DANGEROUS PROPERTY and THEY WILL ROB YOU.
I had to call the police due to fear for my life, at this property, as the man in the next room threatened to “Beat the [expletive] out of [me].” The product I purchased, which was reasonably restful sleep in two hotel rooms, was not delivered. I reserved two non-smoking rooms online at a Wyndham Rewards rate of $65. (see two reservations) for four nights. One room was to have a pet, the other room was for a person who is highly allergic to animals, and both were nonsmoking.
I checked in to the Ramada in Cumberland, MD on 2/17/26, using my Wyndham Rewards card, that I reserved the hotel rooms with. I was told there was a pet fee of $25, which I am on board with, and is the reason, assumedly, for the difference in prices, above. A pet fee is less expensive than boarding a pet, and there is also potentially more cleaning which needs to be done. I am grateful to Wyndham for offering this, and that’s why I am a rewards member and hold a Wyndham credit card. When I arrived, however, the manager stated it was per day. I was unhappy that this was not explained in the stated policy, but wasn’t going to quibble. Then, the manager showed me a printout of the rate, which increased every day, to a high of about $90. I said the rate I booked online, directly on their site (independently owned) was $65 per night He got outraged, started yelling at me that they don’t have any such rate (see screenshot above). He had me sign multiple documents for each room. When I asked for a copy, he said, “these are all for us.” I said I’d like a copy, and he said I’d get one at checkout.
I mistakenly produced my Citibank card, just for incidentals, per his instructions, as I used the Wyndham rewards card for the rooms themselves. He then charged one room, four nights to my Citibank card. When I asked him to change it over, he refused, saying, “There is a lot of credit card fraud” But I was there in person, showed a physical copy of my photo ID, and both cards were in my possession. When I gently pressed the issue, this gentleman repeatedly asked me to pay cash for the rooms.
When I got to the room, it absolutely reeked of cigarette smoke, despite there being signs all around the room warning of a $250 charge for anyone who smokes. I called down to the main desk to ask to be moved, but no one answered. After several tries, I had to get to my dinner reservation, so left. When I returned, no one was at the desk, just a sign pointing to a kiosk that was neither staffed nor working, unless one wanted to check in or out.
Every time the heater came on, I was blasted with the overpowering odor of stale cigarette smoke, and my clothing and possessions all smelled like it at the end of this trip.
That night, at approximately 2:30 AM, a loud, loud party began, with many people speaking Spanish at the top of their lungs (I speak Spanish and could hear them talking about other people, their job, and various other things). This carried on until shortly after 5 AM. I tried to be neighborly and didn’t say anything, but this is a place for people to sleep.
The next morning, I went to the front desk, and the young woman who works there said the hotel is filled with construction worker who work nights. I asked if I could be moved elsewhere, as the room with the part was adjoining mine, and she said no. That morning, they closed breakfast early (breakfast was included in the room rate), so we had no breakfast.
Mid-day, when the manager came in I again asked for a receipt (no), to change the credit card for the second room (no), to be moved (no), and for a proactive approach to noise control (if they are loud again, call the front desk). The front desk, overnight, is staffed by a young woman, so the manager was passing off this unsavory task to her, as he was not even available.
I left for the day, taking my pet with me, and I did not hang out a “do not disturb” sign, as there was not one provided. When I returned, neither hotel room had been serviced. If there is an extra per-day pet fee to clean, why would I be charged this fee and then not have the room cleaned?
And then, sure enough, promptly at 2:26 PM, the party began again. Here are three voice recordings of the high level of noise, which I took recordings of.
I called the front desk. The woman said she’d call the room. Their phone rang, and then stopped after three rings. At about 4 AM, I finally banged on the adjoining door to ask them to quiet down. The man yelled, in English, “KNOCK AGAIN AND I’LL BEAT THE [expletive} OUT OF YOU!” As a woman, alone in the adjoining room, I felt unsafe (and I live in a high-crime area of Boston, so I do not frighten easily) to the point of having to call the police. While my lungs were being singed with cigarette smoke from the heater. The police arrived and asked them to quiet down or they’d be back. Then the noise ceased, but again, it was nearing 5 AM, so I was on the second day of little sleep.
I went down and tried to discuss this with the manager, who yelled at me, berated me, and said I have to pay $100 for each room for the pet, because “I saw you bring the pet in there.” The entire reason I had two rooms was because I was traveling with my son and his friend, and the friend is very allergic to pets. So why would I pay the extra fee to prevent allergic reaction, and then bring my pet into the room? He was adamant. I said I wanted to check out, and he said I’d have to pay the full four days for both rooms, plus $100 per room for the cleaning fee (when they again did not clean the room, or service it in any way).
The hotel, as well, was filthy. There were old cigarette butts and aged dog excrement all over the sidewalk near the entryway (see photos).
I contacted Wyndham, who said this is an independently owned property, and they can’t intervene and would do nothing. But they forwarded my request to the manager, and only then did this manager agree to let me check out early.
But the expected price: $65 x 2 nights = $130 for the pet free room, and $180 for the room with the pet, is not what is showing on my statement, which, combined, is over $1,000.
I was, for the third time, not provided any receipt, despite my asking. There was a man in the kiosk on video, and he said, “the printer ran out of paper,” so I asked him to email it, and he said, “once you check out.” I tried to wait and have him do it there, and he refused. I was there to check out at 10:32, but this transaction took so long with him refusing to give me a receipt, that it advanced to past 11. Then the manager came and also refused to provide me with a receipt, an explanation of the charges, an explanation for why there was no room cleaning for either room, and he began screaming at me, treating me like a criminal, and telling me I couldn't go up into my room to retrieve my luggage as it was past 11:00 AM (despite him being the whole reason I was delayed).
I am a frequent traveller, and I have a pretty low bar. I am easygoing and amiable, and understand people have different schedules and expected outcomes. This, however, was dangerous, criminal, and not in keeping with the policies stated on the Ramada website.
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