I stayed at the Mayan hotel in mid-April to attend a scientific conference being held at the Hilton and Conference Center. Because it was cheaper to book my hotel and flight together than to book my flight separate and stay for an admittedly cheap rate at the Hilton, I chose a hotel based on 3 conditions: walking distance of less than 1 mile to the Hilton, free internet access, and total cheaper than if I stayed at the Hilton. The free continental breakfast was a bonus.

I do not believe the Mayan Inn is the Best Western Mayan Inn. The Best Western logo has been removed from the building. If you go to the hotel website, www.daytonahotels.com/Mayan/ the photos show a very shiny hotel. The hotel is not a shiny hotel.

I was not expecting much in terms of cleanliness and repair as it was following the spring break rush. It also has only a 2 star rating out of 5. According to expedia.com, a 2 star rated hotel offer only the basics: TV, telephone (with all sorts of charges for use), daily housekeeping, and you are warned that private bathrooms may only have showers.

Keeping the rating and post-spring break timeframe in mind, I was actually pleasantly suprised. I found the hotel to be generally clean. My room had a TV which I used for the weather channel. I had free wifi access. I had a balcony with 2 chairs and a bitty table. (The Hilton does not have balconies.) My room had a microwave and fridge, ironing board and iron, and a place to hang my business clothes out. It also had an in-room safe with easy directions.

My stay was generally pleasant. I arrived before noon, and every room had been booked the night before with a cheerleading conference, so my room was not ready. Check-in is not until 3pm, so I understood that may be the case. The manager and desk staff kindly let me put my baggage in the office so I could go up to my conference and register. I returned about 2 and my room was ready!

I had an oceanview room on a non-smoking floor, which was what I had reserved. I could easily go out onto my balcony and enjoy a view of the ocean and the beach. For those lovely ocean sounds, I could prop my balcony door open. My only complaint about the room was that the door had been forced and the deadbolt lock did not work. As a woman staying alone, I did worry about that. Changing rooms seemed a hassle, but I had the impression that if I had asked, I could have done so.

There was one other drawback - there is a bar right next to the Mayan. If you are on the oceanview side, the nightly live music until 3 am could be a bit of a problem. As I was so tired anyway from my 12+ hour days at the conference, it did not disturb me.

I did partake in the free continental breakfast, which had a smaller selection than I am used to for continental breakfasts, but the last hotels I stayed at with continental breakfasts were 3 star rated or higher suite-style hotels. One had a higher expectation there.

The hotel website is overstated. The amenities are not as nice as shown. The rooms are fine. The desk staff was solicitous and helpful. The cleaning was adaquate.

From my colleagues staying at the Hilton, the rooms were not any nicer, they did not get balconies, nor fridges, nor microwaves, nor free wifi (well, they did with the conference but it is not usual) , and the cleaning was unacceptable, according to some.

Recommended: Yes