Motel 6 St. Louis - Bridgeton

For a cheap overnight or two, the location is handy, close to I-270 and I-70, a gas station, a sports bar a few hundred yards away, and a Bob Evans. Danielle at the desk and another woman were courteous and helpful, and the General Manager seemed upbeat and willing to fix problems. There were security cameras everywhere and I saw a police officer walking patrol a few times. My room was clean and quiet, but still had a faint cigarette smell under the air freshener. It had no coffee maker, microwave, or alarm clock, and the bathroom door wouldn't close with the toilet seat down. I tried a second room, but it smelled of mildew, so tired from the trip I stayed in the first one. I felt less secure seeing a few men standing outside their rooms for hours during the day and evening. I'm a man, but I still would not recommend this place for a woman traveling alone.

Deirdre was friendly and professional when I checked in, and my room looked recently updated and smelled lovely. After I got settled, she called to check that everything was okay, which I appreciated. I also felt reassured by the security guard on the property. When I came back late in the morning, he walked past me on the lower level to make sure I was all right. As a woman on my own, I was glad they were looking out for my safety. Earlier that morning I had called the office about a question, and the young woman I spoke with answered it to my satisfaction. I had a great experience and would stay here again if I come back to St Louis. Five stars.

There were burn holes in the bed covers, people were hanging around outside, and our room had no towels. When I asked at the desk, Brianna said she couldn't leave the front desk and I couldn't get towels until 11:30am. I asked for a manager, and she called the police on me. The officers went looking in rooms, but couldn't find any towels. Housekeeping arrived at 9 and said they had to wash some because none were clean. After waiting an hour, I got just two hand towels, nowhere near enough for me and my children. I showered and had to use a shirt to wash up. It was the worst experience of my life, and the service felt extremely bad and cruel. I plan to dispute the charges.

The location worked well, with easy interstate access, a gas station and convenience store, and a few restaurants nearby. More shops and restaurants were a little farther down the road. The room was comfortable and mostly clean, though there were stained bedspreads, two hairs on the shower wall, and a stained towel. I didn't encounter bedbugs, which was a relief. The shower pressure was a bit weak, but the water was warm enough. Check-in took a little while because the front desk didn't know which rooms had been cleaned, but it wasn't a long wait. For the discounted $45 a night rate, I wasn't expecting perfection, and I was pleased overall.