Best Western Bishop Lodge

Amber and the breakfast staff were a bright spot. Amber has checked us in several times and is always warm, attentive, and professional. Breakfast staff are a pleasure too, and make the morning a nice start. Our repeated experiences with Ben at the front desk, though, have been disappointing. We’ve been at Best Western properties often as long-time Diamond Members, so we know the usual standards. Across three visits over several months, Ben didn’t greet us, avoided eye contact, and came across as dismissive and unwelcoming. The first time, we asked for early check-in, which we routinely pay for and have received at other Best Western locations. Ben said no without explaining why. When we calmly said we always pay, he reluctantly gave us a room, looking displeased, handed over the keys, and went back to what he was doing without another word. The next visit was much the same, with a cold manner and resistance to paid early check-in. On our latest visit, after a long day, we politely asked for bottled water, which Diamond Members typically receive daily. Ben said curtly that it was only provided at check-in and that we could buy bottles from the fridge. When we clarified and asked again politely, he flatly refused. The water itself wasn’t the main issue; it was his tone and unwillingness to offer basic service. Ben shouldn’t be in a guest-facing role. His approach doesn’t match Best Western’s service standards, especially for loyal Diamond Members. I hope management takes this seriously.

The room itself was clean and had a TV and mini fridge, and the location was convenient. We could walk to restaurants and the park, and we were there for one night on the way home from Death Valley. Still, I wouldn’t choose this place again in Bishop. It felt prison-like, with bars along the hallways. Getting up the stairs to room #212 was unpleasant: they looked filthy, the nonslip strips were peeling, and the whole area was grimy. The barriers at the top were dirty too. The AC was noisy, and we couldn’t open the window with people walking by. Breakfast was the same generic hotel food, so we ate elsewhere. There were also some sketchy guests vaping pot in the parking lot.

Maria, one of the hosts at breakfast, was so sweet and kind. The room was cozy and clean, and breakfast tasted great.

The rooms were adequate, and I liked the wood composite floors because they seemed clean for a pet-friendly hotel. The bathroom was okay, though it didn’t feel properly separated from the bedroom. We arrived around midnight after driving from Los Angeles and felt uneasy, like we were in a high-crime area. They wouldn’t let us into the lobby to check in, so we had to stand outside in the cold at a window. A thief could still have reached the staff through that large window, which seemed pretty dumb. They also locked up the ice makers and other amenities for the night. When we asked for ice, we were told we’d have to wait until morning. Parking was short, and they directed us to spaces marked “no parking.” It wasn’t a comfortable or welcoming experience.