Garner Hotel Topeka West by IHG

King Wind at the front desk, working 3-11 pm, made us feel at home from check-in. He managed to be professional, outgoing, and down to earth all at once, which was perfect for our little birthday getaway for our daughter. He even brought extra towels with a smile while juggling other duties, and took time for friendly conversation that matched our excitement. His kindness didn’t go unnoticed. My husband was so impressed he urged me to hurry up and bring him some birthday cake as thanks. King deserves recognition for how he connects with guests. The rest of the staff were very accommodating about letting us have extra guests for the celebration. The beds were super comfortable with lots of pillows, and the water pressure was excellent. The whole property, including the hallways and common areas, was exceptionally clean, fresh smelling, and well stocked. The pool and shared spaces were well maintained too. Location is a huge plus. There’s a convenience store at the edge of the property, and places to eat like Culver's, Freddie's, Buffalo Wild Wings, HuHot Mongolian Grill, Five Guys, Spangles and others are about a block away. Dick's Sporting Goods, Academy Sports, Walmart, Kohl's, Sephora, Target, and Topeka's only Mall are right on Wanamaker, just a few blocks away. It’s an amazing location and felt like a home away from home. We’d recommend Garner to family and friends visiting the area, and give it 10 stars to the 10th power. We’ve only been here a few hours and are already raving about it. Keep up the great work, Garner. We sure love what you’re doing here.

The rooms are spacious, with fluffy beds and nice pillows, plus a fridge and microwave. Ours had a large shower but no tub, and breakfast was free and light. It’s a nice place overall, though as a new hotel it still has a few things to tweak.

The pillows, showers, and atmosphere were good, but we won’t stay at a Garner again. We usually choose Hyatt Place and had booked a month ahead, mentioning that we’d arrive very late because we were driving. At check-in, we were pleasantly surprised to be offered an upgrade, then disappointed when the staffer said she couldn’t actually do it. We took our key cards and went to the room. While unpacking, I noticed we’d already been charged for all four nights. I went back to ask why and explained we wanted to pay cash at checkout. She looked confused and said they don’t accept cash and charge for the stay right away. I’m 57 and have never encountered that policy. I said it didn’t seem right, but got a blank stare. We just wanted to go to bed, so we let it go. Breakfast was very subpar. For two days in a row they ran out of overcooked scrambled eggs, and the oatmeal was hard and looked like dark gravy. We went to BK down the street instead.

The hotel looks nicely renovated, and our room was clean. The staff were welcoming and very helpful. I’d recommend staying here, and we’ll be back for sure.