Extended Stay America Select Suites - Mobile - Daphne

This hotel is primarily designed for extended stays, offering kitchenette rooms that provide a studio apartment-like feel for guests. It is often chosen by long-term guests, including business travelers, nurses on assignments, families in transition, and those seeking affordable, self-sufficient accommodation. Many guests appreciate the value offered for longer durations and the convenience of having in-room cooking facilities. However, feedback is highly mixed, with a significant number of reviews highlighting severe issues with cleanliness, including pest infestations and mold, alongside complaints about uncomfortable beds. Some guests have noted a positive shift and improvement under new management, reporting cleaner rooms and more attentive staff. To enhance your stay, consider requesting an upper-floor room to potentially minimize noise, and be prepared for possible extra charges for basic amenities like towels or Wi-Fi, as well as the need to bring your own toiletries and coffee supplies.

Facilities & Amenities
Most guests appreciate the presence of kitchenette rooms, which typically include a full-sized refrigerator and a stove, providing a studio apartment-like feel for longer stays. An on-site laundry facility is also available and noted as both convenient and affordable. However, feedback on other amenities is mixed and often negative. While Wi-Fi is advertised, many guests report having to pay for it, and its reliability is frequently questioned, with connectivity issues preventing use for devices like gaming consoles. Common complaints include the absence of a dishwasher, dresser, or a proper dining table in rooms. The televisions are often described as small or non-functional. The elevators are a recurring concern, with reports of them being dirty, having expired inspection certificates, or being out of order. Some guests also experienced issues with air conditioning units. Furthermore, many note a general lack of standard hotel amenities such as a pool or complimentary breakfast, and rooms often lack basic items like coffee makers, dishes, pots and pans, or even sufficient towels and toiletries, requiring guests to purchase their own.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Feedback on cleanliness and room comfort is highly polarized. While a few guests reported their rooms to be clean, quiet, and comfortable, with some even praising the cleanliness of the bathroom, the overwhelming majority of reviews describe significant issues. Many rooms are consistently reported as unclean, with visible dirt, dust, and grime on surfaces, floors, and blinds. A pervasive problem is the presence of roaches, with numerous guests describing severe infestations and even bed bugs, leading to concerns about pests transferring to personal belongings. Other recurring issues include mold in bathrooms and on walls, unpleasant odors such as cigarette smoke, marijuana, mildew, or general staleness in hallways and rooms. Guests frequently mention uncomfortable beds, describing them as hard, lumpy, or having squeaky springs, leading to poor sleep quality. Issues with hot water taking a long time to heat up, broken furniture, and general disrepair are also common. Noise levels are a concern for some, with reports of loud music, barking dogs, and hallway disturbances impacting rest.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel does not offer a complimentary breakfast, which is a frequent point of disappointment for guests. Many reviews explicitly state the absence of this amenity, contrary to what some might expect from an extended stay property. There are also mentions of a lack of coffee in the lobby or in the rooms, meaning guests need to source their own morning beverages. Beyond the lack of breakfast, there is no significant feedback regarding other dining options or food quality within the hotel, such as a restaurant or room service, suggesting these are not prominent features or are not available.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's location is generally considered a significant advantage by many guests, often described as convenient and unbeatable. It is situated near the interstate, providing easy access for travelers. Guests appreciate its proximity to a variety of restaurants, including both fast food and dine-in options, many of which are within walking distance. The area is also noted for its convenience to shopping and essential services like an emergency room and a walk-in clinic. For those seeking local attractions, it's conveniently located near the Mobile Metro area and within reasonable distance of the beach. However, there is mixed feedback regarding the immediate surroundings and safety. While some guests found the area safe and quiet, others reported concerns about parking safety and the presence of individuals engaging in disruptive behavior or loitering in the parking lot and near the entrance, impacting the sense of security for some.

Staff & Service
The staff and service receive highly varied feedback, with many guests praising individual team members for their exceptional helpfulness and professionalism. Numerous reviews highlight specific individuals at the front desk and in management for being friendly, courteous, attentive, and eager to help with guest needs and issues. Guests appreciate their responsiveness and efforts to make stays comfortable, often describing their interactions as positive and even exceeding expectations compared to other hotels. However, a significant number of reviews report negative experiences, citing rude staff and a perceived lack of care or responsiveness from some team members, particularly regarding serious room issues like pests or maintenance. There are complaints about understaffing, leading to long waits at the front desk or difficulty reaching staff, especially during off-hours. Some guests also experienced issues with key cards ceasing to work, requiring lengthy waits for assistance. The consistency of service appears to be a major point of contention, with some guests feeling that staff were unhelpful or even confrontational when problems arose.

Additional Information
This hotel primarily caters to long-term guests, with many individuals staying for weeks or months, including senior citizens, construction workers, nurses on assignments, and families in transition. The property has a pet-friendly policy, though guests should be aware of associated pet fees and potential challenges in finding suitable outdoor areas for pets. There are recurring concerns about pricing, with some long-term guests reporting unexpected rate increases and discrepancies between advertised rates and actual charges. Guests should also be prepared for key card issues, as cards frequently stop working or require weekly resets, leading to inconvenience. A notable policy is that guests are typically responsible for trash removal from their rooms to outdoor dumpsters. Some guests have also reported difficulties with mail delivery, as front desk staff may not consistently check for or distribute mail. The hotel has recently undergone new management, which some guests believe has led to improvements in cleanliness and service, while others still report significant issues.