Red Lion Kelso Longview

Re-Review After A Week: When I did the first review, I was giving this place a lot of benefit-of-the-doubt, but there are glaring issues. The WiFi has been intermittent all week, making it all but useless. I have been told it is because the contractor for Red Lion’s service has not yet sent a replacement router, but a full week is a bit much. If you come here on business needing it for business use, beware.Second, the pool is not being taken care of. I noticed the filters are not being emptied on a regular basis, leaving the pool with lots of floating debris. They also found the chemistry had not been checked regularly leading to needing to shut down the pool for a serious rebalancing this week. That is dangerous and, having cared for a pool myself, does not take a lot of time. Someone is just being lazy.Speaking of which, we have had mornings when the day shift did not arrive on time to take over for the night shift, leaving the one front desk person to start breakfast and take care of the need of customers. Just this morning, the cook apparently fell asleep in the kitchen and the front desk had to go yell at them because the breakfast items were all running out. What ever happened to work ethic?With all of these experiences, this Red Lion is no longer the shining, luxury place of my youth but is instead a joke, an expensive Motel 6 with even worse qualities in some areas.Original Review: Returning to the town of the Kelso Highlanders, I remember this hotel, once a Red Lion then a Double Tree and now a Red Lion again, as being the place all the kids wanted to go for their prom parties. It was considered the epitome, at least in town, of the “rich” set. Being here now, I can both see how that might have looked and how it doesn’t really look that way now for the outside-of-Kelso experienced. This doesn’t have the flamboyance of other Red Lions you might have been to, but it is not unlike the one, for example, in Durango, CO, and that is why I am giving this such a high review. It is a little run down: The room curtain is sun scorched, the toilet a little run down, the windows let heat rip right through them,” etc. The service, however, is great. My wife and daughter love the pool and hot tub. The WiFi is stable and strong for my business use. And it is both right off the Interstate (bad for sound but good for convenience) and near to the Kelso Amtrak stop. If you need anything, there is the mall and the shopping center right here. And, of course, if you are here for a family reunion, like me, or a class reunion as one of the Highlander elite, it is close to all of that.Nearby activities: Mt. St. Helens is right up the road. Vancouver and Portland are only an hour south and are full of possibilities. To the west are Astoria Bridge across the mouth of the Columbia and Long Beach.Walkability: Groceries and supplies are easily had within walking distance as are a Denny’s and Shari’s for dining, a McDonalds for those who need a Happy Meal etc. It is a little further walk to the Three Rivers Mall, which includes a cinema. There are also trails for just exercise.

My son’s baseball team booked this hotel and I went along without reading reviews. Avoid staying here if possible. One person working the breakfast when it was obviously a full night. Coffee ran out and there were a bunch of caffeine addicted adults pacing around waiting (including me). There has been no updates or maintenance of this hotel in a long time if ever…

There was a plastic bag over the smoke detector. The wifi barely worked during my entire stay, which was about 19 hours. Other than that, it was fine. Non-remarkable.

This hotel had very friendly staff, its in a great location for Mt St Helens, and it was cheep. My main issue is that out room and the halls could have been cleaner. Our bedding and towels were clean and fresh but it was clear the shower had not been cleaned befor we arived and the hallway rely needed more attention. Other then that we did enjoy our stay.

1. Desk lamp does not work2. Microwave does not work3. No outlets for phone or computer4. Dresser is broken5. Stains on carpet6. Mold through out the bathroom7. Over all run down and out dated