Clarion Inn Salt Lake City Airport

On my first visit, things were reasonable. The second time, they’d oversold by 13 guests, so I had to find another hotel. Four months later I’m still waiting for my refund because they say I was a no-show. I’ve called the manager several times and been told it would be fixed, but I’m still dealing with this poor excuse for a hotel. We came back a third time after being told there’d be a room for us. It wasn’t fully refinished: there was no air conditioner, just a hole in the wall, so the room had no heat and cold air came in. Leaves had blown inside through the opening. The bathroom had no light or mirror. I don’t like leaving bad reviews, but this place earned one. I wouldn’t recommend booking here. Spend more for peace of mind and don’t waste your time.

The room was clean and quiet, and the front desk guys were pretty nice. The location is handy for the airport and getting on or off I-80. Breakfast really does close on time: I was two minutes late and everything had already been put away. My mistake, but worth knowing. I’d booked a King but accepted a Queen because I have trouble walking. We were on the first floor, with stairs and no elevator, and neither the price nor the deposit changed. The $250 refundable deposit caught me by surprise. Expedia didn’t mention it, though they said it was required, and the expected refund takes 7-10 days. That’s a lot of money to be hit with unexpectedly. The hotel was nice enough, and I won’t avoid it, but I won’t go out of my way to stay there either.

Joelma at the front desk was exceptionally friendly and accommodating. The room was clean and comfortable, and the heater and AC worked well with straightforward controls. The bed was fine, and I enjoyed the complimentary breakfast each morning, with juice, coffee, waffles, eggs, sausage, baked goods, and cereal. It’s in a quiet part of town, so I’d give the Clarion four out of five stars. The room key demagnetized easily, so I had to get it rekeyed several times.

Prince checked me in and really gave me the royal treatment, pun intended. My work situation made things complicated, especially getting my employer to cover the room, but he’s personable and great at customer service. He proactively worked through options with me, and we followed his recommendations. I’ve worked in several service jobs, and he’s top tier. I’d hire him anywhere customer-facing, put him in management, and trust him with high-value customers. I’d pay him well too, because people like that create a great experience and bring guests back. Ketar also helped me. The interaction was brief, but he handled it smoothly; someone with weaker customer service skills might have fumbled it. There’s also a woman at the front desk with glasses whose name I’ve forgotten. She’s a sweetheart and good at her job. Everyone on staff I dealt with was friendly, helpful, and able to give me the information I needed. I saw Google lists this as a two-star hotel, and I disagree. The courtyard is a nice place to sit, the pool is nice, and although the building is old, they’re renovating the rooms. The room I’m in now is clean, with nice flooring and fresh paint, and the last room I stayed in had also been renovated. The AC worked like a charm in both rooms, and I never ran out of hot water. There’s a Wendy’s across the street, along with two gas stations and a Subway. The hotel also has a bar and grill and an Indian Cuisine Restaurant attached, and the food at both is delicious. There’s laundry on both sides of the building midway down, plus an exercise room and conference room. There’s no elevator, so you have to carry your things up the short flights of stairs if you’re on the second floor. It’s in the airport corridor of the Salt Lake City Valley area, so there isn’t much nearby beyond those businesses. That’s typical of hotels in this corridor. With a car, the freeway is right next door and downtown is probably about 7 Minutes away. Or go south on 5600 West about 4 MI to lots of restaurants and businesses. I don’t agree with the two-star rating. The building is old, but the rooms are being updated and the staff is great. Breakfast is served in the morning with eggs, waffles, sausage, and other things I can’t remember. If you’re used to hotels where the breakfast turns out to be just an Apple, this spread will blow your socks off.