Red Roof Inn Virginia Beach - Norfolk Airport

rowan magee _{on Google}

Jan 6th, 2024

TLDR; Bed bugs AND robbed in the same night. Refused to refund my mother.
I stayed here over Christmas 2023, and we completely expected a no frills experience, so the fact that the shower worked fine, it didn't smell like cigarettes, and the cable had many channels felt accommodating. I should've read the reviews and all the accounts of bed bugs beforehand: I had a single bite the first night and didn't think much of it, but each night more emerged and it took me no more than 30 seconds of looking to find a fat bedbug just inside the fitted sheet. I stripped the bed looking for more and found the telltale line of spots that bugs will poop after feeding, among other unsavory trash and remnants, but no big bugs like the one that was eating me. I put it in a cup and the staff wouldn't look at it, refused to confirm its existence and encouraged me to throw it away, but would NOT give a refund until an exterminator came to the room, which would be at least three days after we left. I left the cup sealed in the room for the exterminator to find, but the motel claimed there were no bugs found, and they would only give us 1 night reimbursed.
If this sounds like a reason not to stay, this was violating but not as costly as the other problem: The day before I found this bug and pleaded with the staff to take the bugs seriously, my mom's room was broken into while we were gone in the daytime. They took cash, a new ipad, a keypad, an unopened alcohol bought the night before, around $1700 worth of property. My mother called the police and the staff said they do have cameras that should identify the thief BUT that room (162) is beyond the camera's view, and that made us all think this was an inside job. According to the staff, the only way they would have any liability for burglary was if we announced all expensive property and cash the day we moved in (?!?). Does that sound like a way to get your wallet NOT stolen?? If you feel sketched out by the people and the location, it might be because there are desperate regulars who will scope you out and steal your stuff when you leave.
I don't think Red Roof Inn intentionally houses bugs or thieves, but they won't protect you from these threats, and that makes it a safe place for them, not us. We ultimately would've saved money if we paid for a more expensive place or Airbnb with better/any protection insurance.
Safety: We got bed bugs and robbed, they told us it wasn't their problem. The thieves even left the door open behind them, just proving they knew how to tamper with the locks.
Noteworthy details: Bed bugs and theft. Not a safe place to leave your personal items. Check the beds for bugs and leave your stuff in drawers or somewhere far from the bed...