Garner Hotel Liberty Lake by IHG

Mary from breakfast has been the familiar face I most look forward to seeing here. She remembers me from one visit to the next, always greets me with warmth, and brightens my day. When things are quiet, I enjoy chatting with her about her family. The rest of the staff are great too. Housekeeping is friendly, helpful, and thorough. Front desk staff are capable, welcoming, quick at check-in, and greet you coming and going. They even remember your room number when you need something. I've stayed here since before it became Garner/IGH, and the hotel has improved over time. With the transition construction finished, the overall quality is the best I've seen. The rooms are comfortable, especially the beds, and the pillows are labeled soft or hard. Each room has a fridge and microwave. In the lobby there's coffee ground fresh for each cup, available all day, along with water. Last week it was cucumber water. Breakfast runs from 6 to 9 am, or until 9:30 on weekends. I'm up early, so that suits me, and the food is great. They have fresh scrambled eggs, sausage links or patties, and sausage crumbles. You can put together a breakfast bowl or make burritos or tacos with flour tortillas. There's Picante Pace-like salsa, shredded cheddar jack, and several vinegar-based salsas for anyone who wants more oomph. On my last visit I found a salsa verda I fell in love with. The one thing that bothers me is light coming into the room around the door from the hallway, which I suspect may be related to building code. I'm used to a very dark room at home, so next time I'll bring an eye pillow.

The room was spacious, and the newer furnishings were comfortable. It seems like the place is moving in the right direction, but there are still plenty of small problems. The sink had no difference between hot and cold, our room phone didn't work, and we had to walk down to the front desk twice when things went wrong. There were two TVs but only one remote. The hide-a-bed still had factory plastic on it, and there wasn't even a fitted sheet. I booked intending for my kids to use the pool, but only found out at check-in that it was closed. They didn't offer a discount, which was disappointing. There's potential here, but it isn't ready yet. I wish I'd stayed half a mile up the road for less money and a complete stay.

We live just five minutes away, but this will still be my top recommendation for family and friends. My sister and I stayed at the Garner Hotel over the weekend, and it felt like a home away from home. The staff were so kind and welcoming, and they even made fresh cookies for our kids before they went swimming. The rooms look beautiful and completely updated compared with the old Quality Inn style. A 10/10 experience!

The staff members we dealt with were pleasant and helpful, and the price was good. Breakfast was basic, with scrambled eggs and sausage, and no pancakes or waffles. It was enough, though, and not a bad place to stay. Just remember you get what you pay for. This costs less than the other IHG hotels in the Spokane WA area, and you can see why. It's much smaller, and they were remodeling during our stay. The quality of things felt a little lower across the board. When we arrived, the AC/heater showed ERR and had no power at the AC head. The GFCI had tripped; I reset it and the unit worked through the night. There was also a large brown stain in the room entry, like someone had spilled coffee on the wall and never cleaned it. We booked for two adults but got only one towel.