"If this is what Sonesta Select Durham considers “guest-ready,” expectations need serious recalibration.
We booked one room, and within 30 minutes had to request another due to the complete lack of cleanliness and hygiene.
Room #1:
Not “a little dirty”—this was never cleaned.
Used disposable douche bottle in the shower
Feminine napkin strips on the bathroom floor
At that point, we weren’t guests—we were questioning sanitation standards.
We requested another room thinking it was a one-off.
Room #2:
Same issue, different layout.
Ceiling looked like it might cave in
Furniture torn up like it doubled as a scratching post
Black mold on the bathroom ceiling
Hair all over the floor
Hallways smelled strongly of cigarette smoke despite being a non-smoking facility.
We checked in on the 18th and checked out within 2 hours. That’s not a stay—that’s a failed inspection.
Ended up paying $650 at the DoubleTree nearby just to get a clean room—the bare minimum this hotel couldn’t provide.
Overall vibe? Less hotel, more hourly-use energy.
No exaggeration—if anything, this is restrained.
Final verdict:
If cleanliness matters at all, avoid this place."