El Toro Inn

We asked for our money back as soon as we opened the door. The filth was so bad we couldn’t make ourselves go inside. Dirty laundry was piled in the halls, there was no bathroom door, and the smell was awful. The floors looked like they’d be cleaner in an auto shop. The front desk guy was friendly, but another worker seemed high on something and shouldn’t have been talking to customers. My child was afraid of being stabbed, and we didn’t dare leave our belongings in the room while we went to eat. It was supposedly in the middle of a “remodel” and should not have been open even for the 10 rooms they were allowed to have. Bates Motel would be nicer. I wouldn’t recommend staying here at all.

The shower and floor were dirty, but for $55 I’m not complaining. The bed was big and really comfortable, and I had the best sleep I’ve had at a motel in a long time. The sheets and towels were clean, and it was quiet.

It’s downtown, with a big parking lot and plenty of places to eat or get a drink within three blocks. It was quiet at night, and breakfast was free with a pretty good selection. The room had WiFi, a very comfortable bed, a large bar fridge and a small microwave. The bathroom is tucked into an alcove, which gives you a bit of privacy. Room 104 doesn’t have outdoor ventilation, but its window opens onto the well-ventilated hallway, though there’s no screen. At $63 including taxes, it was $8 cheaper than the last two rooms on our way back from Arizona to Saskatchewan. I’ll keep it in mind for return trips and recommend it to friends.

The room was clean, the bed was comfy, and I didn’t notice noise from the railway. The girl at the front desk was really helpful and friendly at check-in. For 60 bucks, it’s what you’d expect. The sound insulation from upstairs rooms is poor, so choose an upper room. Breakfast was the other disappointment. It was open late, but the woman serving seemed grumpy and unprepared, and when I asked for coffee she said, “Oh, you want coffee?!” There was no fruit, and the muffins and pastries were all cut into small chunks, though that did let you try a variety. Maybe she was just having a bad day.