La Quinta Inn & Suites Denver Southwest Lakewood

We love this location and have stayed here every time without problems until this visit. On the second day, the hallway on the top floor smelled strongly of cat pee and a dirty litter box. The beds need replacing because they were too hard. Aside from that, it’s still a great place. The staff were friendly, and breakfast was good.

I stayed April 23rd to April 26th, and as a woman traveling alone I never felt fully safe or able to relax. I lived in Lakewood a few years ago and knew the area, but this hotel didn’t meet expectations for what I paid. There were always people lingering outside the main entrance. I couldn’t tell if they were homeless or smokers. On Friday around 7 am, a man was yelling and screaming in the hallway. Later, as I left my room, three police officers were walking down the hall to investigate something. The hotel looked stained and dated throughout. My first room, which I believe was 509, had a very difficult lock, and I had to nearly body-slam the door open. The floor was stained, the bathroom faucet wasn’t attached, and there was a handprint on the headboard. I know what couples do in hotel rooms, but I didn’t need to see the residue of that. I called downstairs and got moved to room 506, I believe. It was still stained, but I unpacked. When I went to shower, the water was ice cold and wouldn’t heat up, so I called again and moved to a third room, 516, where I stayed. On leaving that room, I found it took a lot of effort to get the door to close and lock, which made me feel unsafe. I’d also asked for extra blankets, but they were stained, torn, and marked. I understand they may have been washed and still considered clean, but that level of cleanliness was subpar. The carpet, elevator, and bedding all need a revamp. When I checked out Sunday, the maid’s cart was right outside my door and made it hard to get out. The maid saw me struggling but didn’t move the cart, and laughed at the inconvenience. I tried to contact a manager after my stay. On 4/28 I called and was told he was in a meeting, then the call ended right away. On 5/5 I still hadn’t heard back. I sent two emails and a text to the phone number, and called twice to get in contact. I was told the manager didn’t need to call me back, though I see follow-up as part of a manager’s responsibility for guest service and satisfaction. I was patient through being moved three times, but the lack of urgency and service afterward was the last straw. This was an atrocious stay, and the follow-up was even worse. I’m attaching photos of the handprint and faucet. I’ve stayed in subpar hotels that were at least clean in the rooms and hallways, and I wasn’t impressed here.

The general manager was around and easy to see, and the front desk was great. Staff were engaging and seemed to care. The location worked well for my trip, with restaurants, groceries, and the highway easy to get to, yet it was a quiet area. I travel a lot for business and leisure, and this was a really nice surprise. Traveling can be brutal, but this was a great experience. I’d give it a 10+.

The hotel and room were clean, and I noticed cameras and a security guard helping keep the place safe. My only complaint was the mattress. The coils were coming through, and it was uncomfortable.