We booked a stay at the Akaza hotel while returning from a family vacation in NC. We decided to stop in Richmond to seek out and visit certain points of interest. I paid in advance for two nights at the Akaza through Hotels.com believing that I was booking accommodations in a clean business conference center hotel... NOPE. The business that is conducted at rooms in this hotel are not the kind that taxes are paid on. We didn't feel safe from the moment we arrived. My car was being prepared for towing by an aggressive "bandit" tow truck operator, within 15 minutes of arriving, while I was checking-in, and within 30 feet of the front door of the hotel (in the hotel's lot). A $50 CASH security deposit was required, the sheets and pillows were unclean, the shower curtain had mold, the room carpet had been soiled by unimaginable substances, there was an offensive odor in the room, and throughout the hotel, no iron, no wash cloths, no maid service unless you call for it. The key/door for the first room did not work, so we had to be given another room. The staff was unprofessional and 3 bottles of Corona beer were clearly visible on the staff's desk at the check-in counter. We checked-out after 2 hours. Our safety, and the preservation of my car and property, were more important than the cost of a 2-night stay. There was no manager on duty to express our concerns, only the staff with beer. Akaza refused to refund. Hotels.com offered $80 coupon for a future visit.
