Motel 6 Santa Fe Plaza - Downtown #4573

The room was clean, and I liked having a mini fridge, though there was no microwave or pet relief area, which was inconvenient with our two dogs. The showerhead was kind of janky, and the thin walls let us hear the upstairs neighbors thumping around and talking. Check-in was easy. The younger guy at the desk wasn't especially friendly, but he wasn't rude either, just nonchalant. For a Motel 6, it was okay, neither good nor bad.

Clean, basic, and quiet, with polite staff who gave reliable service. Coffee in the lobby starts at 6am, and it was strong, fresh, and smooth. There's a food truck next door, Walmart a short walk away on the same side of Cerrillos, and Dennys across the street. Meow Wolf, the plaza, and Octane GMC are nearby too.

We picked this place because it takes pets without a ridiculous extra fee. It's all right if that's what matters most, but you get what you pay for, so don't expect a five-star hotel. The receptionist wasn't friendly, the beds were rock hard, the rooms smelled, there were gaps under the doors, and the sheets and blankets had stains that made us question whether they were clean. We didn't feel comfortable leaving our things behind, so we packed everything up whenever we went out. We had two queen rooms, each with a TV, a small table and two chairs, a luggage rack, a small fridge, and a small microwave. The bathroom had a little blow dryer. Coffee was available in the lobby, but it didn't open until 8am, which was annoying for early risers like us who drink coffee. We also had two seniors with us, and they couldn't accommodate us downstairs.

The toilet seat had a poop stain, and there were hairs all over the tub, along with an old bar of soap left by the previous guests. The sheets, towels, and pillows were stained, and the bedding and pillows smelled strongly of cigarettes even though I'd booked a non-smoking room. I paid $82 and wish I'd gone somewhere else.