Because we were traveling with kids, we weren't looking for frills. Just clean and comfortable please. Unfortunately, this did not live up to our hopes.
The Good: The location is close to beautiful Oregon wine country. The internet worked just fine and was easy to access. Most of the staff were courteous (except the woman who scowled at us for asking if they would please put out more coffee during the breakfast). The kitchenette area had lots of counterspace and was very useful and spacious. The room itself was fairly spacious. Matresses were fairly comfortable. The hotel is tucked back away from the street, so we didn't hear any road noise.
The Bad: While we didn't have any specifically noisy guests, the walls are very, very thin. We had to knock on the adjoining door to our room to kindly get the person to turn off their cell phone alarm after it had been ringing for five minutes straight. Had there been any insulation/sound proofing, that wouldn't have been an issue. Within the room, the air conditioner/heater is loud. The breakfast was, well...lacking. We've had a great many hotel "continental" breakfasts, and this was the least desirable. The "remodel" the hotel touts is updated bed coverings (which were decent), cheaply painted doors to make them look like dark wood (already chipping), and a couple of feet of tile on the bathroom floor.
AND...The Ugly: First and foremost was the mold all over in the shower, the "barely" clean toilet, and soiled carpets. I just can't tolerate that. I cringed at everything my family touched - sheets, mugs, glasses - wondering if the same negligence was applied to their cleaning. I can't imagine sitting in a hot tub or swimming in the pool. :p And when we went out to our car in the back parking lot, there were a couple of drunks who were walking from the low end apartments the are directly behind the hotel, being loud and making lewd comments to my daughter and I. I was relieved that we had a strong male present!
The friendly staff made me WANT to rate this hotel more highly, but there were just too many negatives to do so. Sorry, but I cannot recommend this one.
- Newberg Shilo Inn
