Quality Inn & Suites Carthage

Everyone on staff I met was wonderful. I also took photos to share, but I keep getting an error when I try to upload them. I stayed two nights, December 23rd and December 31st. On the 23rd, I asked for the manager and was told she wasn’t available, so I shared some constructive feedback with a team member. I manage low-income housing, and I think an older hotel can still be beautiful. The woodwork, entrance, and stairwell have so much potential. But the pool didn’t look chemically safe, the AC was broken, the toilet tank wouldn’t fill, there was a stain on the white bedding, and there was no shampoo. Vents, doors, walls, and floorboards looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in years. The towel rack and toilet paper holder were broken, and the shower curtain had a large brown stain. The entrance I used had drywall mess, boards, trash, and dirt and leaves. I told her I’d still be back for my reservation on the 31st, and that a little extra effort could turn ordinary into extraordinary. She took notes. When I returned, I was assigned the same unit. There were no repair notes about the AC, so I asked to move. The next room was worse: curtains that wouldn’t close and looked to have blood stains all over, dirtier registers, stuff on both sides of the bathroom door, yellow discoloration on the walls, a filthy floor, and a shower head that barely produced water. The tissue box was covered in toothpaste and other gunk, and it looked like it hadn’t been dusted in ages. There were spills on the bathroom walls, a dirty mirror, and a mattress spring sticking out that nicked my finger. I wiped parts of the walls and door with a hot wet cloth, and the grime came off. It seems like rushing and not caring. With so many rooms vacant, I suggested they consider deep-cleaning five units a day until all are done, then just maintaining them. Vinegar and Dawn dish soap could easily fix some of it.

The room was awful, though the bed was okay and it was quiet. The entrance looked nice, so we had no idea until after paying. Unless you’re desperate, stay somewhere else. We suffered through the night. The door wouldn’t open until a service person rattled and pulled at it, after the front desk couldn’t manage either. There was no heat, just cold air even on full blast, so I slept in my coat with only a very thin blanket, more like a sheet. We were exhausted and had already unpacked when the room failed to warm after midnight, so we didn’t try to move. By then the toilet was also clearly not working, and we figured another room might be just as bad. The toilet wouldn’t flush all night and overflowed a little once. We used threadbare, holey towels to clean up, and had to wait for it to slowly drain. Toilet paper had to go in the garbage. The ratty carpet had paint on it, including in the tub and room, and the ceiling had water stains.

It’s dated, but it seems they’re making progress, and for a place to sleep it’ll do. I never felt unsafe or like I was in a dirty hotel. Several rooms had been gutted for renovations, and the hallway walls looked freshly painted. The carpets in the hall and our room seemed new or recently cleaned by professionals. We stayed two nights and it was fine, even though I’d been nervous from the reviews. Because there was a rodeo in town, they didn’t have a king room, so we got two queens. No big deal. We saw no bugs, and apart from an occasional marijuana smell, there wasn’t any major odor. The pool was clear and seemed in good shape. Breakfast had scrambled eggs, sausage links, toast or bagels, muffins, juice, and coffee. I’d have liked waffles or biscuits and gravy, but it was enough for a continental breakfast. It’s no Waldorf, but it works.

The man who checked us in was kind and gave great customer service. We could see the hotel had once been a showplace, and I hope it can return to that historic beauty someday. We didn’t stay and left right away. The smell and mold were the main reasons, along with dead bugs and live spiders. The historic Precious Moments Hotel has fallen into disrepair. The building smelled awful and was filthy when we entered. The roof had several large sections covered with tarps. In our room, there were dead bugs between the nightstand and wall, mold on the ceiling, a spider crawling up the bathroom wall, and some kind of splatter all over the mirror.