La Siesta Motel

There wasn't a soul in the parking lot or office when I arrived. A dirty, crumpled note wedged into the screen door just had a phone number and “call this number.” Someone eventually came in a car and offered to show me a room. I was curious enough to see it, but they said only two rooms were available. I wondered if the dozen or so empty rooms weren't livable. The room had one bed, though I'd reserved two doubles, and it was so bad that a description couldn't do justice to how nearly condemned it seemed. I should have taken a picture. To the owner's credit, he explained they'd recently acquired the property in this condition. The new owners also own the Roadway Inn across the street. He offered me a room there, and although I was skeptical, it turned out to be a decent, clean, accommodating two-bed room. The price was nothing special, but at that late hour I was glad to have a clean place to sleep.

On my earlier visit, about three years ago, it was wonderful: moderately priced, with beautiful rooms that were small and older but newly and nicely appointed. The owner/manager was gracious and cool, and the saltwater pool was great and unusual. I wanted to stay two nights on my more recent visit, but left after one and was sad to go. By then there was new management, and the same room appointments were older and less well kept. The central patio had gone downhill, the pool was empty and locked, and the manager was slow to respond. I first stayed here in Fall of 2011, after the “tourist bureau” downtown warmly recommended the motel.

Cheap room, sure. Helpful staff, no. If you ask for anything, you get an eye roll and a tight lip unless the manager can handle it from where he's sitting. I was there nearly a month and cleaned my own room, changed my own bedding, and brought my own supplies: bleach wipes, a mop, broom, trash bags, bug spray, and traps. Even after asking every day, sometimes a few times a day, it took over a week to get a light bulb for the lamp.

For something so inexpensive during the gem show, it seemed like it might be a good place to rent. One day we left the room and realized we'd forgotten a bag. We returned ten minutes later and found the manager going through our belongings. He said he thought we'd checked out. After that, we checked out and would never recommend the place to anyone.