Background:

My father was going through cancer treatments and things where not going well, so I planned this as a surprise for my parents and see what I could do for them. Sadly my father would pass away a few weeks before the this trip so instead it turned into a trip to help my mother go through papers and such and just be with her.

I was able to book a room at the motel for just $32.00 a night, which was lower than any other motel that I checked.

The Motel:

The motel is located at the corner of Lincoln and 1st Avenue. From eastbound I-90 you get off at the Maple Street exit, head for the sign that says Lincoln and follow it. After a few blocks the road will curve to the left with a yield sign and that puts you on second. For people traveling westbound on I-90 just get off at the Monroe street exit. Both ways will merge at 3rd Avenue; you then have to get into the left hand lane. After you cross under the mainline of the BNSF railroad you will see a long brick building. This building is the motel and just before the intersection there is a place to turn into the motel. Otherwise if you miss this small entrance you have to go beyond one block to Sprague and go around the block with 3 left turns due to the one-way streets that Spokane loves.

The motel is a three-story affair, with the office and parking on the first floor, and the motel rooms on the 2nd and 3rd Floors. The hotel has 36 rooms and does have an elevator. The motel also has an exercise room but I only saw one exercise bike and one treadmill in there which suites me just find since I use the treadmill the most but never got the opportunity to use it.

The motel is only about 15 minutes from the Spokane Airport and about 5 minutes from the Intermodal depot serving Amtrak, Greyhound and Northwest Trailways.

The original Rodeway Inn was actually across Lincoln from this place, as this motel was the called the city center motel but then a oil spill was discovered underneath the other motel it was closed and the Rodeway affiliation moved to this spot a couple of years later.

Check In:

Check in was smooth and easy with the front desk clerk being efficient but not overly friendly. Also, she failed to tell me that I needed a parking pass or I would receive a parking ticket while parked in the lot. The next day after I got the ticket I went inside and low and behold they had a sign up saying to get a parking permit. So I talk the person working and he called the company that wrote the ticket (not the police-private company), and cleared it up, the then gave me a permit and apologized that the sign was not up and the lady the day before didn’t tell me.

The Room:

As you enter the room you are immediately in the main sleeping area. To the left in my room was the window with no view, and in front of it was a table and chairs. To the right was a dresser with the television on it, beyond the dresser was a writing desk and chairs, then a 4 cubic foot refrigerator with a microwave. Along the opposite wall was the queen sized bed with lamps on either side and night stands once of them holding the phone and other having a digital clock. Beyond the refrigerator/microwave there is an area to put your suitcases with one suitcase stand. Directly opposite the front door is a large vanity with the main sink. To the left of the vanity was the door to the bathroom that included the toilet and bathtub. The room also had a coffee maker along the vanity area.

The Good:

The room was large and does include the refrigerator and microwave which is nice if you have a doggy bag from a restaurant or just want to keep some snacks. The motel is well located within walking distance to downtown, the transit center, and many new restaurants that are popping up in the area. Having the writing desk and the table and chairs is nice, especially for me who likes to have several projects going on at once and uses the table for those. Also, despite the fact that the mainline of the BNSF and Union Pacific was right behind the hotel I rarely heard trains go by. The tracks are elevated through downtown so the trains don’t have to blow their horns except when some moron is on the right of way, which happens too often.

The Bad:

The bed, pillows and the carpeting where all worn out and needed to be replaced. When the motel gets busy parking can be a bear as the spaces are tight and there is not a lot of them. Also on Friday and Saturday nights the bar and dance club next door can be noisy.

The Ugly:

The Continental Breakfast is nothing to right home about. In fact I would have to say it’s the second worst one I have ever encountered. They had one box of cereal, one type of Danish plus milk and orange juice and that was it. I tried it on the first morning then ate at other places the rest of the weekend.

The Location:

Location is the bright spot of the motel. It is across the street from the beautifully restored Davenport Hotel whose lobby and Hall of Doges is worth a visit. Trying to describe the hall is difficult, but is something that has to be seen. The incredible architecture and artistry in the hotel is outstanding.

Another thing I like about this motel is that I don’t need to drive a car in order to get to restaurants. Only a half a block away past the railroad viaduct is the Steam Plant Grill in the former Steam Plant that is worth a stop. Also a great place to eat especially for the view is Ankeny’s, which is on the top floor of the West Coast Ridpath Hotel. This hotel is only four blocks from the Rodeway Inn. 3rd Avenue is fast food central as fast food places line the street.

I recommend a stop at Zips; it is a Spokane area a tradition and has some of the best fast food in Spokane. It is within walking distance also just two blocks south of the hotel at Lincoln and 3rd.

Riverpark Square mall and the skywalk are is only a couple of blocks away as is Riverfront park and the beautiful Spokane Falls and Spokane River.

The Spokane Transit Authority Bus Plaza is only a couple of blocks away and is the central hub for bus service. From here you can reach many of the parks, malls, and other attractions in town.

In addition there is many lakes, ski resorts, and other scenic highlights within a hour or two drive from the motel.

Check Out:

Check out was quick just not overly friendly. The staff sometimes just acted like they didn't want to be there.

Conclusion:

While the Rodeway Inn could use some remodeling, it is a good basic hotel. However a better choice for the money would be the Budget Inn and you can see my review of that hotel at:
http://www.epinions.com/content_184794648196

Another motel in the area is the Howard Johnson and you can read that review at:
http://www.epinions.com/content_185097227908




Recommended: Yes