Ruby River Hotel Downtown Spokane

The front desk staff are always kind, and our rooms have always been clean. Riverfront Park is close, and part of the Riverwalk runs right outside the hotel. My kids love the little playground, and there’s a fenced second pool area for the deep end. They’re excited that it’s supposed to become an infinity pool this summer. The pool is also very accessible for people with mobility issues. Our Spokane trips are usually for medical reasons and not much fun, but staying at Ruby River makes them easier for our family. It’s a decent, family-friendly hotel.

I couldn’t sleep at all. The walls and ceilings are so thin I heard every step from the room above me between 2:00 and 4:00 AM, along with people coming and going all night. The receptionist, though, was extraordinary. She managed a packed lobby and several waiting guests with grace and professionalism during a stressful situation, and she’s a real asset to the team. If you sleep heavily, the service alone may make this place worthwhile. Light sleepers should bring serious earplugs or ask for a top-floor room. I’ll be back for business trips, but I’ll bring earplugs.

Such a beautiful hotel, with clean rooms and a great location. It feels really homie. There are several outside doors, a gym, and a vending machine that’s always full. The hallways are quiet. Staff seem a little behind on online bookings, though. They kept trying to come in even after we’d paid for another night.

We’ve decided this is our new Spokane go-to. We usually stay downtown, but this was the easiest stay we’ve had, and it was really quiet. The quick walk across the bridge to a cozy breakfast and coffee place was no trouble, even though we’re used to having breakfast just a block away. We come through Spokane once or twice a year for the airport, and traveling with our medium-sized dog, I wanted easy dog walks and free parking. Both worked out well. The room was spacious enough for his bed, food and water, and our luggage. We could step straight onto the river walk trail and green space, and he enjoyed watching through the big glass doors. The room was clean, and I appreciated seeing things being maintained and updated as needed. I’d called about possibly upgrading to a riverfront room after a booking hiccup on fido.com, but decided to keep the basic view because we were paying in Canadian dollars and the exchange rate wasn’t great. The cheerful woman on the phone was helpful, and when we arrived, she’d upgraded us for free. Maybe they had space and wanted our first visit to go well. They also texted before we arrived to welcome us and ask if we needed anything. A couple of things could be better. There were two of us, so a second drink voucher would’ve been nice. The voucher included non-alcoholic options, and we hadn’t expected any, so even one was a thoughtful gesture. With two, we probably would’ve gone down together for something to eat. I’d also prefer hard floors to carpet at a dog-friendly resort, even though our room was very clean. The pillows were really thick and soft, but too high for me as a back sleeper, so I had to keep adjusting. I’ll bring my own next time. It’d be nice if hotels offered pillows in two sizes. The other three Spokane hotels we’ve stayed at had the same issue, so maybe the town just caters to side sleepers with broad shoulders.