Republic Hotel of Ozona

My girlfriend didn't feel safe, so we left. Even the parking lot seemed sketchy, with only two cars in front that I think belonged to staff, who were dressed in regular clothes. I'd rather sleep in my vehicle than stay here. Getting into the room was a mess. Nobody was at the entrance, and we waited almost ten minutes. Then the key card failed. Staff brought a small black box to the door, couldn't open our assigned room, and tried another door until it opened. Inside, there was a strong moldy-closet smell, worn furniture, peeling paint, and an old, dirty-looking AC unit. The shower was gross, its lever didn't work, so we could only take a bath. The tub was stained and covered in dirt and white dust. There was no tissue box or trash bag. I've never seen a worse hotel in my 38 years. The photos on Google and Expedia are fake, so don't be fooled. I spent 11 years on active military duty and have low standards, yet this place still felt like a horror movie from arrival to departure. I hope Expedia refunds us and removes it from its listings.

The bed was comfortable, and I slept well. I can put up with a run-down place, but not one that's dirty. There was hair at the bottom of the shower and food left in the fridge, so they need to use bleach. The trash bins around the property were all overflowing, too. It looks like there's a new owner, and I understand it takes time to restore a hotel that seems like it used to be a fun place.

I had to give this place one star. The ceiling was coming apart, and the room had spoiled milk. The toilet seat looked moldy, with something like dead skin on the bottom. Who knows what's underneath it. The remote lit up like it should work, but it didn't, so we had to change channels by hand. I found it wedged between the couch and bed. There wasn't any South Park, Family Guy, or other cartoons, just Star Wars. Zero stars.

For a budget motel, it was a nice place to get a good night's rest. The room was spacious and clean, with no bugs, a king bed, hot showers, working AC, and blackout curtains over the slider to the atrium. There aren't other windows. It was quiet apart from a couple of trucks using their Jake brakes. The woman working there was sweet, and continental breakfast was free. We paid $89 including taxes and the pet fee, which felt reasonable for what we got. The atrium was beautiful and unusual, though the pool and hot tub weren't operating. It seems the place used to be swankier, but bringing it back to that standard would probably mean higher room prices. I'm glad it still exists as an affordable place to enjoy. Highly recommend, as long as you set your expectations for a budget motel.