Budget Inn Express

We never actually checked into either room, but we’re still waiting on the refund nearly two months later. We booked because we thought the pool was open, paid, then found the room keys didn’t work. At the desk, the manager refused to refund us, even though we hadn’t set foot in a room. The girl was on her first day, so I don’t blame her, but management should have approved it. We’d also been told we would get our money back. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

The location was all right and at least it was quiet, but the room was in rough shape. It smelled strongly of cigarettes, had a hole in the wall, burns on the bathroom counter, yellow stains on the sheets, and a really dirty showerhead. Everything felt outdated and grimy. We woke up with red rashes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if harsh chemicals had been sprayed on the beds. We’d driven in from the Oregon coast and only wanted sleep. When we arrived at 7:30 in the morning, the front desk man was rude and kept interrupting us. We wanted two more nights, but he gave us only one. You get what you pay for, I guess. I wouldn’t recommend staying here when visiting Gillette.

I was in the room for less than five minutes, but still ended up paying for the whole day and have not received the full refund I asked for. The manager said I had already used the room, which wasn’t true. The room itself was disgusting and the toilet didn’t work. The front desk man was rude, vulgar, and ignorant. He said the pool was available, but it wasn’t; when I asked for my money back, he refused, wouldn’t call the manager, and said it was my problem. I got the manager’s number from him and called, but still got nowhere. I rented it for three nights, and the whole experience quickly became the worst encounter I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t recommend the Budget Inn in Gillette, Wyoming to anyone. If I could give zero stars, I would.

The breakfast was pretty poor, just dry toast and no cereal, so we went elsewhere before leaving. The room did have a Roku TV, and the pool was okay if you want to use it, but don’t stay past 8. We went to the pool area even though it was closed, and the pool and hot tub seemed to work while they were still being worked on. Then the lights suddenly went out with no warning while my family and I were in the hot tub talking. The service, though, was the best.