Best Western China Lake Inn

It works well for a road-weary traveler. The room was exceptionally clean, well equipped, and everything was in very good condition. Traffic makes it a little noisy, but being military, I've slept through worse. They provide earplugs, so I can't complain about noise if you use them. It's no Ritz, but it does the job.

I came for my granddaughter's birthday and was genuinely impressed by the Best Western in Ridgecrest. After more than 35 years working in hotels, I can say this is easily one of the best places I've stayed. Everything was spotless, from the floors to the room. The updated room was comfortable and super clean. I didn't make it to the gym, but breakfast was good and ample, and the shower had great water pressure. Alma at the front desk was fantastic and let me check in early. I'll definitely return next time I'm in town.

We stopped here to rest on a long drive, and what a mistake. The rooms looked clean and updated, but the walls were paper thin. When we first entered, there was a strong smell, maybe cleaning chemicals, so we had to air the room out. All night our neighbors stomped back and forth. I have video of the noise. I don't blame them since they paid to stay too, but they were put above us at 10:30pm and apparently didn't sleep, so neither did I. I finally nodded off from exhaustion at 2:30am, then woke at 4:20AM to more footsteps. I got only two hours of sleep. This was a huge waste of money, and we should have kept driving. They charge hotel prices for a motel stay. If you need sleep during a long trip, do NOT stay here. You can pay less for the same quality somewhere nearby.

The only things I can say in this property's favor are that the person at the desk was friendly, cordial, and easy to deal with, and the breakfast for guests was decent. The room itself was okay but nothing special. Its one door either closed off the bedroom or, when opened from there, acted as a semi-private door to the toilet area. There wasn't a permanent door separating the toilet from the rest of the bathroom, and there was one sink in a cramped space. The heater kicked on frequently, was so loud it woke my wife and me, and didn't heat the bathroom. We could hear the heaters in neighboring rooms too. We were on the first floor and heard every sound from next door and above. The blanket was so thin you could almost see through it, with no extra blankets in the closet. At 6:00 AM, people were already banging things outside, adding to the misery of not sleeping. My poor iwatch kept telling me it was time to go to sleep when I thought I was. I'm a frequent traveler, and when places I consider upper level are unavailable, I often end up staying somewhere else. I think this property should be called the LEAST BEST Best Western. After driving nearly six hours on a trip south, I figured Ridgecrest Ca would make a good overnight stop, leaving only three more hours to my destination the next day. But the other "Major Brands," like Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express, and Springhill suites, were booked, leaving me little choice for a comfortable night. Positive reviews made this seem like a reasonably nice place. Even though I paid with CC points, I'm convinced the Red Roof Inn would have been a better choice. My car might have been more comfortable too, and at least I wouldn't have heard all those outside noises keeping us awake.