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Reviews of Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner

3.5 out of 5
Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner
1800 Fairview Ave, Boise, ID

Reviews

6.6
Rating 10 - Excellent. 582 out of 2195 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 468 out of 2195 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 389 out of 2195 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 373 out of 2195 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 383 out of 2195 reviews" "

6.6/10

Cleanliness

7.8/10

Staff & service

6.2/10

Amenities

5.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Jane

Travelled with family
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Terrible location, air conditioner broken, run down, very old nothing updated however staff was friendly
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

8/10 Good

Annie

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The property is tired and dated. The staff was friendly professional and to the point. I was pleasantly surprised by my room. It was large, clean and comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Response from Philip on 9 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback of our staff.

6/10 Okay

Yucare

Liked: Staff & service
N/-
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 9 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us!

6/10 Okay

Shawn

Travelled with family, Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
I specifically chose a place with a hot tub and it wasn't in working order, the staff was very nice and helpful, location was very convenient
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 8 May 2024
We apologize for the hot tub. Our facilities are outdoors and is still closed until the end of May.

4/10 Poor

Maureen, Waddell

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was nice but the hotel is run-down. No ice available on any floor. Lighting was an issue in the bathroom. Breakfast was sub-par the one day we actually had it. This is the second and last time we will stay there, even for the price
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 8 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Maureen. We have since addressed the issues with our ice machines and do greatly apologize for any inconvenience. Our front desk staff should also have been available to assist in getting you the things you need.

6/10 Okay

Meaghan

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We’ve stayed at this hotel several times due to hits location and reasonable price. The bed was comfortable and it was nice a quiet on Friday night. We chose to eat breakfast in your continental style dining area. We were in a hurry to get to my daughter’s graduation ceremony and they opened 10 minutes late and the food tasted like it was a few days old. There were about 5 light bulbs in our room that needed to be replaced and the bedside lamp didn’t work. We were also looking forward to using the hot tub and it was not working either. There was garbage overflowing in trash cans in the hallways and overall the hotel looked pretty run down and dirty. The staff was friendly and helpful, so that was a bright spot.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 8 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Meaghan. I am so sorry to hear about the troubles you encountered during your stay. I know that our staff would have been very willing to help, so I do hope that you voiced some of these shortcomings to the front desk.

6/10 Okay

Jesse

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
I stayed in room 670 and we had a leak coming from the ceiling, It only happened once but still.. a leak nontheless. The hotel was nice and the staff was very friendly. Room was very hot, the AC didn't work as others have stated and I even read from the owner themselves that it was fixed. However it wasn't so that's a shame. Other than those two issues, I guess it was an alright stay. Would choose some place else though honestly but its an okay stay if you're on a budget
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 8 May 2024
Jesse, we greatly apologize for the inconveniences you experienced during your stay. I assure you that we are working tirelessly to improve our facility. Thank you for your honesty and we appreciate your business.

4/10 Poor

Trish

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Staff was friendly. Hotel is in short walking distance of a delicious pizzaria and A'tavola, an Italiian cafe and market. However, the hotel property both outside and inside does not match the photos displayed on Expedia. Overall, the hotel is in desperate need of a deep cleaning and update. The desk chair as well as the reading chair in our room was dirty and in need of a steam clean. The bathroom faucet dripped continuously, a few light bulbs were out, and the bathroom fan did not work. Most things in our room, and in the hotel in general, appeared very worn. I would not have made a reservation at this hotel had I known the facility's conditions were so rundown, and I will not stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Response from Philip on 6 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback. We are working on correcting the issues.

4/10 Poor

Kailyn

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
not great wouldn’t stay again
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from Philip on 6 May 2024
What didn't you like. I hope you would give us the opportunity to correct it.

10/10 Excellent

Darren

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Kinda in the middle of run down downtown
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Vincent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Good value
Stayed 1 night in May 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 4 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Vincent. We appreciate you choosing to stay with us.

6/10 Okay

TERRY

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was noisy. Strange sounds coming from the vents. Otherwise, room was clean and nice.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 3 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Terry. I hope that you may have reported these strange occurrences to our staff to have them addresses. Otherwise, we are super please to hear you enjoyed your stay with us.

2/10 Terrible

Janiece

Travelled with family, Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had to change rooms after unpacking. The tv, refrigerator, bathroom fan & coffee maker didn't work. It was filthy. The second room was cleaner some lights didn't work. coffee maker & bathroom fan were broke. All in all a very bad trip
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Vanessa Wilson on 1 May 2024
Janiece, we greatly apologize for the less than satisfactory experience you had with us during your recent stay. I have passed along these concerns the proper departments and we will do better in the future. Thank you for your feedback and we hope to have another chance to impress you in the future.

8/10 Good

Dave

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 3 May 2024
Thank you for your review, Dave. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay with us.

10/10 Excellent

Dave

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Safe and convenient
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 1 May 2024
Thank you for the feedback, Dave. We greatly appreciate your business and are glad you enjoyed your stay with us.

8/10 Good

Angela, Jerome

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean and comfortable. The staff were nice and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 1 May 2024
Thank you for the awesome feedback, Angela. we are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us.

8/10 Good

Ayla

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
You don't really have control of the temperature in your room. But I was able to get a better room by just letting the front desk know I was hot
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 29 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback. We are happy our team was able to assist.

10/10 Excellent

Luis, Declo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 1 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Luis, we so glad you have enjoyed your stay with us.

6/10 Okay

Angela

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
no thank you
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 29 Apr 2024
How can we improve?

4/10 Poor

douglas

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
condition of hotel was poor
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 29 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback. How can we improve our service.

6/10 Okay

douglas

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
no air conditioning, was very hot. facilities in serious need of a remodel, cleaning and painting.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 29 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback Douglas. Our AC is functioning properly.

2/10 Terrible

Teleni

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Checked in 26 APR 2024. I was very disappointed in this hotel. This hotel is very outdated which also includes outdated pictures. The room Red Lion provided was not what is picture in their advertising/photos, don't be fooled. The Red Lion actually is more of a late faded 90s look rather than what the modern photos shows. Pool and hot tube was closed, carpet in the dining facility is faded, worn down and probably hasn't been replaced since it opened. Room was in fair condition. AC did not function properly, the fan blew out warm to hot air and had to sleep with the sliding door open to help cool down the room. Another guest decided to move furniture around their room around 4 in the morning for about 30 minutes. Check in was fine, the Red Lion took a $50 deposit and was told it will be refunded at check out, was also informed breakfast will start at 7:00 AM. Head down at 7:00 AM and no breakfast was prepared or served, diner area was empty and dark and I paid the additional $6 for breakfast when I booked with Expedia. Front desk could not properly check me out due to paperwork not prepared from the previous night and was instructed to leave my key in the "key basket" instead and the front desk employee just kind of dropped the ball there and left and I'm still short $50. I strongly suggest to find a different place to stay and would not refer anyone here, unfortunately.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 29 Apr 2024
We apologize greatly for the inconvenience during your stay. We did experience kitchen issues causing such a delay in breakfast. We do have AC but was still operating in winter mode. We have since altered this and we are functioning normal. Our 50.00 incidental is just a soft hold and is released from us upon check out. All banking institutions are different and could take up to 10 business days for you institution to release it.

4/10 Poor

Melanie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 29 Apr 2024
How can we improve?

10/10 Excellent

Hamang

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The setting of your lobby
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 28 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Hamang, we greatly appreciate your business.

4/10 Poor

Jacob

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
After arriving we realized the rooms don’t have a/c so their solution was to open the window and gave us a fan. It’s 2024 and no a/c? The breakfast was pretty stale as well. Overall it was just okay for a cheaper hotel. Probably won’t stay there again. The staff was nice though.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 26 Apr 2024
Hello Jacob, I greatly apologize for your experience during your stay with us. Unfortunately, we had unforeseen circumstances come up with our HVAC and had personnel onsite this morning to fix it. We thank you for your feedback.

10/10 Excellent

Philip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 26 Apr 2024
Thank you, Philip, we are so glad you enjoyed your stay.

6/10 Okay

Nathan, sedona

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
overall it was fine, I wish I had known it was not a higher end spot like it used to be. I was there for a place to rest while my house was being worked on and trying to study for finals and I really could not focus. I had to get front desk involved a few times with my neighbors. Overall though, it was fine, good breakfast, bed was clean and comfortable. I would stay again, maybe not when I need to study but if I was passing thru town, it was fine. I personally would allow your guests to know about the deal with interfaith tho, I do not mind as I do a lot of community out reach work but some people might not like it.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 26 Apr 2024
Thank you, Nathan, we do apologize for the behaviors of our other guests, and we will definitely keep your suggestions in mind for the future.

4/10 Poor

Amy

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 29 Apr 2024
How can we improve

4/10 Poor

atah

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness
The linens in the room had hair on them when we arrived, there was a bag over the smoke detectors, and the evening staff was rude about it as if it was our responsibility. No new pillows or linens. I had to go to the lobby myself at 11:30pm after a 6 hour drive and change the linens myself. The morning staff was nice though. Breakfast
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 25 Apr 2024
We greatly apologize for the inconvenience and the lack of cleanliness standards. I will address these concerns immediately.

4/10 Poor

Morgan

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 25 Apr 2024
How can we improve

8/10 Good

tracy

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Even though it was listed as having a pool and hot tub, they weren’t open “for the season” yet. Room was clean, bed comfortable and breakfast buffet was good with both hot choices (sausage, scrambled eggs, potatoes eat and oatmeal) and cold cereals, bagels, and bread for toast, plus fresh fruit.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 23 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback.

8/10 Good

Angela

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was great! Close to downtown and the extra mile arena. Only downside was not having an ac unit in our room and a functional bathroom fan. Otherwise I wouldn’t mind booking a future stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 23 Apr 2024
All our rooms have heating and AC. Our bathroom fans are central not individual.

2/10 Terrible

rachel

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
commodities are all incorrect
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 23 Apr 2024
Hello Rachel, We apologize if you felt our commodities were miss leading you. I assure you all information is updated and correct.

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 25 Apr 2024
Thank you

6/10 Okay

Mollee

Liked: Staff & service
The hotel is a little outdated, room was decent, and in a good location.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 23 Apr 2024
Hello Mollee, We do have an old charm. Thank you for your feedback.

8/10 Good

Kesheva

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
For a Red Lion Hotel this location could be better. Not much happening inside the hotel lobby space but it was a good weekend stay overall.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 23 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback

6/10 Okay

John

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was accented by the view and the access to the Downtown area. The staff were friendly and the young lady that ran the Breakfast Buffets, Amber, was very nice and the food she had prepared was excellent. Thank you for a nice stay!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 21 Apr 2024
Thank you, John. It looks like your stay was wonderful, and we love to hear awesome feedback about our staff and property. We hope to see you again!

6/10 Okay

John

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Staff & service
The uniqueness of the property is the view! The accessibility to the Downtown area is great as well. However, that was overshadowed by the front desk personnel who, the week before and every stay I've ever had there, did not charge the customary 50.00 deposit, instead she charged my card 200.00 and tried ti justify this increase by saying things like, "Since you're a local you might party too hard and destroy the room!" I could not believe that i was hearing what she had said! I'm 58 years old and my "Party like a rock star" days have been over for 3 decades. So, even though I used to be a Bartender at Characters, which was the bar in the Red Lion Downtowner, I'm penalized for being a "Local" who needed a place to stay that night! I was ashamed at my choice of hotels that night, but I had made a nonrefundable reservation so it was either lose my reservation and be out 100.00 or suck it up and pay the 200 00, which I have yet to get back onto my card, or take the loss. I chose to go to sleep in a hotel I didn't recognize anymore.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 23 Apr 2024
Hello John, We appreciate your feedback and apologize if the information you received is incorrect. We have a 200.00 authorization and is not a deposit.

2/10 Terrible

Tyler

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
No working a/c, staff is not helpful whatsoever. They tried to move us to a room that was already occupied.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 21 Apr 2024
Tyler I would like to apologize for the experience you had with our staff, we should have been able to better communicate operations. I will be passing along this information to the proper departs about the occupied room. Again, we are very sorry for your unsatisfactory experiences.

6/10 Okay

Harry

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff were great, and the amenities were fine for the price (pool, hotel breakfast, etc). I have zero complaints about those aspects. The hotel is in need of a renovation and everything is very dated (if I had to guess the carpet and everything is from the 80’s maybe early 90’s). Additionally, the area around it is a little dodgy. There are homeless that stay at a lot across the street, a strip club nearby, a transitional housing type apartment complex, an homeless charity type thing to the south, etc. I have nothing against the homeless population, but that is all in the vicinity of the hotel and might influence how comfortable you feel. I personally didn’t want to do any of my exercise at night knowing this. That said, the police station is right across the street, a nice pizzeria just a block away, as well as luxury apartments right off the street so it’s hard to say anything definitive about the area being dumpy or not. I can say I didn’t have any major issues, the property doesn’t tolerate any criminal elements in the hotel itself and the guests all seemed like normal people. It’s a decent place to stay if you are on a budget, but if you want something nicer and are willing to pay more, you should look for something closer to downtown.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 21 Apr 2024
Thank you for your insightful feedback, Harry. We have been working tirelessly with the city to improve the surrounding locations near the hotel. We are also very determined to improve our facilities. Our property has been at this location for decades and we are proud of the history and many of our guests enjoy the feel of our hotel. We do hope to see you again in the future.

2/10 Terrible

Anna

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

6/10 Okay

Alicia

Liked: Staff & service
A lil run down hotel caught fire right across the hay
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 20 Apr 2024
We thank you for your feedback. We working to improve our facility.

2/10 Terrible

Kyle

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 8 May 2024
How can we improve?

2/10 Terrible

brycen

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with pets
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place was horrible.we stayed one night because we were passing through and never again.first off if you are charging for amenities that are not working or we can't use,you need to refund the extra charges for those downed amenities. Second,the hot tub was right outside our window and gurgled loudly all night long.i figured it would have stopped after awhile but it didn't. 3rd the non speaking guests in the hallway at 6am with their crying kids and loud obnoxious selves screaming and yelling and kids crying. Even after the hotel staff came and talked with them. 4th the rude cleaning lady at 9am having a conversation on her phone, literally outside our door yelling into the phone.we told her we are still sleeping to go somewhere else.she went down the hallway then a minute later back in front of our door.Idiot. Crackheads all over.dont waste your time here.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from Philip on 20 Apr 2024
We apologize for the inconveniences you encountered during your stay with us. We do our best to control all situations. Our amenities have not changed and charge appropriately.

10/10 Excellent

Alma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and very quiet
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Red Lion Boise Downtowner on 19 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Alma. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us!

4/10 Poor

Austyn

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The woman at the front desk was rude and the whole property (particularly our room) had a horrible cigarette smell despite claiming to be smoke free.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 19 Apr 2024
We greatly apologize for the inconvenience and service received. We have new guest service agents and will be continuing to train them. Our hotel is nonsmoking and apologize if guests are not behaving.

6/10 Okay

Len

WE FOUND A PRICE ONLINE AND THE MANAGEMENT SAID THEY COULDN'T HONOR THAT PRICE. ALSO, THERE WERE DIRTY SOCKS ON THE PATIO OUTSIDE OUR SLIDING GLASS DOOR. WE ASKED THAT THEY BE REMOVED, BUT THEY WERE STILL THERE ]THE NEXT MORNING WHEN WE LEFT. ALSO, THE ONE POOR YOUNG LADY WAS COMPLETELY OVER-WORKED AND OVERWHELMED...SHE WAS TAKING MULTIPLE CALLS (PUTTING THEM ON HOLD, TALKING SEVERAL MINUTES EACH) WHILE TRYING TO HELP 2-3 FAMILIES IN LINE AT THE FRONT DESK.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from Philip on 20 Apr 2024
Hello Len,Sorry for the inconveniences. We do our best to assist as many guests as possible. We hope we were able to assist.

2/10 Terrible

Amanda

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bar/ restaurant was closed. Pool/hot tub closed. Square footage was incorrect, smaller than it said. Room was very hot. Lots of people on drugs in and around the property. Sara at the front desk was very nice and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 19 Apr 2024
Hello Amanda,Our facilities are seasonal as it states on the website. Our Bar and Restaurant has been closed for over 3 years now. We are working hard with our community to help.

10/10 Excellent

Kendra

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very pleased with our stay. The room was older but definitely well kept, it was quiet and we hardly heard anything outside the room which was a huge plus since we were traveling with two small dogs. Price was VERY reasonable and the location was great. Will definitely book here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Philip on 19 Apr 2024
We appreciate your stay with us. Thank you for your feedback.