Quality Inn

Elite '09

57

179

Lorri E.

Portland, OR

9/1/2008

We were traveling to the Black Hills of South Dakota this past weekend for a friend's wedding.  In fact, we had a rustic cabin reserved at the KOA Rushmore Kampground (with a K--how Kute...), but our first night in town from the airport, we didn't have lodging.  You know--the kind of "we just need a place to crash" kind of room, nothing special.

So...we decided to try that "Priceline...Negotiator!!!" thingie after seeing a million ads on TV with an aging Captain Kirk about how you can name your own price on a hotel room.  After lowballing the bid about three times and being declined, we finally scored a room at the Quality Inn for $62.  They said the rate was normally closer to a hundred.  (If anyone spent $100 on this hotel, I feel sorry for you.)

First, let me state for the record, I am a spoiled princess when it comes to hotels.  What can I say...I just have to be honest.  I prefer the 3+ star category, and usually 4 star is more my cup of tea.  I don't like being creeped out by my hotel room.

Here's what you can expect at the Quality Inn in Rapid City (which bills itself as a 2.5 star hotel):

Hotel Ambiance: Completely dated hotel that will take you back to like 1970.  Maybe 1960.  You know, the interior is like one of those "Courtyard" style hotels, with pool and trees inside, with requisite bar and "free continental breakfast".

The overwhelming odor of chlorine vapors from the indoor pool and hot tub permeates the entire place.

The Room:  Priceline Negotiator had promised us a non-smoking room with a king-sized bed.  We found ourselves in a poolside room, with two double beds, instead.  And if this was a non-smoking room, then it had the worst case of second hand smoke, ever.  In fact, I got a nicotine contact high off the sheets.  The smell of smoke blended with the stench of chlorine wafting in off the pool courtyard, creats a lovely brand of aromatheraphy magic, which I will dub "two-star hotel".  Unlike lavender which promises relaxation, this brand of aromatherapy puts you right on edge so you'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to drop off into a deep and relaxing sleep.  M-m-m....

Let's see, what else?

Room Amenities:  Musty carpet that you are afraid to touch with bare feet.
Bedspread--just take it off, you know you don't want it touching your face.  The folks at CSI would have a hey day in here with their blacklights.
A heating/cooling unit that throws out the same temperature regardless of it's setting ("cool and clammy" was our setting)
An in-room coffee maker with a packet of "coffee" with requisite powered "creamer" packets.  Not drinkable, but you know you will try anyway.
A thin credit-card sized slice of body "soap"
Shampoo and conditioner of a lower quality than the cheapest Suave, and guaranteed to leave your hair a tangled, frazzled mess.
Microscopically small "body towels" in the bathroom.  You know, the kind of fabric that repels water instead of absorbing it.  Dingy greyish white.
In-room movies for like $12 on pay per view.

Facilities:  Because I had a bad case of "airplane neck" from traveling all day, I did decide to brave the hot tub.  After all, with all that chlorine, it just wasn't possible to catch anything out of it.  Hot tub= 2 stars.  Water is not hot enough, jets not strong enough, but the waterfall thingie pouring over the top from the fake boulder rock formation is kind of retro cool.  It did manage to relax me some.  

Bar:  You didn't think I was going to sleep without a drink did you?  Beer wasn't going to be strong enough to help me sleep on those sheets.  So, we taught the bartender about Absinthe.  He had a brand new bottle but no one had ever ordered it before.  The bartender is exceedingly friendly and pours big strong drinks.  4 stars for the bartender.  (Note - We are the only people in the bar huddled in the corner watching the democratic national convention on the TV.  Drinking Absinthe.  Surreal.)  

Needless to say, I got exactly what I expected for $62 bucks in a two-star hotel that could be used for a scene in a movie like "No Country for Old Men".  

I should point out that the front desk staff were exceedingly friendly and very helpful.  I would give them four stars for that but I can't really bump up this review to four stars and keep a straight face.  Plus, they are probably depressed to be working here, so I give them extra kudos for that as they probably go home every night with a chlorine headache.  So be extra nice to the staff if you stay here.

In closing, I should say that Priceline are complete liars, but I would probably use them again anyway the next time I need a one night place to lay down my head and don't want to pay "rack rate" for a room.

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