Carlsbad Inn New Mexico

I came back for a second stay about a month after the first, and the service and clean room were just as dependable. The staff are friendly, the bed was clean, and there are plenty of places to eat nearby. It’s quiet and has a homey feel. It’s not a five-star hotel, but I was happy with it.

Nothing fancy here, and I wouldn’t want to spend much time in the room. It was clean enough and comfortable enough that we kept our reservation instead of going somewhere else. For what we paid, that was about what I expected. Definitely not a romantic spot.

I was stopping for one night during a winter storm and was told this was their last room. Looking back, I should have kept driving. It cost $134, and I’ll be leaving as soon as the sun comes up. I hope my car doesn’t get broken into. There was nowhere to park near my assigned room, and a vehicle with a flat tire was parked right by my door. The internal AC unit had a lockbox on it. Though the room was listed as non-smoking, people stood outside their rooms smoking. I also wasn’t told there was an adjoining door, and I could hear the man next door flushing the toilet and clearing his throat. The towels were thin and old, the bathroom window had mold, and the refrigerator handle was broken. Its freezer compartment was small and iced over. The bedspreads were thin and had holes, and the computer chair wobbled enough that it didn’t feel safe to sit in. I’ll provide photos.

This is an older tourist court style place, a bit like what a Best Western might have been back in the day. Our room was clean, comfortable, and had plenty of useful things: AC that cooled well, a microwave, a fridge with a freezer, and a nice TV with lots of channels. There’s a pool too, though we didn’t use it. We were just passing through and would stay again. There were lots of pickups in the parking area at night, so I’d guess many guests were workers from out of town, but we didn’t see any disruptive behavior. The price, cleanliness, and comfort earned five stars from me. Kiara at the desk was professional, courteous, kind, and attentive. She was also very helpful when we asked for locally owned places to eat instead of national chains. The owner or manager should know what a great asset she is.