things. Sounded great for a one-night stay. But online reviews are not always to be believed.

When I got to the airport, I called the hotel, requesting a shuttle. Another phone call and a half hour later, the shuttle finally arrived. I was the only passenger, so sat in the row behind the driver. When he saw me struggling with the seat belt, the driver said, “Oh, yeah, the seat belt doesn’t work. They should get that fixed.”

Arriving at the hotel, I got out of the shuttle to the smell of feces and urine.

The night manager gave me a room on the top floor, saying it was in a quiet area. Shortly after midnight, I was awakened by the guests next door, who had a screaming argument and started slamming doors.

At 6 a.m., the neighbor’s dog started barking, and within seconds, every dog on the sixth floor was barking, as well. So much for being in a quiet area.

I don’t expect much from inexpensive hotels, but if you can’t get a decent night’s sleep, you should at least be able to get a decent shower. Unfortunately, the showerhead in the bathroom was so old, it pointed in one direction and couldn’t be moved.

Naturally, it was pointed toward the wall, to avoid getting water on the floor. Due to the angle it was pointed, the only way to get water on your body was to hug the wall.

(I will say, the one positive thing about this hotel is that the towels are clean and soft to the touch.)

I was so bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, I didn’t get up in time to sample their breakfast.  When my friend called to say she was on her way, I packed up and waited in the lobby.

A few minutes later, she called to say her GPS had routed her to another LaQuinta Inn at the Nashville Airport, a short distance away. When she picked me up, she said, “I walked into that place, and it was so dirty. I’m glad I was at the wrong LaQuinta Inn.”

Well, the LaQuinta Inn Nashville Airport/Opryland wasn’t dirty, but it sure didn’t have much else to recommend it. It’s clearly a hotel that caters to dogs.  Humans, not so much.