As a Yelp reviewer, I'm not usually on the low end of a rating scale but I must confess I'm a wee bit baffled by the 5-star love for what is a perfectly fine but definitely not stellar hotel experience here in the otherwise lovely Rochester, Indiana.
This Quality Inn used to be a Comfort Inn, a fact that is apparent from some of the local decor and other hotel features. It appears it never quite entirely switched over - either due to cost or simply lack of investment in completing the switch. On the flip side, the front lobby decor is warm and welcoming even if it is primarily cosmetic.
Rochester has only three motel/hotel options with two being right next to each other - this hotel and the Super 8. The Super 8, at least from the outside, looks newer and fresher. However, I had to laugh because every time I looked over there I could see an employee out front smoking. On the flip side, at Quality Inn the employees were either inside working, inside watching their satellite television channels, or outside taking care of a cat and her recently born family of kittens that seemed to have been adopted by hotel employees until a better home option could be located.
If there's a key reason to stay at Quality Inn, it's the employees. They were friendly and welcoming across the board. They were always helpful - frequently arriving at their front door to open it for me even before I had a chance. While the front entrance is old school - for example, non-automatic doors and a worn, slightly broken curb cut - the employees definitely poured on that sense of welcome.
The accessible room was mostly workable, though the room was relatively small and the furniture made it a tad difficult for someone in a wheelchair to get through the room. I kept thinking it would likely be difficult for someone in a larger power wheelchair. Quality Inn offers free wifi, a free hot breakfast, is pet friendly, and has both a small fitness center and a business center. I was impressed that when someone needed to print something, a hotel employee even unhooked their own printer and brought it over to make that happen.
While the hotel is close to retail and restaurant options, the parking lot/street around the hotel could sure use an upgrade. It was a difficult wheel in a wheelchair due to your usual wear and tear. I'm also baffled why there's been no effort to create a connecting path between the Wal-Mart next door and the two hotels. It's an obvious benefit. While I realize most who walk would just walk across the culvert, that is more challenging than it needs to be.
There's a McDonald's at the front of the parking lot, hence the street name, though be warned I was informed by locals they have an established reputation for slow, questionable service. They are also one of the test sites for the self-serve kiosks and I sat there a couple times smiling as locals clearly aren't happy about it.
The breakfast nook area offers your average breakfast, though, it's not really very wheelchair friendly with the tight space having multiple tables in it and if it was crowded there's no way a wheelchair could get in/out with items in hand.
The room itself? Clean and comfortable, though the faded paint is again indicative of an interior in need of a little TLC. The satellite options were decent, though it did go out at one point on my 2nd night in Rochester.
I would also say that Quality Inn has always been more of a "budget" option for me and this particular location seemed a bit overpriced. I would have expected it to be a mid-range option. Upon further research, Quality Inn was about $20 higher per night than the Super 8 next door. Both, however, had only modest occupancy during a holiday weekend.
Overall, I would likely consider returning for the service. The staff is super friendly here and the accommodations comfortable enough that the two nights I spent here were restful and pleasing. The kindness involving the cats and the 5-week old kittens was fun to watch.
Geocachers should also note that there's a cache within about 300 feet of the hotel. Go for it. I found it!
With a bit of an upgrade and some standard maintenance, the Quality Inn could easily return to being a 4-star hotel. However, for now it seems like a 3-star rating and a modest thumbs up are most appropriate. read more