Motel 6 Big Bear Lake, CA

This was the dirtiest motel I've ever stayed in. The room was small, as was the TV, and there were plenty of other problems. The floors hadn't been cleaned, the sheets were stained, and the towels were dirty. They acted sorry about giving us filthy towels, but the reviews describing the same problem make that apology hard to believe. I couldn't even tell whether the sheets had been changed. The pillowcases were inside out. If sleeping in someone else's bed among the grime sounds good to you, this is the place.

The staff were friendly and quick to help when my car got stuck in the snow. The location was great too, right beside big snow play and just a short drive from downtown and the stores.

For $138, this wasn't worth it. We booked a queen room but were given a full. The mattress was dirty and badly worn, with no firmness at all. You sank right down and could feel every spring. There wasn't a fitted sheet, so the sheet came loose overnight. We also heard the next room's TV late at night through the thin walls. The bedding was just a sheet and a curtain-like cover, with no thick blanket. At least the heater worked alright. I'd only come back as a last resort or if I were in a pinch.

The location is about the only thing this bare-bones motel has going for it. The grounds are rustic, and the rooms are stripped down too. Management was odd and only somewhat helpful. The tap water and coffee were both horrible, so bring water. Bedding was thin, though the mattresses were comfortable and the room heater worked well. The walls were thick enough that we couldn't hear the neighbors, and the heavy curtains blocked the light, but there were no pictures on the walls. No hair dryer, and the shampoo packets were so hard to open that I had to use my teeth while standing in a tiny corner shower. The towels were rough and clearly hadn't seen fabric softener, ever. I'd definitely pay $50-100 more a night to avoid this borderline no-tell motel.