Days Inn Thermopolis, Thermopolis

We've stayed here several times during the off season until they upped the rates beyond reason ($85-125.per night). We took advantage of the 2 day "Hot water holiday" that came with a prime rib dinner in the restaurant plus a bottle of (cheap) champagne. We liked to stay here with our children plus our well behaved dog. We used to get the King bed and have the children camp on the floor. The other rooms only have double beds that are way too small for my husband and I so now we get an extra room for the kids (that are teenagers now). Unfortunately the value isn't what it used to be espescially since we need 2 rooms. The hot water holiday is $400. for 2 rooms, 2 nights. The rooms are past their prime, could be cleaner and some upgrades are needed , especially carpeting and bed spreads etc. As a resident of Jackson Hole I'm spoiled re: restaurants. The prime rib dinner is hard to mess up. The salad bar has very little "fresh" looking produce (ice berg lettuce)the kids menue is marginal but okay for the little ones but not for 10 and older. If you're offended by senseless trophy hunting, stay clear of this motel because the hallway, lobby and restaurant are packed with hunting photos (dead animals) and big game mounts from around the world. Very interesting if you're a hunter. The best feature going for this place is that the L shaped back of the building faces a court yard with the pool (closed in the offseason) and the med large mineral pool that is in the trees and along the river where there is a nice bike path that goes around the Hot Springs Park. The lower level rooms open into the hall or out to the park (sunny) side. This is very nice for the kids and dog and parents that can keep an eye on everyone from the room or the hot pot. We stayed at the newer Plaza Hotel (A Best Western also in the park) while in between dogs (They don't allow dogs- a Hotel setting). We got a 2 room suite for the same price or less than one room at the Holiday Inn. It had two rooms with two Tvs and a king bed in one room and a queen hide abed with kitchenette in the other. The rooms are tastefull: high ceilings, traditional heavy moldings and doors, a very nice bathroom. Rooms open to a court yard and a swimming pool (summer) and a small hot pot that unfortunately doesn't face the river or the sun (in Feb) so is more confining feeling. Plaza also has a Very nice continental complimentry breakfast in a sunny dining area. Excellent service, clean and comfortable for half the price of the Holiday Inn but if you have a dog the Holiday Inn is a good base for a visit to the hot springs.