Sky Palace Inn & Suites McCook

The location was good, but that was about it. They wrote down our card details by hand, which should have been the first warning. When we got to the room, the key card didn’t work, but when my husband went to return to the lobby, I tried the door and it opened right away. It didn’t lock at all. The room was visibly dirty, with unvacuumed floors and trash still in the bins. We took the key back and made sure they no longer had our payment information. When we explained the problem, the assistant manager argued with us and was rude. I wouldn’t recommend staying here unless you don’t care about your safety while traveling.

I booked six months ahead because this hotel fit my budget and I’d stayed there before, but my experience was horrible. The website said the pool and hot tub would be open, yet they were closed when I arrived, and nobody emailed or called to tell me. The place was dirty and musty, and the maid was rude. I only stayed because everywhere else was booked. Breakfast was included, but the waffles were rock hard, the coffee was awful, and dirt and debris were floating in the water pitcher. Guests were drinking and yelling in the parking lot past 10 p.m. I’d rather sleep in my car than stay here again.

The hotel’s overall condition was awful. The carpets were filthy, the walls grimy, and surfaces felt sticky; it looked like nobody had cleaned or maintained the place in ages. I also waited three days without room service. Towels weren’t replaced, the trash piled up, and I had no idea when the sheets had last been washed. There was no one at the front desk to discuss any of it with, and no management seemed available or interested. The toilet was visibly unclean when I arrived, and the only water running to it was scalding hot. You couldn’t wash your hands without burning yourself. The shower was dangerously hot too, and adjusting the temperature seemed impossible, so I couldn’t bathe without worrying about getting hurt. It was advertised as a 3.5-star hotel, but I wouldn’t give it half a star. Stay somewhere else if you care about basic hygiene, safety, or your sanity. I wouldn’t wish this stay on anyone.

The owner is great and laid back. It was easy to add days, and he personally brought extra towels and shampoo to the room for me and my wife. I’ve stayed in a lot of places while traveling, and this is the best value for the price. You do hear noise sometimes if your room borders the pool, but you can ask for one down a hallway if that bothers you. I don’t understand the negative reviews. It almost seems like other local hotels have a lot of hate for a place offering this quality of room and a pool at the lowest price in town.