Clayton Plaza Hotel

If you just need a reasonably priced place to sleep, this works. There are lots of restaurants within walking distance, and the free breakfast had plenty of choices. My room was very clean, the bathroom had been nicely remodeled, and the price was very good. The decor, though, felt tired. The lobby reminded me of an old folks home, with an odd cleaning-product smell and papers taped to the check-in desk, apparently about parking. The hallways smelled too, not awful but not pleasant. My room was plain with some strange decor choices. I bet it was a beautiful hotel in its day, and it still has good bones, but the look wasn’t great. If you’re after a vacation experience, you might want to look around.

The room itself was already in poor shape when we checked in. The bedding was visibly soiled with debris and had to be replaced right away. There was a strong, unpleasant smell throughout the hotel, especially in our room, like a retirement home. We were told there was no housekeeping staff available that weekend. The bathroom had black mold throughout, and the jacuzzi tub looked decades old and unsanitary. The whole place felt run down and poorly maintained. Then, today, after checking in yesterday at this St. Louis hotel, we were told with less than 30 minutes’ notice that we had to leave because they had overbooked. They tried to move us to another room without the jacuzzi tub I’d specifically requested for medical recovery. I’m disabled, use a cane, and sometimes need a walker or wheelchair. I have to manage my energy and physical limits carefully every day. Being abruptly told to pack and move because of THEIR mistake was unacceptable. The front desk staff were rude and dismissive every time we dealt with them. There was no accountability, empathy, or real attempt to help a disabled guest cope with their overbooking error. This hotel isn’t disability friendly or guest friendly. I strongly recommend staying somewhere else. It’s like a Monet painting, looks fine from far away, but gets worse the closer you look.

The room was clean, comfortable, and had a nice shower. Breakfast was tasty too, and the hostess and staff there were welcoming and friendly. The desk staff, though, barely smiled or greeted me. They mumbled directions about parking and a temporary incidentals fee, but didn’t mention that parking is free on weekends, even though it was Saturday and I was staying one night. They also didn’t point us toward the elevator or tell us about the complimentary breakfast. My wife found the details in the room. The garage is inconveniently located from the lobby, and getting there was challenging without staff help. When we asked for extra towels or pillows, nothing came. The desk staff were busy eating snack chips, with a can sitting on the check-in counter. It felt classless and pathetically unprofessional. We won’t come back. I’d rather spend my money somewhere we feel welcomed and appreciated, and I plan to tell friends, family, and colleagues about this experience.

I booked through Agoda. The room looked dated at first, but turned out to be very nice, and the bathroom and shower had been renovated. The whole hotel was clean, and the front desk staff were kind and helpful. Highly recommend!