Hotel Review - Trouble at the Days Inn Norfolk Airport

As a former Hampton Inn, this property (now flagged as a Days Inn) certainly has potential. But unfortunately they're failing at the basics. And by basics, I'm talking about vacuuming, cleaning up the last guest's garbage... you get the idea. There's just no excuse for these types of problems at any price point. They certainly gave me no shortage of things to talk about. It's usually a bad sign when it takes me over 10 minutes to trudge through a room tour, though it tends to make for an entertaining video :)
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[@rebelrailz.]

10:08 Just wait until you see the Fin N' Feather Inn by Kees Vacations at the Outer Banks.. Talk about peeling paint! I was paranoid to even take a shower in that place.. too bad we had to stay for 5 days. Plus that hotel charged us an extra 2 NIGHTS. For some dumb reason there were no actual staff on-site except for the cleaning ladies. Also had a big scratch/hole in the ceiling near the back window. It was old and run-down.. But the beds were nice, it had a power-saving TV that shut off after about an hour of being left on, a beautiful 5-am view of a sunrise/rainbow sky at the back window, and a small dock/picnic place in the back that every room had a door to.

[@Daniel28021991]

Great review, they shout clean and fix the room.

[@hood_exhaust]

I stayed in a Days Inn once. Found plenty of nicks and scratches, the tub was cracked and there was a Cracker Jack sticker on the wall. Our phone wouldn't work, the A/C unit was loud and there was a guy creepily sitting outside his door. We had friends staying in another room and they had ants in there with them.

[@ethan2226]

The replacement Hampton Inn & Suites at Norfolk Airport which is located at 1511 USAA Drive was built in 2007.

[@AVIBobcat08]

Had the same poweroutlet issue at the Days inn I stayed at as well. Same cleanlyness issues as well.

[@gladfan1989]

That's Days Inn for you. Some are pristine and some are so disgusting that it makes you wonder how the city's health department let them continue to operate. It's a real coin flip with this brand, no true consistency.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Wyndham is notorious for having low standards with their franchisees, especially in their economy brands. They own Knights Inn, Howard Johnson, Days Inn, and Ramada. All of which are really hit-and-miss in my experience. As far as economy brands go, I find Choice Hotels and Red Roof to be the most consistent by far. But it's always important to check online reviews for any hotel in this class.

[@FloridianElevators]

gladfan1989 That is very true. What I've notice is the ones in Canada and the ones in Gatlinburg and some other cities and towns are not too bad, but the ones in Orlando and Tampa are AWFUL!!!

[@FloridianElevators]

IMO Choice is AWFUL

[@FloridianElevators]

+The Elevator Channel No offense, but I like it when you stay in crappy hotels like this. Your reviews, reactions and rants are hilarious. Knowing you travel the country, if you come to Orlando or Tampa, let me know. And NO I won't set you up to stay in places like this!!!

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Floridian Elevators I won't lie, I have fun with these too. I'm surprised you have such a negative opinion of Choice. Granted, Rodeway Inn is a pretty weak brand, but all their properties Econolodge and above tend to be pretty decent for what they are. They're known for being good about enforcing cleanliness/maintenance standards on their franchisees, though they lack a consistent look/feel (no standard renovation package, for example). That's not to say that all their properties are great by any means, but the majority are at least decent.

[@michianaelevators2582]

I actually think this hotel used to be a Ramada because on Google maps if you go back to 2007 on the street view, the location was a Ramada.

[@michaelglissonjr9490]

Gabe Wise Really? Because that would be weird if it did

[@matte5552]

It hasn't been a Hampton for a long time, but it was at one point.

[@UltimateManager]

It was a ramada

[@tektyger1]

Hotels need to get rid of carpets period and use clear shower curtains.

[@aviationfascination]

Ya the bathroom and the left over stuff from the last guests were unacceptable.

[@william_2610]

Lol, ive never come across a hotel like this here, but then again I only ever really stay in one chain. In the UK we have a big budget hotel chain called Premier Inn. I can honestly say that after staying at probably 15-20 different locations of there hotels that theyre really great. Worst things ive found were some tiny bits of mould, and a couple broken light bulbs. All rooms are stocked with the same furniture. so no issues with dated stuff, all beds are white, everything in them is just in great condition. If you ever need a budget hotel in the UK there's a recommendation for you!

[@FloridianElevators]

LOL. It's like your cursed. Everywhere you stay at in Virginia Beach is AWFUL

[@FloridianElevators]

***** Um, I did read it. And Norfolk airport is actually in Virginia Beach. Btw, I was born in Norfolk!!

[@FloridianElevators]

I moved to FL when I was 1 or 2 years old though. But yes, I was born in Norfolk, VA!!

[@michaelglissonjr9490]

I live in Norfolk, and I will not stay in the Norfolk area, due to high crime. I recommend staying on the VA beach oceanfront, Willamsburg, and Greenbrier area in Chesapeake. Crime here is quite high, but not as bad as where I used to be......

[@SirensAndElevators]

You know what the Americas Best Value Inn, the Red Roof Inn, and/or the Econo Lodge near the airport is like? I have a morning flight out of Norfolk to get home next week, and my mom and I have been watching your hotel reviews to determine if we would stay here or any of the others you reviewed near the airport. And yes I told her not to book a room at the luxurious Howard Johnson. Lol.

[@bridazzel7588]

I know but some people complain about the same thing in Econo Lodges.

[@stealth865]

Every time you angled the camera down I spotted another speck of crap on the carpet. Also, that bathroom is straight out of a "Saw" movie...

[@JuanMartinez-ez5hp]

This hotel makes my place of work like a 5* hotel! Lol,, I started my hotel career working as FD at a days inn. I was doing FD, but when emergency strikes then I was maintenance and security! I can honestly say I got a good experience at all the bad stuff that happens at hotels while working at the days inn. Every hotel chain has the bad ones, however some are worse ;) @the elevator channel -- you are the worse nightmare for all hoteliers ! The type of guest that do not call the front desk to report the issue and get it fix, but wait and complaint later. Suggestion: let staff know about the issues you have. You will see if they are willing to help you better the situation, but if they fail...then do what you have to do.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

You're not wrong, but I think you're missing the point of this video a bit. The fact that they placed me in a room with dirty carpet, garbage in the mini-fridge, and a haunted house-style bathroom certainly warrants a good deal of concern... even if they placed me in a vastly improved room after complaining. And let's be honest--a deteriorating Hampton Inn turned Ramada turned Days Inn with a 2-star TripAdvisor average probably doesn't have a better room to offer anyway. You're absolutely correct that guests should inform the front desk when they have problems, though. When I see it as a viable option, I'll always complain. Good example here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpjVf3yof5mhsLs

[@JuanMartinez-ez5hp]

I was trying to be funny at the last part, I dont think it came out right :D oh and you are also right about everything you just said ;)

[@superlu1gi527]

Before i stayed in one, I had no idea that Days Inn was part of the Wyndham Group.

[@walter4525]

That hotel needs some serious renovations, especially the bathroom.

[@michaelglissonjr9490]

Walter wvm71583 But here is the thing, they won't untill they demolish this hotel. It needs to go.

[@austinvlogs760]

One time I went to days in and there was bedbugs and left over coffee in the coffee pot

[@JoshCraver9000]

Room looks nice and modern at a glance, but it really needs a good cleaning!

[@FloridianElevators]

It does. Plus the bathroom seriously needs to be renovated.

[@Ih8kone]

@@FloridianElevators and some more power outlets need to be installed

[@mishap9715]

This looks like an upgrade compared to the one I stayed in when I was a teen. I was with my cheerleading squad and my coach got her purse stolen within 5 minutes of checking in! The room was really bad and the hotel had a lot of rats and other rodents running around.

[@hannaharocha7811]

Hey I think you should check out Dan Bell's series Another Dirty Room. Only 2 episodes so far but I think you might enjoy it since you do hotel reviews

[@22408aaron]

I have seen a lot of exterior Hampton Inns turned sold off to other chains. Is Hilton trying to get the Hampton line out of the exterior business? I suppose I see why, but at the same time, I am sure they can get similar business even with exterior hotels. The parade of signs is obviously not supposed to be arranged like that (the "Forgot Something" sign should be by the sink, the "No Smoking" sign is usually by the TV, etc.) but I guess the owner didn't want it that way. I'm sure Corporate will never combine any of those signs because they know that the franchisee will have to buy six packages of signs, and if they combine them, it is less money to be made.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Yeah, Hilton has been trying to eliminate the exterior corridor Hamptons for a while. There's just a handful left. Usually they build a new hotel right down the street, and the original is converted to a budget property either by the original owner or a new investor.

[@elevatingamerica2482]

The type of person who is going to pay a lot of money to stay at a Hampton/Marriott, are going to be turned away by the fact that it has exterior coridors.

[@williamscoufaras7045]

Probably the biggest issue of that room besides not being vacuumed is the bathroom. That bathroom needs a renovation badly!

[@elevatingamerica2482]

It seems like they have a good base. (except in the bathroom) But dont have good matinence practices.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

The shuttle driver was telling me he doubles as a maintenance guy, so... yeah.

[@user-tl5qp5pj6d]

I would get a different room and let the manager know about all the bad things

[@thewildeeper]

2016? This is an old video

[@andylee237]

I've never had good luck at any Wyndham properties so I don't stay at them due issues like this.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Isn't Days Inn a Wyndham brand? Wyndham and Choice seem to have huge portfolios of questionable and inconsistent hotel chains.

[@jimbopdx63]

I looked at the the reviews on TA and they are pretty bad. I don't think I'll ever stay at a Days Inn! I've stayed at a couple Windlym properties and they were nice.

[@michaelglissonjr9490]

I have a better recommendation for a hotel, if you wanna stay near ORF. I would recommend the DoubleTree right across the street. This hotel had a homicide back in 2017. I am very picky about my hotels. I do not like external corridor hotels, because I have had some terrible expirences. This hotel I do not recommend.

[@Alex-fh3yk]

Experiences such as?

[@MisterMikeTexas]

What economy hotel is recommendable?

[@Ih8kone]

Quality Inn

[@WindowSeatFlyer]

Given your recent luck, or lack there of, with these budget hotels, my first thought is to suggest grabbing something a little nicer next time. However, the entertainment value of these reviews is too great for me to suggest such a thing! I may have asked this in the past but do you post these on TripAdvisor? The hotels really pay attention to TripAdvisor, and you'd save a lot of people from this place. Generally you'll receive some compensation in the form of points too, if you request it. Hilton has tossed me something like 40,000 points over the last couple years for much lessor issues than you experienced here.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

I always write review on TripAdvisor (link is toward the bottom of the description). But yeah, I pretty much knew this hotel was going to be... questionable when I booked it. 2-star average on TripAdvisor, Hampton Inn turned Days Inn, not the greatest part of town, etc. I picked it because I got a STEAL ($30) on Hotwire. The place turned out being a little worse than I expected, but I saved hundreds of dollars on a 3-night stay versus choosing a mid-tier hotel like a Fairfield or Hampton. The savings makes it worth it to me when I'm traveling alone, but I totally understand that properties like this aren't for everyone. If I paid more than $30, I would have turned down the room and complained a lot more. Also, when I pick properties like this, part of the consideration is that I'll get a great review video out of the deal :)

[@WindowSeatFlyer]

That is an impressive savings. If the room isn't going to harm you and you can tolerate the lack of cleanliness, it's a no-brainer!

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Well, it is a Days Inn. Barely above Motel 6!

[@derektaylor486]

Hi the elevator Chennel new video

[@thejackdrees]

Well, at least it's not the Howard Johnson in Virginia Beach...

[@norfolkelevators8477]

Frankly, I was expecting much worse for a budget hotel in Norfolk lol

[@TM1981ify]

sorry for that, I have to be discreet about choose the hotel.

[@jonahcabrera8032]

MAN OH MAN!! It sucks.

[@ojaaviation]

Why is there trouble at days inn

[@denisegaskin]

I stayed in the hotel in 2021 in May and it was awful it had bugs and roaches in it

[@davidmitchell3533]

Thanks for doing this vid, because otherwise, I would be there in a week.Thanks for the info.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Always happy to help :)

[@craigmack.52]

Lol how much did you pay for a hotel stay? You otta get a refund.

[@mrbx359]

First Time it used to be a Hampton Inn Second time it used to be a Ramada now it’s a days inn this hotel has changed hands

[@MisterMikeTexas]

There is an exterior corridor motel in Euless, Texas that was once a La Quinta. Then a new La Quinta was built down the road (interior corridors), and this old motel became a Quality Inn. Now, it's a Motel 6.

[@clayhouseholder9309]

Is this worse than the Inn at the Peachtrees?

[@disneyfan9099]

Elevators and More by Clay Householder Probbly not

[@jimster586]

I've stayed at some pretty sketchy Days Inns...

[@FloridianElevators]

jimster586 A lot of them are very sketchy

[@michaelglissonjr9490]

This one is VERY sketchy. A homicide occured in 2017.

[@thetravelchannel7671]

That hotel was hampton then a ramada now days inn this has a extensive history

[@thetravelchannel7671]

@William Stonehocker I don't know maybe it was but I saw some pictures with a ramada sign on the same building

[@amittankpro]

Room 118 Tour 0:41

[@TheElevatorPlanet]

OMG, you seem to have the worst luck with motels in Norfolk. (This dive, the hairy bed at the Magnuson, the Howard Johnson from hell.) What's next, is dracula going to be in the shower in your room at the next place?...

[@crazyboy72375]

Why is it that all the hotels you've been to in that area have stunk lol

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Heh, well, the Sleep Inn was actually pretty nice,. So I guess I'm 1/3.

[@crazyboy72375]

The Elevator Channel 1/3 isn't good but isn't bad either lol

[@FloridianElevators]

This didn't exactly happen at this location, but you might want to see this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmm9nYyHn5lkac0

[@ProtegeTuype]

I give it 2 stars from 5

[@calebweems9392]

Once I stayed at a hotel from the 1940s

[@mrbx359]

Almost a 3 star hotel

[@Elevatorboy886]

If I was you I would've just walked out

[@salbertron]

Looks good what are you paying 12 dollars a night? If you dont like it here's a cardboard box LOL

[@NICOCRAFTAviation737]

i stay in that hotel today and i dont like it room 251

[@andrewalsid1500]

NICOCRAFT ll

[@paulaward5346]

You might have done better going to Motel 6!

[@erickmorton8085]

It you think this is bad watch dan bell another dirty room you will see some nasty hotels

[@FloridianElevators]

What do you expect for a Days Inn!?!? Days Inn, Super 8, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Travelodge, Quality Inn, America's Best Value Inn, Motel 6, and Red Carpet Inn are BY FAR THE WORST HOTEL CHAINS EVER!!!!! I honestly think that unless they start renovating all of these properties listed (which according to a friend I Skype they will), they all need to shut down. Wyndham seriously needs to get rid of the Days Inn Chain along with Super 8. I've stayed in many Nice Wyndham Hotel which were Wyndham Timeshare Resorts, Wyndham Grand and Grand Collection, Baymont Inn, Ramada and a Howard Johnson which were all very nice and had no problem with them. Wyndham is a good company, but Super 8 and Days Inn are ruining Wyndham's reputation. Unlike others Wyndham Hotel, and other companies like Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, etc. Wyndham doesn't allow standards for their Days Inn hotels, they just are independent motels that Wyndham will let have the Days Inn name on and put it on their site and not require them to be good or bad, which is why some are actually fairly decent and some are awful. They are very unpredictable...

[@elevatorsinrussia2597]

Floridian Elevators Red Roof Inn is the worst hotel chain ever.

[@FloridianElevators]

***** Those suck too. But suprisingly *****​ has had no issues with them... IMO The worst chain ever Would be a tie between Econo Lodge, Red Carpet Inn, Quality Inn, Super 8 and Motel 6, along with America's Best Value Inn. It's hard to say which is the absolute worst, but I made an inside joke where I call Quality Inn the "Low Quality Inn".

[@FloridianElevators]

*****​ what do you think of this?

[@TheElevatorChannel]

It's all anecdotal, but I've always seen Red Roof as the best of the economy chains. Especially since they started rolling out their new renovation package, which almost all their properties have now. New bed linens, easy-to-clean laminate floors, nice lighting. They're just nice, clean, simple rooms. It's rare to see a Red Roof with less than a 3.5 average on TripAdvisor. They seem to have decent brand standards, unlike a lot of the economy chains. Brands I tend to avoid are America's Best Value Inn and Magnuson. Those truly have no standards and tend to attract franchisees that were kicked out of other brands.

[@FloridianElevators]

It's just experience. I've just had a better experience with Wyndham than Choice. But keep in mind, I tend to stay at Wyndham midscale and upscale brands and their resorts. However, I often stay mostly at Marriott/Starwood (Marriott aquired Starwood recently) and Hilton Properties mostly though, and they have NEVER FAILED me. Also, I've notice you always tend to have terrible experiences with Best Western, yet I've stayed in quite a few and I've had no issues with them, even the 2 Best Westerns I've stayed in that were just old small motels had lots of money put into them. Not to mention, Best Western is going through a crazy renovation phase where they are renovating all of their older properties and adding elevators to them.

[@deangeloharrington9259]

I want free breakfast at days inn

[@Sheryl5804]

4/10