Americas Best Value Inn Kilgore

Chris patiently talked me through using a booking app over the phone so I could save some money. He was really thoughtful and kind. The room was roomy and nice, with a good TV channel selection, and it smelled clean. The beds were very comfortable. I’ve been having a hard time lately, and this motel was just what I needed. I loved the soaps too. NAMASTE!

We had a terrible stay here with friends. The pool was green, so we couldn’t use it, and when we asked for toilet paper, the desk said they had none. The towels were torn up for use as washcloths. On the second night, the power went out; after it came back, our key card wouldn’t open the electric slide door, and even the master key didn’t work. No one ever fixed it. Around 11 p.m., the office called to say we couldn’t have more than two people in the room, even though we had rented the largest room with a king bed, sleeper sofa, and jet tub. They told us not to open the sofa because it was broken, then said the room wasn’t paid for. We found the site allowed four people in a two queen room and asked to switch, but were refused. We were told to decide who had to leave. Police were called, we were forced out at 1 a.m., and we didn’t get a refund. The staff were great, but the owner was rude, greedy, unprofessional, and a liar. It felt like a rip-off.

This was the worst hotel stay I’ve ever had, and I’ve never felt so robbed by an owner. Our friend had arranged a room for us, and when we arrived, we paid the owner cash for the room and a deposit. The room was over 90 degrees when we turned on the AC. Our friend was bringing in her things and her registered PTSD service dog when the owner stopped her and asked about a pet deposit. He told her to come to the desk after she settled in. During the dispute, he called her employer, a restaurant he frequented, and she was fired for supposedly making a scene. She was asked to leave, despite the dog being a registered service animal. The owner kept her room fee and deposit, then charged her card another $100 for supposedly violating hotel policy, even though she never entered the room. My wife and I went for pizza. When we got back, someone had been in our room and turned the AC back up to 90. About 20 minutes later, someone tried to come in; the security lock caught, and then somebody started pounding on the door. It was the owner with three other men. They told us we were kicked out too, even though we had no pets, and said our deposit was forfeited because our friend had rented the room. Both of us had signed the room receipt saying we’d read and agreed to the rules. I’m about 6'3", and the owner seemed nervous. He had his hand on something in his pocket that looked like a gun. I told him he had no reason to shoot me and that I was leaving. He said it was his wallet, though basketball shorts don’t hide a gun very well, and I know the difference between a gun and a wallet. I asked if he thought I was going to steal his wallet. This cost my friend her job and felt like $200 theft of services, along with a frightening encounter with an owner who seemed scared and small.

This was our second time here, and we’ll be back. The first visit, we had a double queen room and liked it enough to return. This time we got the king suite with a spa tub and a view of the forest. The rooms are spacious and clean, the beds are very comfortable with premium bedding, and the pool is nice. The price was amazing.