Moab Gateway Inn

Moab’s beauty makes this hotel feel even more disappointing. Its only real advantage is that it’s in town, and it’s completely unworthy of the price. I wouldn’t trust replies from the owner: they don’t seem interested in making changes and just want to take your money. Even simple improvements haven’t been made. The cleanliness is worse than at some motels, and there doesn’t seem to be any attempt to hide that. The hotel clashes with Moab’s beauty and tarnishes the town’s reputation. If you still don’t believe the reviews, you’ll get to spend your hard-earned money testing your own tolerance. The room was damp and smelled moldy. The king room’s TV was about the size of a computer monitor, and the fridge on the desk made enough noise when it started up that it could wake you without an alarm. There were very few outlets, so charging at the bedside meant giving up the lamp socket. The old-fashioned phone was very dirty and shouldn’t be used. The windows wouldn’t open, so there was no ventilation. The air conditioner was installed indoors, and I’d avoid turning it on because, in the unventilated room, it seemed to circulate mold repeatedly, leaving your lungs to filter the air. The bathroom fan was extremely noisy, almost like wilderness ambience, and the bathroom was damp, with mold in the corners and a slippery bathtub that needs extra care. The hallway carpet was extremely dirty. There’s no elevator, so after a full day exploring the national park, the hotel gives you another workout. The disposable coffee cups were poor-quality foam, and using one felt like a test of your body’s resistance, almost like poisoning yourself. Service has nothing to do with this hotel. You can tell as soon as you reach the front desk: the man there is always on a headset talking on the phone, more like a CEO in meetings than hotel staff. Even after paying online, they still ask for your credit card information for authorization. That policy needs to change because it poses a serious security risk.

The bed was comfortable and the room clean. But the heater was so loud we couldn’t sleep, and the thin walls let the argument in the next room keep me awake. The bathroom fan also made my ears ring.

The rooms and shared areas were neat and clean, and I appreciated the little night light in the bathroom. Breakfast covered what I needed, though I’d have liked more healthy choices, like oatmeal, bananas, or whole-grain bagels.

If you’re camping or boondocking and just need a shower and a break, this place works well. The rates are the best in town, and I was told they keep two rooms for guests with pets, which is great since I’m allergic to most dog dander. There is an extra charge for pets.