Hotel Whiting

The manager was helpful and quick to respond, and the place was clean, quiet, and felt safe for a night. Those are the four good things I can say. I used to stay here on work trips because it was centrally located in Osage County, the only clean and safe option around, and reasonably priced. The previous owners were friendly and accommodating, and I liked the room decor. Now, at least in the room I had, all the decor is gone. It felt like a prison, dreary and sad, though with a better toilet and bathtub. There was no shampoo or body wash, only a tiny bar of soap and liquid hand soap. The couch wasn’t somewhere I’d sit or sleep, so I put my bag on it. The bare concrete floors were very cold, with no rugs anywhere. I was glad to leave, and I’ll never stay again. It just isn’t what it used to be. Maybe my room was different, but I doubt it.

The balcony was a highlight, and parking was handy. It was quiet and clean, with comfy beds, cold AC, and soft towels. The water was almost hot enough, which was okay. There’s a step up into the bathroom that my wife didn’t like, so we left the light on to avoid stumbling. We managed the back steps and ramp bridge just fine, and there was a railing to hold.

The location is superb, and the manager handled my booking fantastically. The rooms are very clean. This is a good choice if you’re saving a couple of bucks and are fine with a bit of a rustic feel, but not if you want a posh 5-star bedroom. The concrete floor gets chilly, so bring slippers. The front balcony is great, and camp chairs would be nice there in warm weather. Wheelchair users might have trouble with the access route: from the parking lot, you cross an elevated platform about 7' long. I’m sorry I didn’t measure the walkway or door jams.

The hotel is cute and worked for our needs, though my child and I did have one concern during our weekend stay. The walls are thin, and you can hear everything from the next room. The couple next door didn’t seem to care who could hear them, so I turned up the TV to try to cover the noise. I gave the hotel all fives, but that doesn’t mean we had no issues.