Americas Best Value Inn Sparks

I was here for work and had a very pleasant extended stay. It’s a quiet spot, with a truck stop behind it. Next door there’s a small casino, a bar, a gas station, and a store with snacks, drinks, trucking supplies, and basic toiletries. I’d recommend it to other work travelers.

For a 2.5-star place, this was a pretty good deal. Reno has some rough areas, and there aren’t many hotels in this category in safer locations. If you’re just passing through and don’t need to be downtown, this is a clean, safe place to stay at a good rate. It’s a truck stop hotel, so it’s basic, but the staff were friendly and breakfast had a decent selection. If downtown is where you want to be, go for one of the bigger casinos instead.

The receptionist was understanding and helped us move rooms after I explained that none of us smoke and my child has asthma. We’d been stranded in Reno by the snowstorm and just needed a room for the night. The first room was supposed to be non-smoking, but it smelled strongly of cigarettes and wasn’t properly clean. There were dry boogers on the wall, one stuck by the AC vent, toenail clippings beside the bed, and a small spot on the wall that looked like blood. The towels were stained and smelled of smoke too. The second room was somewhat better, though the towels were just as bad. The bed seemed okay and looked clean, but after seeing the towels I couldn’t really be sure. If you have to stay here, I’d bring cheap towels from Walmart. Cleanliness should be a top priority even at a cheaper hotel. Dirty towels or sheets are unsanitary, and no one should have to pay for that.

The staff were great, and the rooms were clean. Breakfast was simple but enough. It’s also really handy for Reno-Tahoe airport.