I am from Minnesota and recently visited Rhode Island.
I arrived in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, on June 24. I pulled into town after about 15 hours in the car. I continued on to find the Budget Inn of North Kingstown where I had reserved a room for three nights. I had never stayed in or seen this particular Budget Inn before, and had made my reservation on the internet. This was my first visit (and I hope not my last) to New England.
After driving around looking for the Budget Inn of North Kingstown for about half an hour, I returned to the Mobil Station in South Kingstown to ask for directions. I talked to the man working at the station and two customers, but nobody knew where the Budget Inn was.
They did give me directions based on the address, but I was still unable to locate it. I returned to the Mobil Station, and used the pay phone to call the Budget Inn.
I told the man who answered the phone that I could not locate the inn. He replied by giving me the address. I admit at this point, I was terse, and told him that I was from out of state, the address meant nothing to me, and that I needed DIRECTIONS! (I did not cuss at him.) He hung up the phone without reply.
I had guaranteed the room with my credit card, and felt I really needed to find it. Additionally, I was exhausted. I went to the Holiday Inn in South Kingstown, and explained my dilemma to the desk clerk asking him if he could provide directions. He gave me directions, which I followed, and with an additional stop at another service station was able to locate the Budget Inn of North Kingstown in Wickford, Rhode Island.
I arrived at 12:15 A.M. Local time. There was a lighted Open sign in the window, but the door was locked, so I rung the bell. A man wearing his pajamas, hair a mess, and the foulest breath I have ever had the displeasure of smelling, answered the door. I told him I had a reservation, and he filled out a charge for all three nights and asked me to sign it. I told him I would pay for that night, but would like to see the room before I paid for all three nights I would let him know about the other two nights in the morning. He told me No room for you. Get out. I told him he had better not charge my credit for this, and he mumbled that it would not be on my credit card.
I was a 51-year-old woman, traveling alone, 1300 miles from home with no room! I should mention, I have traveled and stayed at motels before, and have never had anybody refuse to let me see the room before paying. Since I have returned home, I have seen a review of this establishment posted by another traveler and it was as follows:
Budget Inn North Kingstown: "Beware"
Reviewer: A TripAdvisor User, washington, dc, July 8
This is a small "mom & pop" roadside motel run by foreigners who barely speak english. Upon arrival they attempted to immediately charge my credit card the full amount (over $400.00). This is really just a cheap motel where they try to gouge you. Posted signs say "no refunds", "only 800 number phone calls", and "no alcohol drinking outside". Cleaning crew appears to be family members who are foreigners as well. I assume in some countries this would be a luxury hotel, but for this average American with his traveling family I just felt dirty & used. We were afraid to sleep in the beds. This is a good fleabag $29.00 motel, nothing more. Please look elsewhere. Ps... A large skunk crosses the driveway about 930pm each night. Appropriate I'd say.
Also, the pictures the Budget Inn of Kingstown Rhode Island has posted on the internet must be 20 years old. I only saw the outside of the building, but it does not look like the pictures that have been published on the net.
I returned to the Holiday Inn to see if they had a room. They did not, but were very nice, and found me a room at the Springhill Suites for that night. I booked a room at the Holiday Inn for the next two nights, but when I tried to reserve it with the credit card (the same one I used to reserve the Budget Inn), it would not work. I used another card, and continued down the road to the Springhill Suites. A very nice room. Too nice (and expensive) for the six hours I was able to spend there.
I had been unable to use the credit card that was used to book the room at the Budget Inn of Kingstown Rhode Island at any time during my trip, although by my calculations, I should have had almost $200 credit left on it. I returned home with no souvenirs, no credit left on my other two cards, and less than $10 in my pocket. Thank God, I had not had any car trouble or other emergencies. Checking my credit card account on the internet, I found the Budget Inn of North Kingstown Rhode Island had charged my card for ALL THREE NIGHTS. Of course.
I called the credit card company to dispute the charges. They told me to call the Budget Inn of North Kingstown Rhode Island to see if they would simply take these unauthorized charges off of my account. I called the Corporate Number that had printed on my confirmation. When I explained to the woman who answered the phone what had happened, she expressed doubts, and said I would have to call the manager Mike who was gone until Monday, and she gave me his phone number.
I called Mike on Monday about 10:00 am Rhode Island time. When a man answered the phone, I asked to please speak to Mike. This man was very rude to me, and told me I could not speak to Mike unless I told him who I was and why I was calling. I tried to explain to him that Mike did not know me and that I was calling with a complaint about the Budget Inn of North Kingstown.
He still insisted on my name, which I gave, and then he told me that he was Mike. I inquired as to his surname. It this point Mike started ranting about how he did not own the Budget Inn of North Kingstown telling me I was a stupid lady several times. I asked him for the name of the owner and his number. Mike told me he should call the police and charge me with harassing him in the morning (?) He then called me a mother f_ _ _ _ r and hung up.
This has been a horrible experience for me and has put a cloud over what was otherwise a pretty good time. Please warn other travelers.
0 comments