Silver Ridge Lodge

The price is barely over a hundred, yet they serve a top-notch breakfast. I can't believe they can offer so much for that rate. The large room was thoughtfully outfitted, with a kitchenette and new appliances, and you can book a private hot tub and sauna at no charge. This place is a real diamond in the rough. It doesn't feel like a two-star hotel to me, though I've never actually stayed in one. I loved all the thoughtful extras and will come back and tell everyone!

The breakfast had a good mix of hot and cold food, and the dining room had a pleasant feel, with an outdoor patio too. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. I also enjoyed the mountain view from the kitchen area. This is an older, unfussy motel with some lovely updates, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Our room had a small kitchenette with an apartment-size fridge and freezer, microwave, Keurig, sink, counter, and storage. The bathroom had its own vanity and sink, a nice hot shower, and thick, heavy towels. There were two hot tubs that you could reserve for privacy. The large TV would have been easier to use with instructions for the Spectrum remote. There was a separate heater control that took some figuring out, and the beds were comfortable but seemed close to needing replacement. My main annoyance was the construction crew in neighboring rooms. The workers themselves weren't the issue, but their trucks were parked right outside my door. Each morning they started them early and let the loud diesel engines run for almost half an hour, waking me and keeping me up until they left. I know that's not the motel's fault, but it was frustrating. Aside from that, I enjoyed my two-night stay and was very pleased.

We only lasted 15-30 minutes in the room before giving up and making the two-hour drive back to town. The office knew about the room's condition but wasn't much help, offering only half our money back. My wife and I had booked the week before for a wedding nearby, and the reviews we'd trusted seem fake now. There were spiders, though we dealt with them. Then we heard constant scratching in the walls, like animals were in there. We were on the ground floor, below what sounded like a Friday night party. People seemed to know one another, and guests kept arriving with alcohol and playing music incredibly loud. I got the impression a lot of people actually live there. It was dirty and gross, and nothing like the mountain-town stay I expected. It felt like being somewhere on Colfax in Denver, around Colfax and Dayton. If you aren't okay with bugs, rodents, or people up all night, this isn't the place for you. Stay far away.

It's a bit unassuming from the outside, but the rooms are modern, comfortable, spotlessly clean, and nicely fixed up. I really liked the Keurig coffee, mid-size fridge, great shower, and comfy bed with extra pillows. The hot tubs and hot breakfast make it even better. A wonderful place to stay in Salida, highly recommended.