Magnuson Grand Desoto

The pool was closed, which is the only reason I didn’t give this place five stars. My company uses this motel when we’re in the Dallas area, and after reading the negative reviews I was a little nervous. The staff were awesome, everything was clean and worked, and for the money it exceeded expectations. A few spots could use paint, and the elevator made noises that worried me at first, though I think it’s just old. I’m sure they’ll fix whatever’s wrong with the pool soon.

The beds were very comfortable, even though the covers were thin and there were no blankets. The rate was reasonable, which mattered because I was on a tight budget for a special family function. I’d read some reviews and still booked, but this stay taught me to stay home if I can’t afford decent accommodations. The building feels like it could once have been a really nice hotel, but the owners seem not to put money back into upkeep. There was a slight odor, almost like years of cooking trapped in the walls. My mother didn’t get the handicap room she needed. Children ran around unattended, and the hallways had no air conditioning; parts of the lobby weren’t cool either. The bathroom door could lock you out, water rose almost to my knee before I finished showering, and the phone didn’t work. They said there was a system problem, and the credit card machine at the desk had the same issue. Breakfast was fair, but don’t call it complimentary if you’re charging a dollar per person per day. The omelet station was closed every day, and the restaurant wasn’t open during the hours posted, so we went to Waffle House. Staff seemed inadequate at the front desk, and the man putting breakfast together at the restaurant was also cleaning the parking lot at night. The elevator was very slow, then stopped working on checkout day. We had to carry four suitcases, including some of my mother’s luggage, and two small children down from the fourth floor. Thankfully, my mother hadn’t come back up after breakfast. With her mobility, she couldn’t have walked down the stairs.

The morning staff were awesome, and my room was clean, which mattered most. But the hotel itself needs a cleanup, fresh paint, new carpet, and updates. It has a lot of potential and appeal, though I couldn’t get comfortable because the old floor AC unit didn’t blow warm enough air to keep me warm overnight. I’d been curious about the place and tried it while settling back in town and traveling back and forth. The price had me considering another booking for this week, but I decided not to risk it. Maybe next time.

The staff were friendly and accommodating, and there was a nice free breakfast. The pool was closed for maintenance while I was there, but I like that it’s indoors. The room was only cleanish, and the A/C badly needs cleaning: it periodically spit debris onto the bed beside it. The place looks nice at night and decent inside, but from the freeway in daylight it looks suspect. Rooms badly need updating, and there’s just one very slow elevator. I can’t imagine how that would work when the hotel is packed.