I enjoyed my stay at Best Western Paint Pony Lodge at the beginning of March 2018. At first, I was put off because I arrived after 10 p.m. and was directed to an outdoor check-in window. It was approximately 25 degrees outside, so I expressed my frustration at standing outside in the cold to check in--certainly not something I've ever had to do anywhere else, ever. Thankfully, the night attendant was gracious enough to let me in, where it was nice and warm. She explained that there are bars down the road. However, never during my 5 night stay did I see or hear any obnoxious guests or people loitering. I think they need to ditch the outdoor check-in, at least during cold months.
The reception/lobby and breakfast lounge are in a separate building. This building is not connected to the guest rooms. It is a lovely, inviting, homey building, with wood accents, eye-catching artwork by local artists, and ample seating for breakfast or visiting. Breakfast was the same every morning, except they rotated sausage and bacon for the choice of meat. You can choose from pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, toast and English muffins, waffles, scrambled eggs, meat, and sausage gravy and biscuits. If they run out of something, they will happily get more out for you, even if you show up ten minutes before breakfast is done. There are a few excellent breakfast spots in Show Low and Pinetop, so I alternated between eating at Best Western and eating out.
My first room apparently had thin walls, and I could hear normal conversation on both sides of my room, resulting in a restless night of sleeping. The shower in the morning was refreshing with thick, thirsty towels and a nice big shower head that helped wake me up. The front desk was kind enough to let me switch rooms, and I moved from the front building to the back. This room was much quieter, and although I could still hear conversation, either the walls were thicker and I couldn't hear as much, or the guests stopped talking early, because I didn't have a problem staying asleep. I did, however, find it difficult to fall asleep because the pillows were so uncomfortable. Unless you are a back sleeper, take your own pillow. Their pillows are all super full, and because they're filled with synthetic material, they don't squish down, making side-sleeping difficult, and I'm guessing stomach sleepers might have to ditch the pillow entirely. They need choices in regard to pillows. In addition, the shower head in this room wasn't as big, therefore water flow wasn't as strong, which was a bit of a bummer. I also didn't like the combination shampoo/conditioner they supplied or the soap, and they didn't offer lotion, so I went out and bought all three of my own.
If you don't place your dirty towels and washcloths directly on the floor, housekeeping will leave them in the room. I left my washcloth balled up in the corner of the shower and a dirty towel draped over the bottom of the tub, and they were still there later in the day. In addition, they didn't rinse out the tub or sink. These are minor things, but noticeable nonetheless. Also, not having on-sight exercise facilities was inconvenient, and I ended up not getting a pass to go elsewhere. Kids be aware that there is not a pool here either. So, while not an exceptional experience, I enjoyed my stay and would stay again because I felt the price was fair for what I was getting, and its location was perfect for my needs. I can definitely recommend this property without hesitation. less