This hotel is always our first choice when visiting Newton, Iowa (4 times in the past 10 years). The location is ideal for spending time in the town square, and you can trust it as a nationally brande... more
This hotel is always our first choice when visiting Newton, Iowa (4 times in the past 10 years). The location is ideal for spending time in the town square, and you can trust it as a nationally branded property. The common areas / first floor are quite nice. Staff are very nice and personable. However, I never saw one staff member wearing any kind of uniform or official Best Western apparel. Free breakfast is always a great perk, and this one was just right, all the usual items. Pool and gym were not operable during our stay, which was quite disappointing. Apparently this property has undergone recent renovations? The laundry room on the first floor did not have a door (maybe part of the renovation?), and there was a draft coming in that caused the entire first floor to be very cold. The laundry room is directly across from the breakfast room, and when guests tried to close that door so as not to FREEZE during breakfast, staff refused to let them close the door. Very uncomfortable. Also, every single "service" room i.e. "employees only" type areas always had the doors propped wide open, so guests were treated to views of all the inner workings of the hotel, as well as staff lounging around hanging out in those rooms. The whole affair just seemed unprofessional and not up to par with a national brand of hotel. And finally the guest rooms were quite shabby -- furniture in states of disrepair, phones didn't work, and found bugs in the room throughout our stay. Sadly, we will not be returning to this property. less