I spent last night (3/1/2012) at this motel. I asked to see a room and, although tired and a bit tatty, the price of $41 including taxes and continental breakfast seemed reasonable value for money. The bed seemed to have a new mattress and the bed linen was clean, as was the bathroom. I hadn't checked Tripadvisor but had used a Rodeway Inn for one night in Flagstaff and again, a little tired and tatty, offered good value for money and the owners were polite and helpful.
I asked for a room further away from the road and was given a non-smoking room which had a faint smell of stale smoke. I advised the owner of this and I was put into the original room I was offered.
I had a reasonable nights sleep, no bed bugs that I could see or feel. Although the room heater was noisy and kept turning on and off once thermostat temperature was reached - which did disturb me a little.
The breakfast was served in the small and tatty lobby with only one chair for guests. Very basic but I thought you couldn't expect much more for the price.
I was reasonably content with my stay until during my breakfast the owner's (I assume him to be the owner) father appeared and ordered me to my room. I say ordered, his exact words were "go to room now" while pointing at the door, said in a very loud and seemingly angry manner. He then went back inside. I was aware that breakfast finished at 9 am, so I checked my watch and it was 8.45 am.
I was a bit taken aback and bemused. I didn't go back to my room as I thought that this was an unreasonable request.
The "owners" (?) father appeared again 5 minutes later and I asked him quite reasonably why he had been rude to me? He appeared not to understand me and called his son. I explained to him what had happened in a very reasonable manner and told him that it was good manners to ask someone to do something "with a please and thankyou" and instead of apologising he smiled and told me "this is America, we don't use please and thankyou". Following this I left the lobby and went to my room to pack and leave.
In order to check out you have to return the key card to the lobby. I decided to complain again to the "owner" while doing this. I told him that I had considered staying another night, as although the room was tatty, it represented value for money. But due to the behaviour of his father and his lack of apology I had decided not to. I advised him that I was a paying guest and should not be spoken to in that way and that he should keep his father away from guests in future. I also advised him that I was considering writing a negative review on Tripadvisor. He responded by telling me never to return to his motel again (as if I would?) and that he was going to make a complaint about me being rude to him and was going to blacklist me (these were not his exact words but words to effect) from every motel in town (although I am unsure how he was going to do this but pointed at his computer). I left the lobby and he followed me shouting abuse.
The lesson learnt is that I will always check Tripadvisor before turning up in a new town.