La Quinta Journal Center

The rooms looked new and were nice inside, but the tub was old and dirty. Outside, the grounds were filthy, and it feels like they only made the bare minimum effort to improve the place. It needs a serious cleanup. This doesn’t feel up to La Quinta’s standard.

We picked this hotel for its location near a dance festival, and the room turned out clean and nice, though there was no fridge or microwave. The parking lot and lobby didn’t make a great first impression. I’d already checked in online, but the front desk had me do it again and joked about charging me twice. He said he was new and being coached by phone. The coach apparently didn’t explain how to make the keys properly, since we had to get them remade for the second day. Just an okay stay.

At least the room, bedding, and bathroom were clean. The common areas were a different story: rubbish on the driveway, an overflowing bin, and worn, dirty carpet on the stairs and in the hallway. The lobby was old and plain. Breakfast was hardly a hot breakfast, just waffles, dry bread, instant porridge packets, or boiled eggs, which I wouldn’t choose. They also hold a $100 deposit for 3-5 days even though the room is paid for at check-in. Renovations are understandable, but management should be ashamed of the poor presentation and lack of cleanliness in general areas.

The towels had hairs on them, the blankets had old blood marks, and those shower curtains were nasty. Breakfast options were poor too. This was my first time in New Mexico, and I definitely won't stay here again.