Founder's Brook Motel & Suites, Portsmouth

We recently visited Bristol, RI to attend our son's graduation and stayed at Founders Brook Motel, less than a 5-min drive from Roger Williams University. Having read a really bad review, we were nervous and wanted to see the place first. The place is in a country-like setting with nice landscaping and lawns. There are multiple buildings with 2-room suites with a small kitchenette and a small bedroom. The owner was very accommodating and showed a few rooms and suites to us. We took one of the suites at a price that was half of a single room for Newport area. The place was very clean although a bit dated. All in all we had a very comfortable stay for two nights. We had breakfast at a Dunkin Donuts, only a couple of minutes away. The owner/manager was very polite and helpful. I enjoyed chatting with her - she is a single mother who works hard to make a living. She is also a Yoga instructor and gave me some tips on exercises for a bad back - a bonus for me. We will definitely stay here the next time we visit Newport area.

On or about 6/9/10 I contacted several Rhode Island chambers of commerce inquiring about affordable motels with weekly discount rates in and around the Newport, RI, area, stressing quiet as my prime objective. I was supplied with several dozen possibilities; all of which I contacted. Staff at the Founder's Brook Motel claimed that their rooms were in a quiet serene setting far back and away from any traffic or major roads. In the spirit of good faith and good business I confirmed such a "quiet" room for 7/8/10 to 7/15/10. Upon arrival, however, I immediately noted that said staff had lied to me in an attempt to lure me and take my money under false pretenses; to wit, the motel's rooms are directly adjacent to a very busy, very noisy highway. I immediately complained and asked to be moved to a quieter location since all of the quieter units farthest from the noisy highway were unoccupied, stressing all. The owner of the motel (male - name unknown) then phoned me some four (4) days later on 7/12/10 at which point I reiterated how his staff had deliberately deceived me, rummaged through my toiletries when I was not present, and placed me in a very noisy room with cigarette burns in the carpet and on the bed spread, blood stains on the bed sheets, and a non-functional refrigerator, microwave oven, telephone and television set. The owner seemed nonplussed, uncaring and unwilling to move me to a quieter room despite all such rooms being unoccupied with, according to G.S., no reservations to fill (any of) them before 7/15/10. The owner then said that he would move me if I agreed to pay $59+ more per night. Given the circumstances of being deceived by his staff, and despite all such rooms being unoccupied, the owner refused to move me without my incurring additional cost prior to rudely hanging up on me. I paid $48.42 (incl. tax) per night for 7 nights, yet the owner only offered a refund of $40 for only my remaining nights despite my having paid in full and in advance and being out of town with nowhere else to go. The owner acted in a greedy, unethical, disrespectful manner with zero semblance of care, concern, honor or integrity. In essence I was lied to and robber...and then ignored and disrespected when I brought the matter to their attention. The rooms are nasty, infested, stained, odorous, and right next to a busy highway. Every morning I am awakened at around 6:00 a.m. to the thundering vibrations from transit buses, 18-wheelers, and noisy trucks, cars and motorcycles. Vacations are supposed to be pleasant and enjoyable. The staff and owner of Founder's Brook Motel, however, ruined my vacation by way of induced stress, sleepless nights, anger, depression and disappointment. I actually had to buy (and use) earplugs, wrap my head with a towel, and run 2 fans on high in an attempt to get some sleep...to no avail.

What a DREADFUL place...and the "service" was no better. I remember years ago an elderly couple used to own it. They kept the place sparkling andd were wonderful people. All that has changed. The place has a terrible odor, so sickening I could not stay in the room (which was $20 more then they advised me on the phone that morning). She sent me to a smaller room (same price) and the woman left for the night. This room smelled just as bad, some sickening sweet odor that they were trying to cover up other odors. I literally was sickened by it and called the emergency number to advise them. The number they gave was for a Days Inn who said I could go there and be charged for BOTH rooms--Excuse me? I had been in the room only minutes and could not stay there the odor was so bad! I had to wait outside after a long trip up with promises the manager would call back. An hour of promises until I called again. I had chosen the location because of a meeting the next morning in the next twown, Bristol. I was finally told I could go to the Days Inn located in Mass. and they would TRY to get me a refund on the room. I have to say they treated us very poorly. They are well aware the rooms not only smell but are dirty and did gave me more problems when trying to find a place that did not smell which was physically making me sick. I do believe once they get your credit card number they don't care about you and they most certainly don't care about customer service. Although i was not where I needed to be, it turned out when I arrived at the Days Inn they charged MORE there. This is a despicable way to treat clients and their short sightedness in not coffecting the problem sooner and without an issue would have gone a long way to help....clearly not what they were interested in. Do NOT stay in this dirty, smelly place. I am appalled at the way they present their rooms, the prices they change and charge you at the last minute and their total disregard for people who stay with them.

We stayed recently here,it's very cleen and quite place.Staff was friendly and very helpful.In the kitchen Fridge,microwave,coffeemaker,toaster but no microwave,but we asked for it & we got it.My sister stayed in the Jacuzzi room with her husband,they were very happy too.Next time we'll try Jacuzzi room.

Very Hospitable. Rooms Are immaculate, And Very Cozy/Romantic I enjoyed the spacious Hot tub. Quite serene. I also like the fact that it's tucked away for extra seclusion.

We stayed this place in summer and our kids had great time over there,it's country setting area,very safe with kids,staff was very friendly with us.nice and clean property,It's good if they have swimingpool.

We were very dissapointed with our stay. The place was dirty, the amenties were very outdated, and the staff barely spoke English. Our non-smoking requested room smelled like a bar. Despite the LARGE sum of money we paid to stay there, we did not have a bathtub, microwave, swimming pool, oh yes here is the big one: we were told the ice machine was not working, which is what the managment told someone we met who had stayed there one year previously. The air conditioner was at least 30 years old and was not able to cool off the small two room area we had. I have had to wash our belongings twice to get the smell of the place off of them. We feel very misled by the other reviews that we had read about this place. Our recommendation is that there are plenty of nicer places in a 10-mile radius. We will be staying in on of those places when we return to the area.

This place was dirty, the beds were like rocks and ancient, the place smelled like beer, bacon and sweat. There were rips in the screens, there had been no updates in many years. Avoid this place like the plague! It is expensive-$139.00 per night . you can go down the road to the Holiday Inn Express in Middletown for $10.00 more and get a great room with a pool and jacuzzi. Oh, and the extra $30.00 for the jacuzzi at this motel adds insult to injury. The worst place I have had the misfortune to encounter.

This was by far the dirtiest place I've ever stayed in including condemend buildings overseas during military service. There was mold growing out of the utensils and the ceiling was crumbling down. If you have a choice between your car or this place, stay in your car. You'll be happy you did. The only thing I can say nice about this place is the people were friendly enough. What a pit though.