25.12.09Unfortunately, I checked out of the New Yorker directly after checking in. The room had been cleaned—I know because there was a pretty bad smell of cleaning products in the room—not the Fabuloso kind but worse, like Simple Green had been poured everywhere. Since windows couldn't be opened, there was no way to get rid of the smell. I thought I could stick it out for a night and see how it went, but I've got allergies and asthma (yay) , I was already feeling tight-chested. I also saw a teenage roach as soon as I opened the door. It hustled to the wall behind the bed and was happily dancing around. It wasn't the kind of giant bug that walks on in through the door with you—as suggested by the person who checked me in—it was the size where there are sure to be more. I know it's Florida, I know it's an old building, and I know these things happen. But, not the kind of thing you want to see in a room first thing.
The area is probably located okay but not the greatest neighborhood. But my reason for leaving was not being able to sleep in the room without risking full-on asthma attack because of significant chemical odor. The desk clerk's comment was that they obviously need to clean. Well yes, of course, but I've never smelled this in any hotel or inexpensive motel I've stayed in before, and there have been a lot.
