La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham West Memphis

We had a terrible experience at the front desk. The lady there was on her cell phone with the call on speaker, and it felt like the person she was talking to mattered more than paying guests. I couldn’t understand her, and she wouldn’t look at the pet policy I tried to show her. I had two dogs and refused to pay $25 for each when Wyndham’s site says $25 nightly for up to two pets. She called the GM, who also said it was $25 per pet, then relented when I pointed out what the Wyndham App said. The clerk still insisted, “It don’t matter what it says online.” The room was filthy. There was what looked like dried coffee just inside the door, and hair left in the refrigerator made it unusable. We took pictures. There’s more I could say about the desk clerk. We usually stay at Hilton and Marriott, but gave Wyndham and LaQ a try. After this, we won’t book Wyndham properties again. So much for hospitality. Zero hospitality at Wyndham and LaQ, just terrible. The pet policy shown on Wyndham’s page for this property says: Service Animals defined by the ADA are welcome free of charge. Up to two cats or dogs are allowed, each weighing 75 pounds or less. The fee is a non-refundable $25 nightly for up to two pets.

We’d stay at La Quinta West Memphis again on a trip south. It’s easy to reach from I-55, and even though the highway is close, we couldn’t hear traffic. There’s a Quick Trip Mart across the street for gas, snacks, and drinks, and a Cracker Barrel Restaurant next door. The rooms were spacious, the property was well maintained, and the staff were friendly. My wife and I enjoyed the delicious breakfast, too.

The room was clean and nice, and breakfast was very good, but Tyissha is what made this stay so much better. She welcomed us with a big smile at check-in, suggested places for dinner, and greeted us again when we returned. She said we could call the front desk if we needed anything, and she’d take care of it. Though she finished work at 10 pm and came back at 6 am, she greeted us by name at breakfast. In all my years staying at Wyndham hotels, she’s the only employee who has ever done that when we weren’t checking out. She made us feel like family in her own home. Tyissha is an exemplary employee. I’d recommend her for employee of the year at this site and across Wyndham. She should teach other employees how to welcome and treat guests during their stay.

The room was great, breakfast was delicious, and it was nice to have a view of our vehicle. But the front desk clerk was rude, loud, and unpleasant. She wouldn’t answer questions directly or give me an accurate room rate. She said she had a ground-floor room for my husband, who uses oxygen, but only after I’d paid did she say there wasn’t one available. If you don’t get an unpleasant greeting from her, it’s a great place to stop for a good night’s sleep.