Best Western Ramkota Hotel

The pool was so cold we couldn’t even put our feet in, despite having promised our toddler he could swim all day. The frog slide also looked like it had gangrene. In the bathroom, there was no shower or tub, just a dirty blue porcelain whirlpool from the ’80s covered in mildew. The fan hung from the ceiling, loud and unusable, and the bottom of the door had what looked like dog claw marks. We booked a “two-room suite” so the babies could sleep separately from the adults, but it turned out to be one big room with two beds and no walls, doors, or partitions. The room itself looked clean otherwise. I was extremely disappointed and will contact corporate and write reviews so others know about what felt like corporate greed.

The staff I dealt with were nice, and the kids did have fun, but the pool caused chemical burns on several children. My 3-year-old was hit the worst and screamed in pain. I tried running the tub to rinse the chlorine off them, but it started filling before I’d even plugged the drain, and then barely drained at all. We had to pack up and go home early because nobody else could rinse off. One friend’s daughter’s swimsuit looked like she’d jumped into bleach. The girls told the front desk, and the only answer was, “It happens!” What is that? This is a pool aimed at children, so get the chemicals fixed. I’ve heard from other people that this has been going on for a long time. We’d booked a room for my kids’ birthday party, and it was such a waste of money. Aberdeen deserves better. If you want a good hotel pool, go to Holiday Inn Express and skip this place.

The indoor water park was a huge plus for our kids, and the staff made check-in quick and welcoming. We found the place quiet, clean, and very well cared for, though it has an older feel. Breakfast was basic but fresh and satisfying. It’s close to the highway and local shops, so getting around Aberdeen was easy. We stayed at Best Western Ramkota while traveling through South Dakota and felt it was good value, with genuinely friendly service. I’d recommend it for a comfortable, reliable stay.

The hallways smelled of old food and smoke, which is concerning for a non-smoking hotel. Our room was stained, with blood on the sheets, walls, and bed skirt. We had reserved a king two months ahead, but after check-in found ourselves in a filthy queen room. When we went to the desk, Amber the receptionist was extremely rude and dismissive, saying “it’s all we had.” That was hard to understand since someone from our conference walked in without a reservation and got a king suite that same day. The whole experience was deeply disappointing, and we won’t stay here again.