Westward Inn

I canceled almost two weeks before my stay and was still charged a full night, $160, as a cancellation fee. I should have read the fine print, but every hotel I've booked in the past five-plus years has allowed free cancellation up to a week ahead. For a coastal hotel, I imagine that room could have been booked again quickly. Plans change, and kids can get sick or hurt. They should be more flexible, or at least make the fee clear instead of burying it in the fine print.

For a budget-priced motel, this was great value. The room was clean, the staff were friendly and helpful, and we slept well. The property sits back and above US 101, so there’s less highway noise. We chose it for the price and were happy with our stay.

The rooms are budget-level, but everything was clean and the bed was comfortable. We had trouble with the lock in our first room, so the staff tried to fix it and then moved us to another one. They were friendly and helpful throughout. For the price, I don’t think you can do better in Brookings. Pro tip, check out the hidden donut shop across the street.

I travel to Brookings for work now and then, so I've tried quite a few budget motels here. Westward may be the best. The staff are super nice, the beds and pillows are comfy, the shower pressure is great, the heater is quiet, the fridge is a good size, and everything's clean. It’s surprisingly hard for motels to get all of that right, so I’ll be back next time. My only gripe is that I usually travel with my dog and there isn't a little relief area. I had to walk her around the block, which was annoying when she needed a midnight pee. Still, they didn't charge extra for the doggo, which is rare.