We stayed at the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, WY, after hearing it was a “must-experience” historic gem. In reality, it felt more like a dusty museum that charges admission disguised as a hotel bill. Our late-night arrival was met with zero warmth. The room — fine enough — came with creaky wooden floors, a musty odor, and, surprise, no air conditioning (something you’d think would be mentioned in the booking). The hallways were cluttered with mannequins in gaudy dresses, crowding the space and adding to the odd, stale atmosphere.
The real low point was the attitude. There’s an air here that guests should feel honored to stay, rather than the hotel being honored to have guests. When we asked to fill a couple of water bottles for the road, the bartender agreed, then informed us it would be $1 each for tap water from the soda gun. That nickel-and-dime mentality says everything about the hospitality here.
The Occidental might rest on its history, but history alone doesn’t make a great hotel. Respect for guests, basic comfort, and a welcoming attitude do — and sadly, all three were missing.