Leavenworth Village Inn

It took more than three hours just to check in for our one-night visit, eating up a big part of our evening. The two women at the front desk said they couldn’t make even basic reservation changes without the manager’s approval, but she wasn’t on site, couldn’t be called, and was slow to answer texts. The desk staff could have fixed it with a button, but seemed afraid to act. The way they looked at each other and talked about their manager felt toxic and manipulative to me. Management needs to trust staff to help guests, because this kind of micromanaging hurts employees and customers alike. The hotel itself was mediocre at best. I wouldn’t stay again.

We had booked three nights, but ended up having to find another hotel. The disinfectant smell in our room was so intense it felt toxic. We asked to switch rooms, but the next one smelled the same. Even after opening the windows and door and running fans, it was unlivable. We went out for a couple of hours to let it air out, but it was still unbearable when we got back. I had a headache and felt nauseous. When I said I might have to sleep in the car, the response was, “too bad.” I thought they’d say it was their fault and refund us, but they refused to return the payment for all three days. We paid a higher rate for another place at the last minute. The owner won’t communicate with us about it. They seem to care about nothing but money.

A really good place to stay, clean and comfortable, with a gracious welcome. It’s right in the heart of the Leavenworth village and excellent value. There’s no breakfast, which was fine, and they kindly gave us a bowl and spoon for our oatmeal.

My 81-year-old sister is disabled and can’t manage stairs, so I’d requested a first-floor room through Expedia. The motel says it never received the request, and gave us a room upstairs. I was uneasy about the loose stair handrail, and with no elevator we couldn’t get to it. A first-floor room with one bed became available, but there were two of us. We waited in the hot parking lot for more than 2 1/2 hours for the manager to respond about a refund. The lobby was small, and its couch was too low for my sister; we also didn’t want to block other guests checking in. The desk clerk could only reach the boss by email and had to wait for her to check it. We were eventually told there’d be no refund unless someone else booked the room. It was nearly 7:00 pm, so we took it and I slept on the floor. There was no price reduction, and we paid $260. It was a disheartening start to a Leavenworth trip we’d really looked forward to. When I tried to ask questions or make requests while booking through Expedia, the motel didn’t answer its phone despite repeated attempts and had no email address listed.