Chateau Royale Inn

The location was convenient, near lots of places to eat, Walmart, and the start of downtown, so getting around by car wasn’t too bad. Check-in was easy, the service was really nice, and nobody disturbed us while the sign was up. The floors, kitchen, and vanity area were pretty clean, and I saw no sign of bed bugs. We got lucky with the last room, which had a California king, though I’d heard the rooms have different bed sizes. It’s labeled online as a Holiday Inn or hotel, but it’s a motel, and people live there. The bathroom had bugs in the corners, and the shower pressure wasn’t great. The pool is closed, though the door leading outside from the pool area stays open and seems accessible to anyone, which struck me as weird. The decorations are dated, and there was a constant smell of smoke in the halls and room. It stayed hot and sticky despite the air conditioning blowing at 60, though maybe that’s a universal issue. Not terrible, but don’t get your hopes up. I won’t stay again. It felt like a last-minute deal.

For a great deal, the place is alright, especially given its spot right downtown in LG. It’s older and shows its age. John, the owner, seemed a little judgmental at first, but loosened up.

The best parts were the location and the very nice day and night clerks. Otherwise, it felt like almost nothing had changed since we first visited nearly 40 years ago: the same decor and style, and a regular key for the room. The flooring is different, and there’s no pool. The online pictures look like they’re from the 80s and don’t show what it looks like now. There was no coffee maker or hairdryer in the room, so bring your own soap and shampoo too. The hallways smelled like cigarettes. It felt like false advertising.

A friend of mine has been staying at the Chateau Royale for a few weeks, and it’s turned out to be just right for what they needed. My friend has felt safe there. The owner seems to keep working on renovations, and I think it’s worth checking out.