49'er Inn & Suites

The location worked really well for our ski club, with most of town and public transit within walking distance. Our rooms were comfortable, and both the heating and A/C worked properly. Breakfast was free each day and generally had enough food, variety, and nutrition. One of the owners even cooked barbecue elk and mule deer he had hunted himself. It was delicious and a special touch. The daily shuttle to the mountain was a mess. The 9 a.m. ride was packed every day, and you had to sign up the afternoon before. That made it impossible to ski through the afternoon and still reserve a seat on the next morning's shuttle. The driver never wore a seat belt, which seemed dangerous and against state law. I asked the front desk to speak to him, but either they didn't or he ignored them. The kitchen was also short staffed. The one worker on duty did a great job, but management didn't give him enough help, and I had to ask for at least three breakfast refills every morning. Housekeeping missed the second day even though I'd asked both the desk and staff directly. After that, they kept making frustrating mistakes: toilet paper rolls fell off the rack whenever replaced, glasses weren't replenished, and counters weren't cleaned unless I specifically asked. I followed up several times about maintenance problems in the room, but none were fixed during our weeklong stay. I wouldn't book here again without major changes to how it's run.

Breakfast was hot and had lots to choose from, including eggs, sausage, waffles, muffins, and more. The home fries seemed to have been cooked in the middle of an argument, though. The beds were great. My problem was the A/C, which rattled loudly whenever it kicked on. I couldn't sleep because of the heat with it off, or the noise with it on. In another room this might have been a four or five star stay, but that wasn't my experience.

The location is downtown, but far enough from the busy spots that the noise shouldn't be a problem on a lively night. Rates felt very fair for the area, and some rooms have both an indoor and a main hallway entrance, which made hauling gear in and out easy. The rooms were clean, though they looked less modern than the recently updated lobby, pool, and food area. We liked the indoor pool and hot tub, both a comfortable temperature with plenty of space to unwind. There's also a much smaller outdoor hot tub between two buildings. We preferred the indoor one during our visit.

We only stayed one night. Check-in was quick, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The towels were clean and average, and the bed linens were spotless, white, and smelled nice. My travel companions enjoyed the private pool and hot tub, and there's a small, usable gym with a treadmill, stationary bike, and a few free weights. I also liked having a small space in the room set up for breakfast, something we hadn't seen at similar hotels. The breakfast itself was the biggest letdown: very basic, mostly packaged products, and hardly any fresh food. I only had two yogurts and an apple, so they should rethink what's offered. The whole property could use renovation. The worn carpeting in the halls and rooms needs replacing, and the room showed its age, including a window that was hard to open. The bathroom was much smaller than at other nearby hotels in the same price range, and its ventilation fan was so loud you could hear it from outside the room. The mattresses were old and noticeably saggy, even though the linens were immaculate. It was a positive stay, just nothing remarkable.