Jeffrey S.
Yelp
Had to book a hotel last minute for a business trip and found an opening at the Beachside. It was way more expensive than any hotel I've ever stayed at in my life but I assumed the accommodations would reflect it and at least it would be a nice stay. I cant begin to tell you how wrong I was.
First, I received an email saying I had to fill out a "Guest Agreement" form prior to arrival. It required I send the hotel a photo of my driver's license, as well as agree to wear a mask in public areas of the hotel, AND re-enter my credit card to put another $50 deposit on the room. I called the hotel to make sure it was legitimate and they said yes, it was their policy that guests have to send pictures of their ID for their "records" and for "contactless check-in". I said I wasn't comfortable sending a picture of my license with personal information on it to be stored in their "records", and their response was I could either send a picture of my driver's license or a picture of my passport, but without one of those they wouldn't hold the reservation. I should have heeded the red-flags right there but it was a work trip so against my better judgement I sent a picture of my license. Well their check in was anything but contactless. No one person, guest or staff, was wearing a mask (which was fine by me, I just dont know why I had to sign an agreement saying I would abide by their mask policy). I had to show my ID again at check in, which negates the whole agreement form they required. I had to provide and swipe my credit card... again... this time for 'incidentals'. As frustrating as all that was, I got my key and when I got in to the room, I realized this is really just a cheap motel masquerading as a hotel.
The paint in the bathroom was literally peeling off the wall due to zero ventilation, other than a window that opened DIRECTLY in to the open hallway, completely viewable by other guests as they walked by to their own rooms. You could actually see out to the walkway from the shower, and there was no real way to keep it shut for privacy. The toiletries provided were in refillable pump bottles, which were clearly not checked or cleaned because the 'conditioner' bottle was completely empty and the 'body wash' bottle had the nozzle completely blocked with a dried-out plug of soap. For the roughly $800/night price tag I was paying, I had higher expectations than dirty, empty soap dispensers in a shower that was absolutely visible to anyone that wanted to take a look while walking by with the paint peeling off the wall. The rest of the room was underwhelming at best, basically what I would expect from a motel charging less $80/night instead of $800. But oh well, it was for one night so I figured I could live with it.
At checkout (the next morning) I requested an itemized bill from the front desk so I could file it with my expense report for the trip. The girl at the front desk said she couldn't print one, but it would get automatically emailed to me in a digital copy. Well I got the email, but a receipt it is not. It's a "checkout receipt" that says you checked out of the hotel. It has no prices, what the taxes were, what the room rate was, if there are any 'incidentals', nothing. When I called them to ask for the itemized receipt I was initially told I would get, they REFUSED to send me one! They said the booking came through a third-party website (i.e. my company's corporate travel portal), so I'd have to go after them for a receipt, but otherwise it was their policy to not provide me any receipt moving forward.
I've never in my life had a hotel or motel demand photographs of your ID, charge that much money for such poor accommodations, then outright REFUSE to send a receipt. Seriously, if you're going to stay on the island just commit the money to a better place. In for a penny, in for a pound. But if you choose to stay at the Beachside, be ready for the constant feeling you're being royally hosed out of money.