A reservation at this hotel is a perfect example of how your travel experience can go wrong. I reserved a 4-night stay at the Star Choice Hotel at the Merchandise Mart, which I discovered was in an extremely unsavory area of Charlotte, N.C.
The hotel is old, filled with mold and mildew, and smells like the inside of an old trunk kept in a dusty attic. The irony is guests who attempt to be proactive and make advanced reservation are confined to the 7th floor where rooms appear as though they are rented by the hour. I inquired about other floors, but the desk clerk warned me that I would not be satisfied because it might be somewhat unsafe.
The elevator seemed to have a thick layer of active mold growth and dirt that appeared untouched for years. The rooms on the 7th floor have no microwave as advertised, contain furniture that is old, and in my room the carpet was sticky. I thought the room appeared as though someone had attempted to clean it, until I looked behind the curtains and discovered an empty six-pack carton and other trash.
I checked out within 20 minutes of checking in, and 10 minutes of that time was spent on my cell phone with my credit card company disputing the charge for the 4-night stay. The desk clerk seemed totally unprepared to handle my complaint, and the manager called several times after being notified of my displeasure, only to have the desk clerk inform me that I would be charged for not cancelling in advance. This is a horrible hotel and should not be listed on any travel website. The owner should face legal charges for misleading the public.
After leaving this "dump" I was forced to drive around Charlotte for hours trying to find another hotel. The rooms were booked solid because of the races occurring that weekend. I drove around until 6:00 a.m., where I finally found a wonderful hotel with friendly, knowledgeable staff in Rock Hill, S.C. This trip was definitely an experience I intend not to repeat.
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