La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeland West

After arriving on a busy Friday when a busload had just come in, I learned they were booked up. The desk staff told me which day would be better to return. When I did, I was impressed by how smoothly this large motel ran with a small team. A group of 15-20 exhausted women arrived for an event, and four front desk staff, including one trainee, handled them efficiently and kindly while making sure I was looked after too. I’ve lived in Lakeland all my life and remember this La Quinta when it was new. I’d watched it decline, perhaps because business slowed or there were more extended-stay guests. I was worried when Priceline’s low-cost “surprise” booking turned out to be this place, but the room and kind staff changed my mind. Then I woke up to free breakfast and decided to stay the week. The rate was a good deal, and my job site was nearby. The staff are always around and helpful. The morning and night teams give it almost a B&B feel. The manager is professional and hardworking, and everyone else is friendly and ready to help. The night front desk manager, one of the few men on staff, helped me choose the best way to book for a good rate. It’s right off i4 and beside the best IHOP around. In my view, La Quinta West on Lakeland’s east side, between IHOP and Steak n Shake, is back to its former glory and even better because of the staff. I’d recommend it to anyone visiting Lakeland.

After flight delays and a cancellation from Lakeland Airport, my family and I ended up here for a few nights, right through New Year's Evel. The staff were amazing and treated us so well, even though they didn’t know what we were dealing with. Our room was clean, and the grounds and pool were kept tidy and presentable. What really stayed with me was how the guests came together in the lobby to welcome the new year. Thank you to management for letting people share food, hugs, love, and a sense of togetherness with complete strangers. In a time of worry and crisis, that kind of kindness can ease the uncertainty.

The room was clean, though the building itself is old. Staff weren’t especially friendly, but they were busy dealing with problems and working hard. I tried the laundry, but there were issues, and the front desk readily refunded me. The sign says not to leave your things, but there’s nowhere to sit, and I’m not going to stand around for hours. Breakfast is basic, with waffles and cereal.

The room smelled musty, there was mold all over, and the tub had paint stuck inside along with hair. The showerhead was disgusting and the water smelled, so there was no way I was getting in. We checked in a little early and were the only ones there, yet they put us right across from a room where someone used hammer chisels for about 30 minutes. The owners should put some money into the rooms and keep some kind of standard. Beds, mattresses, sheets, blankets, towels, and more were old and worn. There wasn’t a proper power outlet where you needed one. The cereal was stale, and the high-sodium canned gravy wasn’t any better. It looked like people lived there: Christmas lights in a window, grills outside that didn’t look like hotel property, and cats in windows. I’ve seen that sort of thing before.