BED BUGS!!! Do NOT stay here!!!
My family and I checked into the ESA Houston/Greenway Plaza on a recent Thursday night, we had booked the place for a month because we recently sold our house and were waiting to close on a new property. Upon arrival we were told that our room was a smoking room, even though I requested a non-smoking room, being worn out and tired I didn't argue becuase the desk clerk, Jean, told me we could switch rooms in the morning. We were startled when a kinda nutty looking woman stormed into the lobby saying that she was leaving because the room she was in was swarming with bugs. I thought she was just nuts. But I should have listened to her, she was right!
The first couple days were pretty good, the maid came and cleaned up and we had a little kitchenette so we could cook and I could homeschool my son at the table in the room. We liked the location by shops and restaurants and close to the zoo. We thougth it would be ideal. NOT! It turned into a nightmare. First of all the bathroom sink leaked and I had to use a bathtowel to stop the leak. I went to the lobby to get a new towel and told the clerk what happened and she said she would have to charge me for a new towel. I told her NO WAY, that I was using the towel to stop a leak! She didn't even say they would fix the leak. So the next day I called to complain and they did send someone to fix it. In the meantime we visited friends who have a house by the bayou and that night I was itchy. I thought it was mosquito bites from being by the bayou. I was the only one in the family itching so I didn't think anything of it. By the next day I was really itchy. I took a shower and took some benadryl. I noticed at this time some little flying bugs that I thougth were gnats. I called to report it and she said she would send the maitenance guy down. She did. He showed up with his poison and sprayed under the sink. I was bitten by one of those suckers and I took the thing down to the lobby front desk to show the girl. Asked her if it was a bed bug and she said "I don't know, I don't think so." So being an idiot, I went back to the room. That night I called to make sure they cleaned the room the next day and I kept getting put off they kept saying they would get back to me and never did. After an itchy night I finally got pissed and took the sheets off. I was going to wash them myself and I found little bugs in the bed. I was freaked out and screaming. I called the desk and they denyed bedbugs, but called the maitenance man to come spray. He picked up the mattress and said "Oh, senora, thees ees bad. Yah. Those are bedbugs". I started crying and he took out his poison and started spraying. He said "You can sleep here. I took care of it." I said no freaking way. I called the desk and she said she would have another room tomorrow, at which point I lost it and said "Tomorrow? I wouldn't stay another minute in this place Let me talk to the manager." Of course the manager was not there and would not take my calls. So I calle dmy husband and then took another hot shower and when my dh got there we got packed up and left in 20 minutes. I stopped at the front desk where she refunded one night of my stay. Like that would make up for it. I told another guest about the problem and he promptly checked out.
I have been so traumatized by this, it's insane. I ended up with fewer than 10 bites, but the horror of seeing those dead bugs was awful. I can't imagine anyone staying here and I want to warn people I kept saying to the clerk it is a health hazard and she kept saying they weren't bedbugs and I would have to prove it. I pulled up my shirt and showed her my back and she just got mad. I kept saying she needs to warn others so they don't get bitten, well they won't do it and the customer service won't take my calls or answer my letters. I have no choice but to tell everyone I know not to stay here. I even contacted the local news and I will contact th health dept at the City of Houston. This is disgusting. Save your money and your sanity and stay somewhere else. Even the city park would be preferrable to this nightmare.