A hotel firmly in the one star category.
PROS:
1. If you book in advance on the website, it is a good $20 a night cheaper than anything else in the area.
2. Umatilla is a quiet, safe small town. Especially if you get a room facing north, you will have a very quiet night. Good air conditioner. Room was clean.
3. Restaurant next door (sports bar) is very good, and there is a grocery store within 1/2 a block. Also a liquor store across the street (not a source of trouble).
4. Umatilla is a good base location for exploring - convenient to Tri Cities (Washington state) and Oregon Gorge. From the hotel, you can jump on the interstate in about three minutes.
CONS:
1. Really, really soft bed.
2. Sandpapery bath towels.
3. We stayed two nights, and they "forgot" to clean our room between night one and night two. Did nothing to make up for it, despite me talking politely to management about it.
4. Pool was ice cold (and this was the end of summer) and the water was cloudy, and completely in the shade from about noon forward. Surrounded by super tall fence. Not a nice place to hang out.
5. Room furnishings okay, but definitely well used.
BOTTOM LINE:
If your standards are budget, and you'll be happy with the very basics, this is an okay choice.
- Tillicum Hotel Umatilla
