Valued Stay Madison

I am moving to Wisconsin and needed a place to call home on short time frame, I'm starting a new job. They advertise that you can lease for $800 a month. Send you a questionnaire and then an application with a $50 application fee. Both ask the question, "do you have pets?" I replied yes and gave my cats descriptions. I was checking in for a weekly rate until I got my first check. Drove 6.5 hours, arrived and was told they didn't allow pets. Until they found out it was cats. Then they said yes. But then told me I had to pay another $100 pet deposit on top of a $100 security deposit and $350 for a week, because I didn't tell them I had cats. Again, refer to questionnaire AND rental application. Worked it out and got checked in. After signing paperwork with a host of rules including no visitors, cannot receive mail there, no appliances allowed in room other than microwave provided, no smoking (no biggie on that one). Got in my room. So small. After a long drive I wanted a shower. The showerhead was so low I had to bend down, I'm only 5'6". Barely turned to the hot and it was scalding, had to adjust it right in the middle but it still alternated between a good temp and randomly scalding. Finally got changed into pajamas and turned off the light. Then I started getting cold, because you know January in Wisconsin and it was snowing. Guess what. Heater did not work. Nor did the thermostat on the wall. Tried to call the front desk from the phone in the room. Also didn't work. Turned on the light to find my phone and called the front desk. No maintenance on site and asked if I wanted to switch rooms. I declined. I was tired. Pulled back the sheet to get back in bed and the sheets were dusty or full of hair (not from my cats, they were hiding under the bed). That was it. I packed up and went and told them I was checking out and wanted a refund. That this was not worth the $450 I paid and definitely not worth what was going to be $900 a month with a lease. As for the location. It's down a dark winding road in the middle of nowhere. The pictures online are EXTREMELY deceiving. The young lady at the front was pleasant but a little hard to understand due to her accent. But otherwise she was very nice and apologetic. I told her it wasn't her fault and I apologized for snapping at her. All in all. Do not stay here. Frankly, I think they need to be investigated. Update: received this response from the owner. No apology whatsoever. Basically saying they know the state of their rooms, they know they are over charging. They don't care.

a month ago

The king bed was excellent. The breakfast was excellent, a huge variety. Service? Does anybody actually work there? Location -- use a GPS...it's confusing.

6 days ago

Although I gave three stars, I’m a big fan of this motel. I LOVE the great breakfast; it’s WAY better than any other “reasonably priced” place. All I want is a clean room and bed, which they are, and I want a good breakfast. I don’t go there to “enjoy the facilities.” I want to sleep, shower, and have breakfast, and it does well on two and great on breakfast! I’ve used it for annual meetings at the Alliant Convention Center.

5 months ago

One of the women was rude as heck. She was quick to take the money, but couldn't figure out what the hell she was doing. I was paying the same exact amount until she tried to switch it up on me until I questioned it then she said ok yeah fine you can keep the same price.

5 months ago

5 stars for their breakfast!! Amazing breakfast compensated for an average room. The breakfast was served with pancakes, eggs, waffles, juices, fruits, bread and many more options. The stay was pleasant, they can work on room interiors :-) The best part is their cozy pool.

7 months ago

Positive: Nothing. It's not the hotel I picked and I would really like to knowI got booked there! The system that booked me is on your end. Not mine. Negative: Everything! It is in the middle of nowhere far from Madison. It is literally in the middle of a field! There is no place to eat in site, in fact, no place in site at all. The road ends at the side of the hotel in a pile of gravel. No way to cancel.

7 months ago

Breakfast was impressive but rooms were dinky and front desk staff were less than helpful. There wasn't a convenient place to park (had a 28 foot trailer behind crew cab pickup). Located at dead end, access was not easy.

7 months ago

We stayed here 2 nights (Friday/Saturday). It's located next to the county dump on a deadend road, very isolated unlit street, dark areas everywhere, and the hotel is in disrepair. We immediately got an unsafe feeling. If i wasn't an avid 2nd amendment user, my wife and I would have left. The entire hotel smelled of Marijuana and it's stated to be a smoke-free property with $250 fines for smoking, lol. It was so strong you could smell it in our room. You can see it's in the process of a transition, but you can tell it's been a very long process with little progress. Different signs onsite "Americas best value" and "Value Stay" are currently marketed as a value stay madison. The online pictures are very deceiving and misleading. They required a $50 deposit upon arrival. The rooms have had a liberal layer of lipstick applied but are clearly old and just repainted. The newer furniture is cheap and wobbly with no night lights by the bed. Mattress was very lumpy and soft. We did not sleep well. However, the linens were clean and presentable. See pictures for accurate conditions of room and hotel grounds. We had one key cash to use up, and we used it here. We won't make that mistake again. My opinion is to spend a few extra dollars and go somewhere better. This place is not maintained, was loud music playing Saturday night in parking lot at 11 p.m. shady characters everywhere, and I believe a lot are living here long term.

10 months ago