Accommodation Review - Red Roof Inn Amarillo West – Amarillo, Texas
Big Rooms, Comfy Beds and Staff Who Could Use a Coffee!
Address: 6800 Interstate 40 West, Amarillo, TX
Date of stay: 20 July 2018
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ 3.4/5
Welcome to Amarillo, Texas, where everything is bigger — or so the saying goes. At the Red Roof Inn Amarillo West, the rooms certainly lived up to that reputation. Unfortunately, the staff’s enthusiasm for customer service was a little harder to find!
The motel had large rooms and a comfortable bed, which are two important boxes to tick when you’re travelling long distances across America. After a day on the road, a decent bed is worth its weight in gold, and we had no complaints in that department.
Sadly, the same couldn’t be said about the staff, who came across as rather surly. The real test came when we wanted to use the motel’s self-service laundry facilities.
The motel had coin-operated washing machines, but when we asked about getting some change, the staff weren’t interested in helping. Their solution? Walk to the nearby petrol station and get it there yourself.
Now, we understand that not every motel reception is a bank, but when you’re providing coin-operated laundry facilities, a little assistance wouldn’t go astray. A friendly response might have helped, but the attitude we received certainly didn’t win them any points.
For that effort, the customer service gets a generous two stars from us. And that’s probably being kinder than the experience deserved!
Location-wise, the motel sits on the edge of town, so dining options immediately nearby are a little limited. However, there is one rather handy alternative if you’re looking for a proper Texas-sized meal.
You can take advantage of the free limousine service to the famous Big Texan Steak Ranch. Now, that’s a much better way to travel to dinner than walking around town hunting for somewhere to eat! The Big Texan is well known for its larger-than-life Texas steakhouse experience, making it a popular stop for travellers passing through Amarillo.
The Thirsty Tourists verdict: A mixed bag. The large room and comfortable bed were definite positives, but the unfriendly service and lack of help with the laundry left a sour taste. The location also means you’ll probably need to venture out for dining.
With an overall score of 3.4 out of 5, it wasn’t a complete disaster, but a little hospitality would have made a big difference. After all, a smile doesn’t cost anything — unlike the motel room!
The Thirsty Tourists – Touring is thirsty work! 🍻
