Stay USA Hotel & Suites

The location made it easy to explore Hot Springs. Downtown, historic sights, and good local restaurants are nearby, and the scenery around the property is beautiful. Check-in was simple, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean enough and the bed was moderately comfortable, but the furniture and decor felt dated, the carpet and bathroom fixtures need attention, and the whole space seemed worn. It’s an okay place if convenience is your main priority. With some updates, this could be a real gem given its location.

We ended up here after the hot water heater problem at our other hotel canceled our reservation, and they sent us over. They got us a room fairly quickly, and it was affordable. It was basic, nothing fancy. Paint was peeling by the window, and one bed had a stain dark enough to show through the sheet. Not a great first impression, though I’ve stayed at higher-rated places that were much worse. The staff were great, the location was good, and breakfast was really good. If circumstances brought me back, I’d give the hotel another chance.

We’ve come here every year for the hot air balloon festival, but the hotel has gotten worse each visit. This time was the last. Every front desk employee we dealt with acted like checking in was a huge inconvenience. Our room wasn’t clean, and the bath towels were worn and stained. Apparently asking for more than two clean towels for two people was too much. The tub drain was so clogged that showering left us standing in a deep pool of water. I reported it, but the desk clerk said there were no rooms left to switch to after she’d already moved 17 rooms that day. She said she’d put it on the board for maintenance, though she had no idea when the maintenance man would come. We were there three nights, so my husband bought a drain snake at Ace Hardware and cleared it himself. The building seems not to have had real maintenance in at least six years. The pool has been “under renovation” for years, too. Breakfast was poorly stocked. The attendant didn’t seem in any hurry to replenish empty food, and several people waited. On the third morning they were out of milk for cereal. Honestly, a mattress from the garbage pile behind the hotel, on the ground outside, would have been better than the rooms inside.

It was fine for a one-night stop, and the employees were friendly. I’d stay again if I were just driving through, and the pet-friendly policy matters to me. Sleep could have been better. The pillows were very lumpy, like fiber balls or wadded sheets inside, and the mattresses or bed frames need replacing so they fit properly. The sheets didn’t fit well, though at least they stayed on. The sink drain wouldn’t clear the water, and I’m not sure a plunger would fix it. A few upgrades would help.