Quality Inn Thermopolis near Hot Springs — Hotel in Thermopolis

We have been making trips through Thermopolis in the fall for several years and have stayed here several times before and each time, although one of the more expensive hotels in the area, it's consistently clean, lots of parking and just what we needed for our retired traveler needs.

HOWEVER, one of the things we look for are nice breakfasts at the hotels we stay at. Folks, these aren't free, you pay for them.....and the breakfast at this place was one of the worst we have ever seen. But more on that in a bit.

We made the reservations a few days ahead so we'd have a nice non-smoking room set aside for us, also asking for a quiet room on the first floor. When we checked in there weren't five cars in the lot BUT the clerk was complaining about having to shuffle rooms around a lot to "finally" get one for us.....as if it was our fault?

I checked in and we hauled our suitcases to that room and found....it really stank of smoke and hadn't been made up yet.

Back to the desk and with another flurry of room searching she said she could give us the room directly across the hall. "It's a family room with bunk beds but I'll give it to you for the same price". (OH! Thank You!). The large multi-bed room was okay but they shut off power daily to save a nickles worth of electricity which resets the clock. As such the alarm went off at midnight. Before we could drift back to sleep a big family checked into the"family room" above us and several kids ran around jumping up and down for close to a half-hour before it got quiet again.

Finally, some sleep.

Next morning we were ready for a nice breakfast as promised in the Choice website pictures but what did we find? Not much, and even less that was edible!

With an hour to go there were few eggs, no gravy for the biscuits, no yogurt, several empty compartments that maybe once had held rolls and donuts. A man came out and put a handful of stale, hard donut holes in the roll box, added a tray of eggs and we didn't see him again. The rest of the crowd was very put-out too by the lack of edible food....no butter or cream cheese for the bread and the sausage patties were cold and greasy.

I made waffles BUT the batter was so watered down that even on the third attempt to intentionally overcook then to the point of edibility, they were still gooey and raw inside.

WHY DOES MANAGEMENT DO THINGS LIKE THIS TO THEIR GUESTS? You book 150 guests you'd better have enough food for 150 guests! But not here.

We had a bit of cereal and went back to our huge "family" room to shower and leave. We asked for a receipt but apparently the owner had an emergency and had to leave....and there wasn't a soul else who knew how to get us a receipt from the computer.

Truthfully, our stays here have ended. There are several nice little places in town and even if they don't have breakfast, believe me, you won't be missing much with what...

We have been making trips through Thermopolis in the fall for several years and have stayed here several times before and each time, although one of the more expensive hotels in the area, it's consistently clean, lots of parking and just what we needed for our retired traveler needs.

HOWEVER, one of the things we look for are nice breakfasts at the hotels we stay at. Folks, these aren't free, you pay for them.....and the breakfast at this place was one of the worst we have ever seen. But more on that in a bit.

We made the reservations a few days ahead so we'd have a nice non-smoking room set aside for us, also asking for a quiet room on the first floor. When we checked in there weren't five cars in the lot BUT the clerk was complaining about having to shuffle rooms around a lot to "finally" get one for us.....as if it was our fault?

I checked in and we hauled our suitcases to that room and found....it really stank of smoke and hadn't been made up yet.

Back to the desk and with another flurry of room searching she said she could give us the room directly across the hall. "It's a family room with bunk beds but I'll give it to you for the same price". (OH! Thank You!). The large multi-bed room was okay but they shut off power daily to save a nickles worth of electricity which resets the clock. As such the alarm went off at midnight. Before we could drift back to sleep a big family checked into the"family room" above us and several kids ran around jumping up and down for close to a half-hour before it got quiet again.

Finally, some sleep.

Next morning we were ready for a nice breakfast as promised in the Choice website pictures but what did we find? Not much, and even less that was edible!

With an hour to go there were few eggs, no gravy for the biscuits, no yogurt, several empty compartments that maybe once had held rolls and donuts. A man came out and put a handful of stale, hard donut holes in the roll box, added a tray of eggs and we didn't see him again. The rest of the crowd was very put-out too by the lack of edible food....no butter or cream cheese for the bread and the sausage patties were cold and greasy.

I made waffles BUT the batter was so watered down that even on the third attempt to intentionally overcook then to the point of edibility, they were still gooey and raw inside.

WHY DOES MANAGEMENT DO THINGS LIKE THIS TO THEIR GUESTS? You book 150 guests you'd better have enough food for 150 guests! But not here.

We had a bit of cereal and went back to our huge "family" room to shower and leave. We asked for a receipt but apparently the owner had an emergency and had to leave....and there wasn't a soul else who knew how to get us a receipt from the computer.

Truthfully, our stays here have ended. There are several nice little places in town and even if they don't have breakfast, believe me, you won't be missing much with what...

Upon Checkin, one girl was very friendly. She kept Pool, And Bar open past 11 PM for us. Sadly, she mentioned she was front desk clerk, Bartender, laundry person, etc., and only got $8.50 per Hour. I thought most jobs Pay Upwards of $15 These Days. Not Cool.

The Next Day, however, there was another girl working at Night, and she was friendly, but she closed Pool at 10, and I think she Said Bar closed at 7 PM? Not sure why. Hours should be kept consistently. Also, around 10 PM, she removed all the chairs in the lobby, so I couldn't sit there. Again, the first girl didn't do that, so we could still sit in the lobby at Night.

Also, I kid you not, Draft Beer costs $8! I haven't even Paid $8 for Beer at High-End Casinos in Atlantic City, where employees get $20 per Hour! If he is Charging $8 per Beer, And $105 per Night, surely he can Pay employees More than $8.50 per Hour!

As for housekeeping, the older gentleman was less than polite. I addressed him as sir (because I respect age), but he didn't seem like he wanted to be bothered. The housekeeping lady was more friendly. Again, I apologize, but I don't Know any of their names.

I had left a note AND TIP for the older gentleman to leave some extra soap, etc., but he didn't. In fairness, he didn't take The Tip I left, either.

Also, I was Charged 4 Times for Safe Warranty Fee + Tax (2 rooms, 2 Nights), but we never used the safe. We should have been offered an opportunity to waive This.

Owner was friendly, but he claimed he had a lot of turnover. Well, if he Paid his employees $15-20 per Hour, then maybe he wouldn't.

Hotel was good, though, breakfast was fine.

Pool was Too Cold, should have been Warmer. Nice furniture by Pool.

UPDATE: I received a reply from the owner defending his Bar closing at 7 PM, and defending them Charging $8 for Draft Beer! LOL, even in NYC or Chicago, I haven't Paid $8 for Draft Beer, so I would not expect to in Thermopolis WY. Also, he claimed he kept Pool at 80 Degrees for economic reasons. Hahaha! Translation = he is being cheap. Pools are usually kept at 84 Degrees. I have been to Quality Inns all over the country. Also he never returned my Safe Fee (I didn't use the safe and...