Book Cliff Lodge

For a cheap lodge, I was impressed. The rooms are much nicer than the old, worn-looking exterior suggests: spacious, with a working TV, microwave, and mini fridge, plus a large, mostly updated bathroom. The entrance feels cozy, and the woman who checked us in was friendly. It's not upscale, and if that's what you want, look elsewhere. But for a comfortable night or two on a budget, it does the job well.

We paid $180 for two rooms, and the place was old, creepy, and falling apart. There was no housekeeping, the bathtub showed mold and smelled of it, and it seemed like everything was broken. My parents' room had no hot water, a warped bed, and a microwave that didn't work. The towels had spots and gunk on them, despite the front desk girl telling me they were washed every night. They also kept pressing us about whether we had more people in the room than we said. I'd spend extra somewhere else. Don't make my mistake.

I've stayed here twice and would happily come back. Both times the room was really clean, with free Wi-Fi, a microwave and fridge, and a decent-sized cable TV. The property is older and being renovated, but I felt safe and comfortable even with few other guests around, and none of my things were touched. The staff were helpful and friendly, especially the front desk lady, who made us feel welcome.

This is Book Cliff Lodge, listed on Google Maps as Passport Inn and Suites. I want other travelers to check the room before handing over money. The lobby was clean but sparsely furnished. The woman at the desk seemed nice at first, though scattered or possibly high on amphetamines. She quoted one price and charged five dollars more. I let that go because it was nearly 1 a.m. during spring break and other motels were full. The place looked mid-remodel, but everything seemed old and dirty, as if they were cleaning things up instead of replacing them. Several people were working at 1 a.m.; they looked homeless to me and behaved strangely. Our first room had no electricity. We were moved to another while someone finished vacuuming it. The room was disgusting: stained, filthy scraps on the old carpet; a heater and air conditioner in pieces; ragged, mismatched, dirty bedding; and a dirty TV on a beat-up stand with no remote. The window was open without a screen. Wallpaper and paint were peeling, and the room smelled of gasoline, exhaust, and paint fumes. We returned the key and asked for a refund. First she said we couldn't get one because ten minutes had passed, then that we had to cancel seven days ahead. After that she kept saying she never refunds anyone under any conditions. I called her a common thief and said I'd dispute the credit-card charge, post a review, and look into a BBB complaint. We continued down the road and found a great room outside Price for only $10 more. I'll talk to the card company in the morning and hope there's some recourse. This was absurd and deeply disheartening, and I want unsuspecting travelers warned. My wife said her first impression reminded her of the creepy twin girls in The Shining. I stuck to the facts, but that gives you the idea.