Prescott's Motor Lodge Offers Invaluable Travel Experience

If you define luxury by world-class customer service and unique, creative decor, then you owe it to yourself to take a look at The Motor Lodge conveniently located on Rte. 89A in Prescott. If you define luxury by external appearances, then The Motor Lodge may not be your very first choice on your trip to Northern Arizona.

"Motor lodge?" you might ask, with a quizzically lifted eyebrow. Well, don't let the name throw you (as it almost did me). Partners Joe Livingston and Brian Spear have taken an old relic and added their personal touches to it in creating an old-school façade with avant garde accoutrements. It isn't like any other motor lodge I've ever seen.

The Motor Lodge offers a variety of room styles to accommodate parties of various sizes. Taking a lover's getaway? There's a quiet room for you. Taking the entire family on vacation into the mountains? Multiple room suites await you. Oh! I almost forgot one of the most attractive elements of The Motor Lodge: it is also very affordable given the locale, the accommodations, and competition.

Although downtown Prescott and everything you need is within walking distance of the Lodge, MJ (my life partner) and I borrowed two of the complimentary throw-back bikes that were at our disposal. We had a pleasant ride around town, stopping for pizza and a few other purchases along the way. Thank goodness the bikes had baskets! We never drank enough to require a ride back to our room, but that would have been available had we needed it.

From start to finish the experience with Joe, Brian, Chopper and The Motor Lodge was memorable in the most positive of ways. The exterior says, "Historic, roadside, inn." The interior says, "Creative, unique, clean, homey." Raymond greeted us as pleasantly as anyone ever has at the Hyatt, and from arrival to departure it was more like visiting family that staying at a hotel/motel.

About the only drawback for MJ & me was the tiny bathroom. The room we occupied was quite comfortable and cozy, but had only a one-at-a-time bathroom. If you are on the heavy side, the bathroom in our room (#9) won't work for you.

The champagne in the fridge, Joe's cupcakes, Raymond and Brian's friendly service more than made up for that one drawback though. How's this for service? I had emailed ahead of time and asked if Joe could do a birthday cake for MJ, since the trip was a birthday present. He said he could probably do something.

Well, when we arrived, in the little nook on the refrigerator were two trays with 18 cupcakes, each with an icing letter on top, one with candles and an exclamation mark. Inside the fridge was a bottle of champagne, so after MJ finished arranging the letters that spelled, "Happy Bday Princess!" we had a toast to turning 50, to us, and to the motor lodge and its owners.

If you aren't looking for fancy, but want comfortable, affordable, and terrific service, we highly recommend The Motor Lodge!