When we first pulled up to the Best Western Alamo Suites, my 17 year old's comment was, "We're not really going to stay here." I told him that I had read that the neighborhood wasn't the greatest but that it had good reviews and to give it a chance. I went in and the lobby looks really nice. The people working there were really nice so we stayed the first night and said if it was really terrible we would leave the next day. Well, we ended up staying for 4 nights. Once you get passed the smell of mildew in the hallway, the rooms are really not that bad. There are 2 king size beds, a sofa, medium sized refrigerator and microwave in each room. The bathroom is average size for a Best Western. Actually the beds are very comfortable. I state that it is in a location because unless you plan to visit the Riverwalk every day, this motel is right next to the interstate and is very easy to leave and come back. I knew that we would only spend one day at the Riverwalk and downtown San Antonio and did not want to pay the 20 to 30 dollars a night parking fee. So, if you just need a place to lay your head at night for a reasonable price, this place is for you and your family. Make sure you visit San Marcos Factory Outlet, Black's Barbecue in Lockhart and the town of Friedricksburg.

Overall, this hotel was a pretty decent value, but it's in a completely dead part of San Antonio. There are no stores, entertainment, restaurants, or businesses within walking distance, so be prepared to go out or order pizza.

When we arrived, we noticed that the refrigerator (which was a full-sized refrigerator/freezer, so that was nice) had a pool of water inside of it. The staff were friendly and responsive about it, and it was promptly fixed the next day. Every staff member was helpful and courteous throughout our stay, and I appreciate that.

The room itself was comfortable enough, but it was hard to adjust the air conditioner. It was either freezing cold or muggy and humid, with little in between. My wife and I slept comfortably enough, but I did keep waking up at night to adjust the temperature. The beds were adequate, but the sheets had some odd stains that made us a little uneasy. The bathroom was decent, but the door wouldn't stay open, so we had to prop it open with a chair to let the steam out after showering.

In-room entertainment options are sparse, with a standard TV and a few basic cable channels. The television was positioned in such a way that it could only be comfortably viewed from the bed, making the couch in the room almost useless. We didn't spend a whole lot of time watching TV, though, so it wasn't that big of a deal. The free "high-speed" internet was spotty and unreliable, and we kept losing our wireless signal. Again, this wasn't a huge concern, but it was a nuisance.

The free continental breakfast was of fair quality, but there were not enough tables in the breakfast area to accommodate the number of guests partaking of it. My wife and I ended up sitting in chairs in the lobby to eat our breakfast one morning. Another 3 or 4 tables would have been nice, and there was certainly enough space to add them.

If you have to stay here, you won't be disappointed, but you probably won't be impressed, either. This hotel definitely falls into the "it will do" category.

As the other reviews said, it's not in the prettiest spot. But, we had no complaints at all about this hotel. We had to change the date of arrival at the last minute, and that was accomodated professionally and pleasantly. Everything else was just fine.

The only real issue I can think of is that the term "suite" may be a bit too generous. It was a larger than normal room, but not by a whole lot. There wasn't a separate sink near the full size fridge, nor any sort of stove other than the microwave.

I reviewed this hotel a year ago and thought I should review it again since I've stayed there four times since my previous review. The hotel has a new manager, but the desk staff hasn't changed. I understand that there had been a few housekeeping problems, but I have not experienced any problems at all. To avoid repetition, I'll just refer interested travelers to my previous review of August 2009. My opinion and recommendation remain the same. I'm returning in December for Christmas on the Riverwalk.