Here is information on my 2004 February 14 to 16 visit to Herndon, Virginia and the surrounding Northern Virginia sections of  Fairfax County and Loudon County. During this visit I stayed at the Homestead Studio Suites Reston, 12190 Sunset Hills Road Reston, VA 20190. This was a continuation of my trip that started on February 13 to 14 at another hotel.

I changed to the Homestead Studio Suites Reston to get a much lower rate for the room for two nights. The first hotel was purchased on Hotwire.Com for $49.95 total. This room was about $41.74 total per night. If I wanted to stay at the first hotel for an additional night I would have paid $59.00 plus tax per night.

I stayed at the Homestead Studio Suites Reston before (2002 May 19 to 20) and after and was thoroughly satisfied with my stay during those other visits. This stay did not start out good. I checked into Room 275 on Saturday. During my initial review of the room, where I take some pictures for my trip album I noticed a few housekeeping problems.

• Above the stove, in the cabinet, was an ash tray with some ashes and a cigarette butt.

(continued)

• Under the sink was a bag from a nearby restaurant with some trash and a plastic container similar to that used for take-out. A receipt attached to the bag was dated February 11, 2004.
• In the trash can, under the bathroom sink, were some q-tips with what appeared to be wax on them and tissues.
• The carpet around the nightstand and next to the closet had pretzel crumbs and specks of dust and dirt.

I debated whether I would mention this to the front desk at the Homestead Studio Suites Reston. Normally I wouldn't but I decided to request another room. I went to the front desk and requested another room. There were two clerks there with one waiting on some other guest. The male front desk clerk politely asked me what the problem was. I stated, "housekeeping concerns". I said this because there were other guest checking in and I felt like keeping my problems quiet. After those guest left the lady, who initially checked me in, asked the other clerk what the problem was. He stated simply that I wanted another room. At this point I said that is not the case. I then went on to tell them both, in detail, of the problems I had with housekeeping for this room. (continued)

Out of all of this my problem with the situation is that I did not receive a single response to my statement of the housekeeping problems. No apology. Nothing. This is wrong. I don't expect a free night. I would simply like some reaction from the staff of the Homestead Studio Suites Reston, other than silence.

I was given room 218 at the Homestead Studio Suites Reston and moved my stuff to the new room. This room was very clean. In the bureau drawer, however, was a shirt tag (the kind on a string that wraps around a button) and a small empty bag. There appeared to be a slight build up along a couple of the bathtub tiles. The cold water knob for the bathroom sink did not work. This is nothing compared to the first room. This room had a spotless carpet and empty trash cans.

Homestead Studio Suites Reston, Virginia	Homestead Studio Suites Reston, Virginia
It can only get better. Of course it could be worse. There could have been a steaming pile sitting on the bedspread. This reflects the trash, including the wax coated q-tips left from an unclean housekeeper.

Will I stay at the Homestead Studio Suites Reston, Virginia again if the price is right?   YES!

All other things being equal, will I pick another property? Probably! This experience may actually prevent an "All other things being equal" scenario.

2005 January 9 - I have stayed here about 2 times/3 nights since this visit. I have been thoroughly satisfied with those visits and in fact am considering a purchase on Hotwire.Com for later today that most probably will give me a room here for one night.