Crossword Genius

Artist going to crappy hotel gets squalid room (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rathole

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'squalid room' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'artist going to crappy hotel' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'artist' could be 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts) and 'ra' is found within the answer.
an anagram of 'hotel' is 'thole' which is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'gets' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rathole that I've seen before include "Cramped quarters" , "Sign of infestation" , "Dirty room" , "pit" , "Squalid place" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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