Shannon Vacations from $411

The location of the property was great. The parking was great. The layout of the property was great, meaning the exterior was nice and clean except for the [unattended] used linen pushed into a corner under the steps. I guess quitting time means immediately stop what your doing in some places, no matter what, like someone yelling 'fire'. Anyway, my room smelt mildewy [it stank] likely because of the dirty old rug; the dressers and tables were really worn, outdated and dusty; the linen [and especially one of the was cloths] was dingy with the visibility of certain unremovable stains; the bathroom sink was backing up until I looked down into the drain and saw that a soap wrapper had been stuffed down into the drain [thus causing the backup] so I removed it with my tweezers [yuk] which helped alleviate the sink backup issue and there were hairs on the walls around the tub indicating the staff failed to clean the room properly. The outside of the place looked much better than the room itself. The chair and the sofa had stains and looked worn and old. And finally there is absolutely no staff after 5 or 6pm much less over the weekend - office was closed. Cleanliness should not be a compromise for affordability. The rooms should be better cleaned and sanitized and the rugs should definitely be removed to help avoid unpleasant smells.

I cannot see why anyone would choose a chain hotel if a room at the Grande Magnolia is available. Our weekend in Benson, NC was exceptional due in large part to staying at the Grande Magnolia. When we arrived we were greeted at the door by a man who knew us by name. We were shown to our room and given a one on one explanation of some of the features and history of the hotel. We walked to the historic downtown area and when we returned we were greeted by Ms. Nancy, the owner. Her passion for the Grande Magnolia radiates uninhibited. The attention to detail and quest for historical accuracy permeates the design decisions made for this magnificent building. The Grande Magnolia serves breakfast every morning (I believe). While we were there no less than seven families came to the restaurant, so it’s popular with the locals. True to the spirit of “bed and breakfast”, our morning meal was included with our stay. The staff was on the ball and we never had to ask for coffee refills. Checkout was a breeze. I would very much recommend this place to anyone looking for a unique experience in the Four Oaks, Benson or Dunn area.

The smell of disinfectant was so strong in the bedding and spiders and bugs were found in the room.

Will definitely stay again