Thunderbird Hotel

The location is wonderful for reaching restaurants and shops in the Arts District, and it’s a handy central base if you want to stay away from the casinos. This was my second visit, and I’d come back. Just be ready for crowds from the wedding chapel nearby. I wouldn’t call the area kid-friendly at all. Inside, the rooms are an elevated motel style with minimal, chic decor. They’re comfortable and better than you might expect from the neighborhood or the building’s exterior. Parking is free, and the air conditioning is surprisingly quiet and powerful. The mattress squeaks and needs replacing. There’s no fridge or microwave. On my stay, room service made the bed and fluffed the pillows but didn’t change the sheets. A pillow stain that was there on arrival remained after the day-two service. Also, although the website and large banners still advertise it, there’s no restaurant or lounge, and no food or drinks on site. Would I recommend it? If you’re okay with dive-bar vibes outside and a nicer motel room inside, sure. Otherwise, maybe not.

The room itself was fine, including the mattress, bathroom, and cleanliness. The checkout staff member was polite and professional, the only bright spot in a stay that otherwise left me angry. At booking on Priceline, I saw no extra charges. At check-in, they added a $35 “amenity fee” for Wi-Fi that hadn’t been disclosed, plus a $125 security deposit. They said the deposit would take seven business days to return, so the advertised rate doesn’t reflect what you may have to pay up front. I locked my car on the night of May 18th before going to my room, and I’m certain I did. By morning, the trunk was open, and a $250 pair of shoes, a $700 watch, my wallet, a hair styling product, and other things were gone. Management pointed to signs saying they weren’t responsible for theft. That felt like a cop-out when the lot didn’t seem secure. The woman at check-in was cold and dismissive. Outside, there was litter and public smoking, and the area felt unsafe, especially at night. The low price stops looking like a deal when you add the fees, deposit hold, and the possibility of stolen belongings. This place wasn’t worth it.

The extra daily amenities or resort charge was about $19 on top of the room rate, and it felt hidden. There didn’t seem to be many amenities to justify it. The neighborhood also felt sketchy and unsafe at night. For the price, the stay didn’t measure up, and I wouldn’t return.

There are lots of shared social spaces and a pool, and the six-person dorm is nicer than other hostels nearby. Single rooms are often a good deal, too, which encourages longer-term guests to book those while travelers use the dorms. The check-in process and staff used to feel kind of uptight, but they’re much more customer-service oriented now. It’s easy to check in, extend a stay, or get information from the front desk. Really good value.