Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner

I could book a room the same day for about $80, and it did the job for one night. But it felt almost haunted, with old doors, white paint splattered on some of them, and duct tape holding hallway carpet together. The heat also seemed broken: my room was around 55-60 degrees no matter how high I turned the thermostat. Breakfast cost an extra $7 per person, which I wasn’t told ahead of time and didn’t appreciate, since many hotels include it. There were no vending machines, just a limited selection of snacks at the front desk. This place definitely needs renovation.

Both employees I dealt with were very nice, and one offered to move me. Since it was so late, I stayed. She brought fresh sheets and towels and made sure to report the state of the room. It was disgusting: hair all over the shower wall, sticky floors, and blood on a pillowcase. I know it’s a cheaper hotel, but paying damn near $100 to sleep in someone else’s dirt is too much.

We’d read mixed reviews from a year earlier and decided to give it a try. We had a really good stay. The room was clean, very nice, and had no smells, which matters a lot to my wife. The staff were helpful, and GM Mark came over personally to ask about our room and stay. He chatted with us for about 15 minutes, thanked us, and invited us to let them know if they could do anything.

I’ve stayed here twice, and both visits were fantastic. The staff were incredibly helpful with the pet policy the first time, a few years ago. On my recent visit in late November, I was surprised by how spacious the room was. The price is shockingly reasonable for a hotel this close to downtown Boise, and the staff were just as helpful as before.