OYO Hotel McAlester Hwy 69 OK

We called Best Western reservations in McAlester, OK to book, and the representative never said it was a smoking room or asked if that was okay. When we arrived, despite giving them our arrival time, the door was locked. We had to call reservations, who then contacted the front desk. The desk agent said we'd booked a smoking room. We asked to switch to nonsmoking since we hadn't requested one, but she said none were available. She also warned that the smoking room was very smoky, so we chose to cancel and go elsewhere. After leaving, we called reservations to cancel and request a refund. The same representative first said she couldn't refund us, then called the front desk. She came back claiming the desk had offered us a nonsmoking room, which is a bold-faced lie. We would have stayed if that had been offered. What we thought was a helpful late-night call ahead turned into what felt like a scheme to take our money without providing the room we asked for. The night desk agent was very rude, and the reservations service seems to be using bait and switch without accountability.

People were hanging around the parking lot drinking, barbecuing, and even exercising in front of the rooms. It made the place feel uncomfortable and unprofessional, more like a rundown roadside motel than the three-star stay I expected from Best Western in McAlester, Oklahoma. My first room was supposed to be nonsmoking but smelled strongly of cigarettes. I asked to move, and the second room was little better, with floor stains and a strong curry-like odor that lingered. Cleanliness and upkeep were far below what I'd expect from Best Western. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone wanting a clean, quiet, reasonably professional place. At best, it felt like a low-end two-star stay.

The room was clean and fairly comfortable, and the pancakes were good. The rest of breakfast was just okay, with microwaved sausage and eggs that were barely edible. The pool was a little dirty, though maybe that's to be expected in the middle of a parking lot. For the money it was an okay value, but this is definitely an economy motel.

I only called to ask about the pet rules, and the conversation put me off staying here. The woman said pets were allowed, then told me the rate was “the same as everyone else” when I asked about cost. I clarified that I meant a pet fee, and she said there wasn’t one. When I asked if there was a weight limit, she replied, “we don't do the big dogs.” After that exchange, I won't stay here, with or without my pups. Customer service needs work.