HYPOALLERGENIC HOTEL RANKING
This is my hotel ranking and comment section for allergy free hotels. Criteria for this ranking is pretty much based upon whether or not a person with reactive airways, allergies, asthma, MCS, etc. could stay at that particular hotel because of the smells. My wife is severely breathing challenged and I have a pretty good idea of what it takes for her to be able to stay somewhere. The hotels are rated as follows:
- Yes - most likely is ok and is an actual hypoallergenic hotel (please note: every person is truly unique and there is no way to accurately predict each person’s immune system response).
- Maybe - very iffy but could still be ok for most looking for allergy free hotels and are not severe sufferers.
- No - absolutely no, not a chance in hell for those needing a hypoallergenic hotel room.
Here is the new “Hotel Stink Factor” list for 2009.
No - Hanover Marriott – Hanover, NJ: Jan. 2009 very smelly rooms and the windows don’t open.
Maybe - Marriott Courtyard - Meriden/Wallingford, CT: Jan. 2009 Possibly ok, rooms were recently renovated, sliding doors to balconies open to the outside, very dry and can be stuffy in winter. No strong odors to speak of.
No - Harrahs - Atlantic City, NJ: Jan. 2009 A definite No. Even though the rooms were recently refurnished with new fixins’ the carpeting in the rooms didn’t appear so new. The cigarette smoke from the casino permeates every part of the hotel, even the non-smoking areas of the casino and the floors of the sleeping rooms.
No - Hyatt - Bethesda, MD: Jan. 2009 Again, a sincere No. The lobby is riddled with stinky perfume. Much the same stink that you can find pumped in to every chain bedding and housewares store in America. The rooms are smelly.
No - Howard Johnsons Hotel - Pikesville, MD: Jan. 2009 Definitely avoid this hotel. We got stuck looking for a place to stay during the weekend of the inauguration of President Barak Obama. The hotel is gross, nasty, and disgusting. These were some of the words we used to describe this hotel. Although they have nice chandeliers in the lobby where the front desk is surrounded by bullet proof glass.
Maybe - Hilton - Baltimore, MD: Jan. 2009 A definite maybe leaning toward the ‘very possibly’. As of January 2009 the hotel is very new. The lobby doesn’t smell but the guest rooms smell like new materials, carpet, etc. If they keep the rooms clean, don’t deodorize them, and let the materials outgas for a while then it’s possible that it will be ok for sensitive people. Just be sure to ask for hypo-allergenic bedding and hope that they don’t start using high stink factor cleaning solutions. Other than that, it’s very possibly likely that this could be an ok hotel for a breathing challenged person to stay in. Also, great location! From every floor you can look right into Camden Yard Stadium where the Baltimore Orioles play.
No/Maybe - Marriott Greenpointe -Teaneck, NJ Jan. 2009 Smells inside like a typical hotel. The rooms didn’t stink too bad however a close inspection of the heating and cooling system revealed a filter that appears to never have been changed. It was totally gross. I inquired at the front desk about allergy free rooms and I was told that you can get one at all Marriott hotels if you reserve one in advance. The keyword that Marriott will respond to is “Green Room”. My conversation with the clerk also revealed that they have the same problem with their staff being unaware of what being allergy clean is. The program includes clean and hypo-allergenic bedding, steam cleaned carpets and drapes, new air filter, additional air filtration.
Maybe - Rennaisance Hotel - Syracuse, NY Jan. 2009 Formerly The Mark Hotel, Maybe a less sensitive person could stay here. It is fairly clean and the staff is friendly. The ecclectic design in the hotel could lend itself to one day eliminating the carpeting in the rooms. Be sure to ask for hypo-allergenic bedding before you arrive.
Maybe - Ritz-Carlton - Washington, DC (22nd St.) - Feb. 2009 Not too bad of a smell there but don’t let the housekeepers in. That will help keep the odors of the cleaning solutions down.
NO - Rennaisance Ross Bridge Resort - Hoover, AL Feb. 2009 Definitely No!. The hotel is scented heavily. Even if your room was allergy clean you still have to get there through the quagmire of stink.
