Residence Inn Saginaw

I stayed here when I was flooded out of my home. This was one of the few hotels in the area that would allow my dogs. The staff was outstanding! They worked with me to get an appropriate room, and they went to great lengths to make myself and my little monsters comfortable.
The room was clean, all appliances were in working order, and the pool and fitness center were great.

Had not used this version of the Marriott chain. The kitchen and small living room portion was a great surprise. Made it easy for a quick business meeting. Will look for this option in the future. Good service, clean and well kept facility. Will return.

Had a great stay. Room was more than I expected, very clean and new. Only issue was that the dish went out and would search for signal when it rained. That’s the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars.

I never thought I’d be spending the night in Saginaw, but it happens to the best of us.
My first impression was: this place is so much nicer than my current apartment. Of course, I live in a hovel, but this made me feel pitiful. There is a dishwasher, flat screen tv, and very nice climate control. The bed is comfy enough, and the room was pretty clean. There’s good water pressure in the shower, though the shower/​toilet are separated from the sink, which I think is kind of gross. The walls are thin enough to get the gist of what your neighbors are saying. There’s complimentary breakfast in the morning, but the tea and coffee were undrinkable, which might be due to Saginaw’s funny tasting water, or something they can fix. All in all, it was an ok stay, and it’s pretty affordable. Although I don’t foresee spending too many more nights in Saginaw, I’d stay again if the price was right.

Hotel is clean. Beds are a bit soft but not terrible. Rooms are small but tidy with fridge and microwave. Flat screen TV and easy to use temperature controls. It’s not fancy but its clean and provides a nice place to relax and sleep.

I can’t sum up the terrible experience here. Instead, let me submit the letter I sent to the manager of this property.
Mr. Davis III,
My name is Jim Peck. My family and I stayed at your property in Saginaw August 24 – 26.
I regret it has taken me so long to write you, but even after this amount of time I feel compelled to share some of what turned into a terrible experience. I will not go through each detail, but suffice it to stay, I will NEVER stay at your property again and my staying at any Marriott is highly unlikely.
Mr. Davis III, I am topped out on almost all my hotel priority clubs statuses, Diamond Medallion on Delta Airlines and travel constantly. I have rarely encountered such shabby service and attention to detail as I have at your hotel.
My family and I came to stay for a soccer tournament in Midland and I chose your place because I have stayed in a few Residence Inns that were nice. And I was encouraged that you took pets, because I was traveling with my small dog. The person on the phone when I tried to make reservations told me they took dogs and that I should book online since they were too busy at the hotel.
Mr. Davis III, this should have been my first clue.
Upon arrival at the hotel, with my kids, dog and luggage standing in the lobby, I was checked in relatively quickly, shown the rate, given key cards.
After that, well, things went downhill.
Let’s see…
There weren’t enough towels in the room and when I called the front desk no one answered. So I had to walk down and get them myself.
Then, when my kids went to use the pool, there were no towels. Zero. Again, off I walked to the front desk and, after a mad scramble to find some, I was handed a damp pile of cold terrycloth. I asked if they had any dry ones and was told, «We are so busy, we just can’t keep up. I’m sorry.»
So my kids and I made do with wet, cold towels.
The next morning for our «complimentary» breakfast was a complete fiasco. There were tons of people waiting for food and none was available. There was one poor woman from housekeeping trying to get some food out. This included the sloppy presentation of half-​thawed blueberry muffins, partially cooked gray sausage «patties» and three biscuits. No milk, «We’re out right now.» No juice, «The machine isn’t working, SORRY!» No silverware, «I am sorry, I just don’t have anyone here to help me.»
I thought, maybe, this poor woman needed some help. So I, yet again, walked to the front desk. Imagine my surprise when I found the desk empty, void of anyone. I said, «Hello?» And in a few moments Valentina came out.
She said, «Sorry, I can’t take all the babies crying and yelling.»
«I know, it must be terrible with everyone needing things and hungry,» I said.
«It’s not a good day. What can I help you with?»
I told her about the lack of food and all of that. She said she’d try.
Nothing happened. The woman from housekeeping dashed around trying to get more food out.
I went back a few minutes later, after again, trying to find milk for my children’s cereal, a non-​frozen muffin, a completely cooked «patty,» and found Valentina, this time on her phone, texting. I asked if anyone was coming to help out. She shrugged.
It went on and on and never got any better.
Upon check out I was presented with a bill that included an inflated charge for having my dog. I asked about this and was told it was «policy.» I explained that no one had mentioned this to me, not when I called on the phone, not online and no even upon check-​in, while I was standing there, with my dog, and was shown the price of the room… that did NOT include the extra charge for a dog.
That, Mr. Lyle Davis III, is when I asked to speak to the manager. You. Of course, I was told, you don’t work weekends. Of course! What was I thinking?
Valentina was polite enough to give me your card and wrote her name on the back of it when I asked for that too.
Mr. Davis III, I don’t know if you care about this. I would, were I you. But perhaps this is acceptable. Perhaps stealth fees and charges are how you operate. Perhaps terrible service is the norm at your Residence Inn on Fashion Square Boulevard in Saginaw, Michigan. And, perhaps, you too, like Valentina, just can’t take all the crying and yelling. I would think you’d be used to it by now.
If you are interested, I would like to hear what you have to say for this example of your version of «hospitality.» I would like a refund for the charges for my dog that no one made me aware of. And I would like to know if it even bothers you that this is going on during your days off.
Assuming I can find someone to send this to, I will forward it to those at Marriott who may care more.
And if it seems that I should have sent this sooner, perhaps it says something about how frustrating this experience was that nearly a month later I am still angry and still willing to sit here and write you a long letter about this.
Best,
Jim