Qupqugiaq Inn

The lobby has a kitchen and fridge, so there's a spot to cook and spend time with family. They also offer really tasty coffee. The rooms were clean, and with good customer service, a hot shower, Wi-Fi, and Roku TV, it was a comfortable stay. A great place to stay.

The front desk worker Jennifer, the blonde woman, was rude and unprofessional in my experience. She seemed to act on feelings instead of logic, and I felt she might retaliate or blacklist a guest on a whim. The overnight security guard seemed to sleep rather than do anything, and people were left to take food from the shared fridge. I didn't see any other free food or much concern for guests' comfort. It felt like they kept charging until they got their money. Be careful around the blonde receptionist, and around homeless people, since security doesn't seem to help. I can't understand how she is still there, unless the owner accepts the negativity she brings.

The low price is the clear draw. The room was small but clean, the bed was fine, and the shared fridge worked out. The person checking us in was prompt, friendly, and helpful, with no sign of drug use, despite what other reviews said. The entrance area seemed questionable, as the photo shows. The loose doors and locks didn't feel reassuring. The shared toilet was okay, though the shower room had no rinse option for long, fine hair. We bought breakfast food at the Mexican market across the street and ate in the lobby, where we chatted with another visitor from the lower 48.

The second-floor porch was a nice spot to sit, but I was told several times that alcohol wasn't allowed on the property, which I'd never encountered before. We also had a gas can taken from my son, then found it empty beside the workers' shed. Our room was small for three but had what we needed, and the beds were comfortable. The place looks cute and served its purpose during our three-night stay while I brought my son to his Coast Guard station in Alaska. Still, we baked at night because there was no air conditioning, and nobody made up the room during those three nights. I bagged the trash, replaced the liner, and had to ask for towels. For a budget hotel I expected more. The three people we met at the desk were curt or rude. At checkout they wouldn't let me split payment between cash and card, which was a first for me. My 19-year-old son tried to look into a pod from a distance, and a desk worker slammed it shut. The whole experience felt strange, with a weird vibe, and we are used to a friendlier place. I'd stay again if the desk staff changed and sunny rooms got air conditioning.