I booked this apartment hotel because the photos and reviews looked acceptable-a structure I always follow when booking.
I am fresh from surgery and needed a clean, safe place to rest while my eyes were still swollen and I was carrying luggage between hotels.
The moment the receptionist let me into the unit, the smell hit me like a punch to the nose. I let it go because I was exhausted and too accustomed to less-than-pristine accommodations.
But after surgery, I needed and paid for much better.
I took my medication and rested until it kicked in. When I felt well enough to move around, I inspected the apartment. It was horror after horror.
The bathroom: The sink has no drainage cover, signaling a careless attitude and an open invitation for roaches and insects to come and go at night. Then I checked the bathtub. Black mold everywhere-caked around every grout line. My survival instinct screamed; this is a direct threat to my healing surgical sites and respiratory health. I told myself I would call reception, ask them to clean it, and buy bleach for extra measure. I was still trying to accept the situation.
The kitchen: A layer of dust covered everything. The microwave and fridge smelled foul. There had clearly been no routine cleaning.
The living area: The couch smelled bad. The internet was slow.
Then I moved toward the bed, and that's when I saw holes in the floor and holes in the walls. I inspected closer and watched a spider crawl out of a floor gap. That was the final straw. I packed immediately.
Zero trust remained.
There was no chance I would risk bed bugs or any pests entering my luggage and coming home with me. Absolutely not. I had to be in controlled loss stop loss mental state.
I left that instant. I contacted both the hotel and Trip.com, stating I had zero trust in the establishment and would not view another room. Of course, they refused a refund. Trip.com negotiated on my behalf but claimed they could not override the property. That is unacceptable.
Trip.com needs to take heavy note of this and change their policy especially when a guest arrives with photo evidence and proof. They need to hire inspectors to verify room conditions before allowing properties onto their platform.
This is not a good look for Trip.com, and they should take heavy consideration in enforcing stricter hygiene and safety standards.
The hotel, naturally, offered a different room. As if, after everything I just experienced in the one room I overpaid for, I would trust their other rooms to be any better? Absolutely not. I am now convinced the positive reviews are either fake or unverified.
A warning to all travelers especially those recovering from surgery or illness: Always inspect your room thoroughly and take pictures before accepting it. Look at the photos I have attached.
One final note: the bathtub itself is dangerously flimsy. When I stepped into it to photograph the wall, the base dented downward under my weight and snapped back into shape only when I removed my foot. The exact spot I stepped on was covered in black mold. I didn't notice it and was grossed out and resched for my alcohol wipes.
My previous hotel was not luxurious but they maintained basic hygiene and interior care. This establishment failed on every level.
Dear Trip.com: Change your policy. Enforce stricter standards. I would not wish this experience on anyone. Hotel Int'l Bien Viu has lost all credibility.
