Garner Hotel Wytheville East by IHG

For a low budget motel, it’s a clean, new or freshly refurbished place and a good value. The hot breakfast is limited, but still good. The mattress started feeling a little hard after six hours, and sound insulation between the room and hallway wasn’t great, though that’s expected at this price. It was a big help that they’re pet friendly. The staff we met were helpful and friendly. We’d come back if we needed a stop on a long highway trip.

The room itself was okay, with clean sheets and a clean bathroom, but this was our first and last stay. My husband is an IHG member and usually books at other properties. I know when I’m not welcome, and the Garner won’t get my money again. At check-in, the person at the desk was on her cellphone. We waited about two minutes for her to notice us. She kept talking while asking if we were checking in, then took three minutes to check us in and finished her call afterward. The dated elevator had water on the floor. The next day, four people were behind the desk at breakfast and nobody spoke to us. Only the woman in the breakfast area acknowledged us, and the food wasn’t good.

The halls are incredibly wide, almost like a convention mall, and there was construction going on. The pool was closed for remodeling, and the first-floor ice machine was out. Breakfast was passable, though adding a few more things could improve it. The hotel is close to the Interstate. At first there was nobody at the desk, but a staffer appeared a few minutes later, having been making fresh cookies for check-in. The front desk person was friendly and knew the area. Our room was clean and a decent size, and the shower was good. I’d stay here again.

The staff were super friendly, and the beds were very comfortable. Breakfast was the usual fare. I didn’t know what to expect, but had a great stay. It’s recently renovated and felt similar to the nicer Holiday Inn Express hotels I’ve stayed at. I’d definitely come back.