On March 14th, I checked into the DoubleTree property in Fresno, California for a two night stay. This was my first time staying at this property, but I was excited because I need to travel now to Fresno on a regular basis and needed to find a reliable hotel to stay at every time. I have stayed at DoubleTree hotels before, and have been very satisfied in the past. As a Hilton HHonors member I also wanted to earn points for all my upcoming stays in Fresno.
Upon arrival to the hotel parking garage, I already started getting an uneasy feeling about the hotel security. The parking lot was dark, not easily marked, and very confusing. Check in at the hotel went fairly smoothly, but after taking the elevator up to my first room, I was disappointed to see that I was put in a room with two double beds instead of the Deluxe King room for which I had a reservation for.
I proceeded back downstairs and the staff was helpful in finding me a King room, even if it was a "handicapped", smoking room. This is where the real nightmare began. I began to notice that this DoubleTree property was an old hotel, much older than other ones I have stayed at. When I took the elevator up to the floor of my new room, I noticed about 10 to 15 men hanging out and sleeping in the hallway of the 3rd floor, where my room was. It looked like the men were homeless because many had sleeping type bags with them. I quickly hurried to my room, and after struggling with a very inadequate room entry system, I got into my room. I was horrified when I entered to find the patio door to the balcony wide open. I was afraid there might have been someone in the room, so I quickly did a search of the room to make sure I was alone. What I found during my search, was heavily stained carpet, peeling wallpaper, a sagging mattress, and insects in the carpet. I was so disgusted with the room and the security of the hotel property, that I went back down to the front desk to cancel my reservation and went off to find another hotel to stay at.
Besides a totally embarrassing room, my biggest problem with this hotel was the security. The elevators that take someone from the parking garage to the front lobby are the same ones that take guests up to their rooms. This means that anyone who walks into the parking garage, (which is also shared with a sleazy 24-hour casino next door), can get up onto any of the floors of the hotel, bypassing the lobby, without ever being seen. I am assuming this is how those men got onto my floor of the hotel.
I have stayed at in some less than exotic hotel rooms before, but I draw the line when it comes to safety and security of a hotel, and this one was just plain unsafe.


Recommended: No