Drive up to the Ramada Inn motel on Gloucester, NJ and I wonder, is the inside going to be as decent as the outside? They tout wireless internet, a nice option (so I can post my review). I kicked on my iPod as I got out the truck, and caught some good tunes, so my mind wasn't focused on examining the lobby, but it seemed rather unimpressive. The check- in process was less than stellar; the clerk at first focused attention on workers who said that some appliances had been repaired (not a good sign), but then didn't know how to get me checked in properly.
I finally got my room card for a room in C building, across the center court where there's ample room for a pool and it actually looks inviting for a winter afternoon. But I was hungry and decided to get some lunch at an Indian restaurant at the place. They had lunch buffet, and for a little over $10, you get plenty of food. It wasn't bad, but for the first several dishes, I started thinking that it was actually a vegan lunch, because they kept displaying vegetable or pea- type meals. Only one chicken dish and one lamb dish were included, but the server came out with a small plate of 3 pieces of tandoor chicken.
I drive my truck to the rear, find my room (facing the highway and an end unit where a walkway leads to the court. Between my room and the court is a room for sodas, ice, and also a washer and dryer. Strange seeing that, so I figured that perhaps the property caters to long- term stay customers. Opening the room, I can see that the place needs a facelift. The carpet was an ugly mix of colors, and spots dotted the rug, which looked like a pattern for turn- of- the- 1970's... but it would never make a debut on "That 70's Show." I should have gotten to the room first; the money- conscious owners have decided that in the winter time, they should comfort their wallets more than comfort the incoming guests.
The room felt extremely uncomfortable. I turned to the air unit, which looked modern enough, but it barely has the BTU's to crank out enough heat to get the room cozy enough. Finally, after almost 3 hours inside, I've finally felt it was all right to take my jacket off, since I'm wearing one of those thin, all- weather long sleeve sports shirts. The room is all of about 13 feet by 18 feet, plus an extra 6 feet beyond the back wall which partially partitions a sink that yields no privacy. The bathroom has just toilet and bath, plus a number of spots on the ceiling.
Positives: Iron, modern fridge, coffee maker (but bad coffee), microwave, TV. Bad: haid dryer missing; sandpaper towels; two lightbulbs burned out, and the desk never responded. The room experience is ... passable, by a thin margin. For the cost, it's not. Tiny room, barely enough heat to maintain temperature, the lack of proper cleaning for spots on the floors and ceilings, and using weird- colored carpets, comforters, and furniture should be unacceptable for the likes of Ramada.
With the poor temperature control on a day of 40 degrees, with a room where you can easily see spots on the carpeted floor and bath ceiling, I wouldn't care to stay again.