Best Western Inn of Payson

The room was roomy, the bed was really comfortable, and the upper floor was quiet. I liked the warm white lamps, the large fridge with a produce drawer and freezer, and the microwave was fine. The heat pump was quiet too. Breakfast was average but enough, and having coffee in the lobby around the clock was handy. The exercise room has dumbbells and cardio machines, though no pull-up rack or dip station. The pool was clean and working, and my wife said the water was the warmest she'd ever been in. You have to ask the front desk for towels. There are two EV chargers in the back lot, but I don't know whether they work or how payment works, so call ahead and ask. The hotel is close to shops and restaurants you can walk to. A couple of things to know: rooms booked within a week of arrival seemed pricey, and Payson's hotel tax is steep. The rooms had a strong bleach smell, though you can open the windows. Freight trucks park in the lot to the north, including one whose freezer unit ran Thursday night into Friday. Those drivers stay here to make food deliveries around Payson. Probably the best hotel in Payson, despite those drawbacks.

Laura at the front desk made such a difference for my son. She turned a stormy start to our family camping trip into a really memorable night, so a big thank you to her. We'd been driving from Surprise to Payson through the storm and decided to stay at Best Western for the first night. The place was spotless, the room was spacious, and the beds were comfortable. The pool area was just as clean, with water at a great temperature. Breakfast was one of the better hotel breakfasts we've had. We'll definitely come back.

Once I got to the hotel, Laurie was kind and professional and apologized for what had happened. She also explained that guests have to bring their own charging cord to use the hotel's “charger.” I would have brought mine if anyone had told me. It sounds like what they have is an outlet, rather than a real charging station, and the staff aren't trained on it. I wouldn't recommend staying here with an EV, and they shouldn't advertise a charging station. Before booking, I called because I was driving to Payson with an EV and needed to know whether I could charge overnight. Kelly first said she wasn't sure they even had a charger and asked me to call when a manager was there. When I called again, she checked with someone else, who said it worked but was very slow and suggested Subway instead. I explained I wanted to charge while sleeping at the hotel, rather than leave my car elsewhere and walk back in the dark with my two young children. I needed to know if it would work for me. I also found online that the Tesla station she mentioned wasn't yet compatible with other EVs. I asked about charging speed and the adapter, since she didn't know whether it could fully charge a car overnight. She told me to come check it out myself. I live four hours away, and Best Western is the only Payson hotel listing an EV charger, so that wasn't an option. She just said, “Yeah sorry, not sure what to tell you.” When I tried to explain why EV owners need this information and suggested staff learn the details, she didn't acknowledge my concern, said “Have a nice day,” and hung up. Her manner was rude and a textbook example of terrible customer service. If Best Western advertises a charger, staff should be able to give basic information politely. Kelly should find work that doesn't involve hospitality.

Stephanie made check-in feel like someone was looking after us, not just processing a transaction. She was warm, helpful, and never sounded scripted or rushed. The housekeeping couple were kind too, and did their work quietly and respectfully. Our room felt fresh and cared for, not simply straightened up. The room itself was clean and comfortable, with the sense that someone pays attention to the details. Between the staff, the mountain town setting, and the reliability of the brand, this Best Western felt like a place where people wanted us to rest and feel at ease. The people who run it give it a warmth I don't usually expect from a chain. Grateful Traveler’s Note