Background:

We stayed at the Amber Inn of Bliss, Idaho twice both coming and going from Astoria, Oregon even though neither time was planned.

Our plan heading to Astoria was to stop in Boise or Ontario, Oregon. However as we passed Twin Falls, Idaho it started to rain, and rain and then rain very hard. When the 18-wheeler in front of us disappeared from sight, I knew it was time to stop for the night and Bliss was the next town along the way.

On the way back we planned to spend the night in Boise or Mountain Home however, we made really good time so we decided to go beyond Boise and try our luck in Mountain Home. We discovered two things in Mountain Home: the independent places where really scary and the chains really expensive ($80.00 a night for a Comfort Inn) so we decided to spend the night in Bliss again where rates run at the Amber Inn for $30.00 to $40.00 a night.

The Motel:

The Amber Inn
17286 Highway 30
Bliss, Idaho 83314
(208) 352-4441

The motel is just west of Exit 141 of Interstate 84.The motel sits on a triangle piece of property, which is bounded by US Highway 30, US Highway 20, with the backside of the motel facing Interstate 84.

If you are coming off of Interstate 84 there is a dirt driveway just before the intersection of US Highway 30 (by the way, US 30 does not look like much as I thought it was a side street until I saw a map inside the motel!). If you are on US 30 out of Twin Falls there is another driveway just before the intersection of US 20.

The motel has plenty of parking with a concrete area to park cars on the side of the motel and there is also a large dirt area to park trucks or moving vans along side the office.

There is a covered area to park your car as you check in. The office is at the front right hand corner of the motel with an entrance just inside the main hallway. The motel has is two stories with interior corridors to all of the rooms. The rooms do not have microwaves inside of them however there is a microwave on the lower level halfway down the hallway where there is another door to the outside plus the main staircase to the upper level.

From the styling of the exterior of the motel it looks as though it could have been a Super 8 at some time in its past.

Motel Information:
· A/C
· AAA Rating
· Cable/Satellite TV
· Coffeemaker
· Credit Cards OK
· Fax/Copier
· Free Local Calls
· Handicap Access
· High-speed Internet
· Iron
· Microwave
· Non-smoking
· Pets OK
· Refrigerator
· Wi-Fi

Check In:

Like motel 6, if you check in after a certain time you do it at a window in a hallway instead of the main office. The gentleman running the counter was extremely friendly and quickly checked me in. After checking me in he told me directions to the room, and told me about restaurants and gas stations in town.

The second time my wife checked us in and the gentleman provided her the same level of customer service as he did me.

The Room:

The first thing that impressed me was the size of the room. This is the largest basic motel room that I have encountered in some time. As you walk in there is a large suitcase area to the right including a rod for hang up clothes. To the left is the bathroom with the sink, toilet and bathtub all in the same room.

Once you enter in the main part of the room you have a long carpeted counter to the right and the television hanging on the wall above it. Against the far wall was a table and chairs placed next to the window. As you look to your left there a couch against backing to the bathroom and against the left wall the queen sized bed separated with a nightstand on the left side with a digital clock.

The first time we stayed at the Amber Inn we had a room on the upper level and the second time around our room was on the first level just two doors down from the office. Both rooms where clean however in the second room there was a large hole in the ceiling above the bathtub where it appeared that a leak had sprung and they had to go into the ceiling to repair it and had not repaired the ceiling yet.

The Amber Inn also had a decent selection of television channels (68 as I recall since I forgot to write it down!).

Nearby:

Bliss is a town most people go through but do not stop in. There are a couple of truck stops and gas stations but not much else. However, one place I can recommend on the food front is the Oxbow Cafe. The restaurant is right along the Business Loop about two blocks west of the Amber Inn and has great food. My wife and I had great service and good food both for dinner and breakfast the second time we stopped in Bliss.

Also on the next block from the Amber Inn is a convenience store that also has the only fast food restaurant in town and is called Ziggy’s Express. Since my wife was tired I went over there to get food on our first trip to Bliss. The food was excellent which made up having to wait about 15 minutes for the food.

Nearby Attractions:

The Amber Inn is a great base of operations for southern Idaho sightseeing and will save money over more expensive places like Mountain Home, Twin Falls, and especially Sun Valley.

Among the nearby attractions:

· Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
· Shoshone Ice Caves
· Ketchum/Sun Valley
· Shoshone Falls Park
· Craters of the Moon National Monument
· Balanced Rock
· Scenic Deep Canyon

Check Out:

For checking out they put a bucket for keys by the staircase to the upper level and then there is a drop box by the office. So both times all we had to do was drop the key and we where on our way for another day of fun and adventure.

Overall:

The Amber Inn is an excellent value for the dollar. It is close to many nearby attractions but the rates are half or less of nearby areas. The only downfall is that Bliss does not have a great deal to offer but there is an excellent restaurant in the Oxbow Café and you are only a few miles from other nearby places.

A special thanks goes out to SurgeRN911 once again for getting the motel added to the database for me.


Recommended: Yes