Alta Cienega Motel

The rooms were disgusting, and the owners were rude. There were white stains on the curtains, brown splatters on the walls, and the room smelled like poop. When we asked to switch rooms, the older woman at the front desk yelled at us and tried to deny a refund because we’d touched a towel. The owners also stared me down when I went to see the Jim Morrison room, which was strange since it’s the main attraction. This was the worst motel experience I’ve had. Don’t stay here. If you’re curious, just look at Jim’s room and leave, unless you’re after the real 60s junkie experience.

The staff were friendly, and the place was clean. At $79 with tax, it’s inexpensive for the area, but the rooms are small and missing even basic things: no fridge, hair dryer, iron, coffee maker, microwave, or bathroom plug. Apparently Jim Morrison stayed here, and there’s a room named after him. The furniture and TV look like they’re from that time.

At check-in, the overnight staff could barely speak English. They asked for cash, which luckily I had, since I didn’t see a credit card machine. The room was small and dim, with amenities that seemed straight out of the 1970s. There were a couple of scratchy towels, a thin bar of soap, and no shampoo. Staff said all the rooms only came with soap. Luckily, the 7-Eleven up the street sold sample-size shampoo. The soft bed had a sheet with stains I couldn’t identify. The bathroom curtain rod was bent, and the curtains had mold spots. The bathroom window was open and had no handle on the inside to close it, so the room smelled moldy. There was no iron or ironing board either.

For the reasonable price, this is a great place to stay. The friendly staff and location are a big part of that, and I thought it was neat that they have the Jim morrison room, even though I didn’t stay in it. It’s not a fancy joint, but the room was definitely adequate. I don’t see it as a four-star hotel, but it’s not like sleeping in a sticky alley either.