Econo Lodge Branson Theater District

The room itself was somewhere in the middle, neither terrible nor good, but the check-in experience ruined the stay for me. The woman at check-in could be polite and sweet, though police officers spoke with her and showed up several times during our stay. When I asked for an extra week because I'd just moved to Branson and was touring rentals, she initially seemed willing to help. But when I asked about the weekly rate, she got aggressive, yelled that I wasn't listed as a local, and said I couldn't extend because they don't take locals. She also accused me of having an uncharged pet, even though I'd told them my pet was a service animal. She demanded to know why I needed one and kept yelling that I couldn't stay longer. It was 10 in the morning, I had two children, and nowhere else booked. There was also a woman and child blocking the stairs, chain smoking and refusing to move when we asked politely. The child groaned and rolled her eyes. The woman had even put her own camping chair there before I arrived, which made the claim that weekly rates weren't allowed hard to square. The pool was empty, and the free breakfast was biscuits and gravy from crockpots that looked especially old and dingy. I don't recommend this place, even if it's the cheapest around. Spend the extra ten bucks and stay somewhere else. A bad welcome can wreck the whole visit.

The location makes it easy to get to the attractions, though I don't like staying on the strip. The clerks were friendly at check-in and checkout. Parking is outside the rooms, with good security lighting, and the exterior-facing doors make loading and unloading easy. This is a basic, relatively inexpensive place, nothing fancy. My room was dated but decent and clean, with a good bed, a nice shower and lots of hot water. There was plenty of lighting, which I appreciate, and plenty of cable channels if you want to stay in. The fridge was small, and I wish there were a microwave. They don't clean rooms every day, which is fine with me, and I had plenty of towels when I arrived. A housekeeper asked if I needed anything. The grab-and-go breakfast wasn't something I can recommend, though it has the bare basics. The pool was closed for winter. It's pet friendly for $15.00 a night, and there's a big area south of the hotel for walking or exercising a dog. Be careful, because it seemed like lots of owners don't pick up after their pets.

We had a good stay and I'd come back. The long-term guests were so kind, and the hotel welcomes dogs at fair rates. The beds were comfortable, the amenities were good, and there were no bugs. Friday's breakfast was great, but the Saturday attendant wasn't on the ball, so we ate elsewhere. The AC/Heat unit in my room was loud and a bit squeaky, and the fan setting didn't work. I checked and it was full of dust, so it really needed a cleaning. I'd forgotten my fan at home, so otherwise it wouldn't have bothered me.

We were there for four nights and had a great time in Branson. The rooms were very clean, comfortable, and had no strange smells like some other hotels. The shower and tub had great water pressure. Breakfast was simple, with biscuits and gravy, cereal, and apples. I liked the layout and the parking all around the hotel. The small pool was nice, and the property overall looked very clean. The two women at the front desk were helpful and really nice. It's easy to get on and off the strip, and I'd definitely stay again. For the low rates, I was already happy with my choice when I arrived.