La Grande Inn

The staff were very friendly, and I hate leaving a negative review, but bed bugs are a deal breaker for me. After a quick stay on Dec 26, I had small clusters of itchy bites that night. There was still makeup in the bathroom sink, though I didn’t mind the room otherwise. I would have liked to leave a good review, but this makes it very hard. Spend another 20 bucks and drive past this hotel.

At $100 a night, it’s not worth it. The hotel hasn’t aged well and needs a remodel. There was dirt, cobwebs, and mold everywhere, and the beds were awful to sleep on. Service was average at best. Don’t waste your time here; your money would be better spent at another hotel.

The La Grande Inn gets wildly mixed reviews, from glowing five stars to brutal one stars. Here’s my take. I paid $72 for the room pictured. Is it the Plaza? No. Is it as ratchet as the one star reviews make it sound? Don’t believe the hype. I’ve stayed in places a lot worse and paid more than $72 for them. I’m trying to find something negative to make sense of those bad reviews. There’s a worn patch on the blanket, the bedside tables’ wood finish is scuffed, and the style is a bit dated. But the room is clean and tidy, with clear signs that someone paid attention to the details. No dust sitting around, so the cleaning crew is first string and putting in all star performances. The AC, heat, sink, toilet, tub and shower, lights, and everything else work as expected. There are complimentary toiletries on the bathroom counter, plus a coffee machine with single serving coffee and cups. They even have free continental breakfast. This room was $72! Maybe it’s in the heart of the ghetto, and you have to play hop scotch over winos and ladies of the night to get to your room? Nope. It’s just off highway 84, and the parking lot is clean and well lit. I happen to be a strapping, barrel chested, ridiculously handsome man, but I think my 98lb grandmother would feel perfectly safe walking to her car alone in the middle of the night. She can attest to my near perfect good looks, by the way. Just saying. If you can’t stand the look of use and age, I’m sure you can find somewhere nearby charging triple or more. But if you need a perfectly acceptable, comfortable, clean room that gives you so much value for your buck and a good night’s sleep before getting back on the road, I’m not sure you’ll find anywhere better or even equal to the La Grande Inn. $72 and breakfast?! Puh-leeeze!

My first room was 104. It had black mold, and the bathroom walls physically moved when I pressed on them. I asked to switch rooms. The staff were so kind and apologetic, and really wanted to help, but after they put me in room 108 it was clear there wasn’t anything they could do. The ceiling was breaking down, and although there was less mold in the second bathroom, its ceiling and walls still had so much water damage. I won’t stay here again. People in the next room were screaming, and dogs barked constantly all night. For $100 a room, it’s not worth it. I honestly don’t expect much at that price, just the bare minimum, but failing to meet basic code is a bit extreme.