Comfort Inn & Suites Montgomery East Carmichael Rd

Kind Staff We stayed here for a night on our way to Florida for vacation. The hotel staff was extremely helpful and kind. The room and hotel were somewhat worn and could use a refreshing update. It felt a little dirty for my wife, but it met my sons’ and my needs just fine. It was very busy but not 100% full.

Exactly what you’d expect It’s exactly what you expect from a Comfort Inn. Everything is adequate and you feel clean. Nice staff. Clean rooms. Okay breakfast. Heavily used by the military from what I can see. Safe area and close to the interstate. I stayed on business due to the cost, but would feel comfortable with my family.

An adventure for those with a penchant for danger and food borne illness It started woth a 30 minute check in because the computers are circa 1992 and struggling with the windows XP update. It was some of the best service you will ever get (it really was amazingly friendly. Almost too friendly. Almost a declaration that this would be the last moment of peace I would ever experience in this life. but I digress) It took thirty minutes because the card reader thingy isn’t working very well. In that moment I should have known; but I didn’t. He pointed me to a well-oiled, somewhat dented and clearly broken-in historically registered elevator and said-“that way to the second floor sir!” (How did he know I was in the military? What a nice guy). I entered the hollow metal death tube eerily reminiscent to Disney’s epic Tower of Terror and I thought “Hold on man-you can do this. It’s a good thing you’re not claustrophobic.” This would be the last rational thought I would have for 12 to 72 hours. I hit the button and stood up straight—to the penthouse here I come! That’s when the power went out. My friendly attendant called out, “Just a moment sir, I know just what to do.” With delicate ease he placed the fireman’s call key into the slot and the power came on. “Just hit floor number two sir!” I would like to tell you that in that moment I had presence of mind to leave that hotel elevator taking my chances on the contractor’s garbage laden stairs; but I didn’t. No, I proudly punched that button and whiz pop it hurtled towards the skies…for about six inches. Then the power went out. He started resetting as I repeated pushed the exceptionally loud elevator buzzer (who hasn’t wanted to do that?) and yelled out, “Somebody call 9-1-1.” ( I did it loud and with intensity and just short of those words I’m not allowed to use without quarters for the jar.) BUZZ HELP! BUZZ HELP BUZZ HELP! I think I may have heard panic and a little crying from the other side of the door. (Sometimes at night I can still hear the crying). Over the top? Yes. But when I stopped the buzzing an eerie silence hung heavy in the air and I heard a heard a faint, “So I should call the Fire Department then?” (He was on the line with his GM.) I responded with “Great! Better call him in too!” Now I know what you must be wondering, did I remember the wisdom of Dwight Shrute and establish a hygiene corner? The answer is yes, but thankfully I was too busy writing fan mail to my new friends at Choice Hotels corporate to use it. They haven’t responded to me yet and I really really want to get one of those yard skeletons left over from Halloween and leave it between the floors with a copy of my note: “Please send help, I’m stuck in an elevator at Comfort Inn in Montgomery Alabama. Running out of ai…” (But I digress). It was about that time I heard the distant sounds of sirens drawing near. (Good thing it was a slow night for fires in the capital city.) My fearless heroes called out to me from beyond the door. “Are you claustrophobic?” I proudly answered “No (but I’m starting to consider it now that my first responders have actual fear in their voices.) “Don’t worry sir, we’ll have you out of there in a jiffy.” (Is this gonna be a momma’s whooping up a batch of cookies Jiffy or a Comfort Inn and Sweets Check-in Jiffy? (This is the south and they sometimes do things a little slower down here.) Now I can tell you this; I am surprised that four young, cross-fitting firefighters can jaws-of-life a car open in minutes but they were not able to break into a hotel elevator over the course of 40 minutes. “Sir, it will be just a minute. Are you small enough to be hoisted through the roof access?” Now I am not as skinny as I was in my forties, but dude! that just hurt. “Ya I think I can manage—Do you have any grease?” Minutes later I heard the muffled sounds of victory as the youngest among these boys in red “John McClaine’d” open the outer door upstairs, the happy scurrying of dozens of mice and the scraping of boots above me. My rescue team then told me, “so you might want to stand to one corner. We don’t know what’s gonna happen here.” I of course, ignored them as I prepped for my selfie and updated my social media status. In less time than it takes to have your wallet stolen in the mean parking lots of Comfort Inn and Suites, the plexiglass heavens parted and I peered into the face of a firefighter about the same age as my kids. (Oh good, they sent the experienced team). He was very polite, hoisted up my stuff and posed for a selfie. Well done sir. Well done. Then he said what can only be the nicest thing he could think of in the moment, “It’s ok, He’s almost smaller than me!” (That still stings man…but I get it). He sent down a skinny ladder (who knew they had such things) and I climbed gingerly on to the struts of the elevator’s roof. In that moment I may have mumbled something to the effect of, “Come out to the coast we’ll have a few laughs.” Several selfies later, I sat down with the GM and asked him, “So what would you have done if I had been in a wheelchair?” He responded with, “But sir, just yesterday the elevator guy showed me how to turn the key and reset the elevator….. and did I mention we have a complimentary Hot breakfast? (Ok slow down chief. You have just told me three important pieces of information 1. You knew the elevator was unsafe. 2. You taught your employees how to bypass the safety system. 3. You are not willing to take responsibility for the problem. I reminded him of my offer to reach out and dispute the problem with corporate and reminded him also that it was fortunate that I am not the litigious sort, however he needs to address the problem before someone really does get hurt. I was so relieved when he taped “out of order” signs on all of the doors.) He then graciously offered to comp my room (my room was already paid for by my employer and would require a lot of paperwork to explain). I declined, so he offered me Choice Hotel points. So get this, if I sign up for a low introductory Diner’s Club rate, I can receive up to 50 points good at any rat infested, condemned tenement in the greater Detroit area (minus black out dates). You know I jumped on that! With a promise to get back to me and a call from corporate which I should expect a day after world peace is declared and hell freezes over, I was whisked by the elevator and up the debris laden stairs to my luxury suite. (Furnished delicately with bio waste on the walls, mildew on the curtains and the quality tepid cascade of shower waters we have all come to expect from Choice Hotels everywhere. (Nothing feels better than a cold hotel room, cold shower and the fresh smell of contractor supplies laden throughout the halls. And breakfast looked so good and a microwave would have done wonders to make it hot enough to kill the bacteria. There really is nothing like room temperature biscuits and gravy to start your morning off right! The next afternoon. I was starting to cool off. After a long day of work I admit I mistakenly took one parking lot turn too soon. The location of this hotel is among the most authentic of any in all of the capital city. When I turned into the boarded up wreckage of Comfort Inn’s sister hotel (another failed Choice hotel) still standing in magnificent glory. It was gingerly ringed by hundreds of shopping carts, vented at each window and most of the roof from an epic fire and directly adjacent to one of the safest little hotels in all of exit six Montgomery. Slowly, I locked the doors and backed out, hoping that jagged glass wouldn’t puncture my tires and slow my escape. Thankful to be back to the safety of my hotel. I was reminiscing over open windows decorated with garbage strewn from a remodel, more dust, an inviting open elevator door (not on your life) and the blinking red light informing me that my day-old card key was not longer coded to the room. I invite all travelers and adrenaline junkies everywhere to enjoy the adventure that awaits at any Choice Hotel in America! Please look through my catalogue of slides but when it comes to the owner’s penitent response below; as they say, “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.”

Pool permanently closed Excited to go swimming with our child, who has now been screaming for hours. Went and asked if the pool closed early, and was rudely told that it has dirt in it and has been closed as long as she has worked here. My father booked the room and upon check in was told the room he booked was not available. The girl was sweet and tried to help him in this case. Booked us into a newly remodeled room, said we were the first to stay in it. Room was never dusted after construction was completed, a thick layer of dust was on everything. The curtains were old and filthy. Hotel doesn’t look bad upon first glance but is one of the worst stays in a while!

Comfortable and clean Comfortable and clean. Friendly staff. Enjoyed our stay. Nice breakfast with hot and cold options. Nice workout center. Room was quiet and comfortable. Good location on Chantilly Parkway just off I-85. We were very pleased with our accommodations.