Econo Lodge Cave City

The room was very clean, though the commode seemed to run all night. I had no other issue beyond being asked for a cash deposit. When I arrived after booking through Choice Hotels online, the clerk wanted $150 in cash for incidentals. I don’t carry cash, and the reservation site hadn’t mentioned it. I explained that I only needed sleep and planned to leave at daybreak, then said I’d call Choice Hotels to ask whether that was acceptable. He dropped the deposit request and let me stay. The next morning, a woman at the desk nearly handed me $150, thinking I’d paid it. I was honest and didn’t take it. She then ranted about him not charging me. I had no problem paying the amount, just not in cash. A friend who manages a hotel in a much larger town said she didn’t think it was legal if it wasn’t listed on the booking site. When I called back to reserve a room for an upcoming event, the man started again about the $150 cash deposit, so I hung up and will book online.

Nothing fancy, but it suited us for an overnight stop. The room was clean, had no odor, and the price was great. Check-in was quick, and the staff greeted us with smiles and were friendly. Breakfast was the usual continental selection of bagels, toast, yogurt, juice, and coffee.

We haul freight and stay in hotels every night or so, and this is by far the nicest Econo Lodge we’ve stayed at. Our smoking room smelled great, with a scented plug inside. It was spacious, with great pillows and a comfortable bed. There was plenty of parking, plus a beautiful pool and sitting area. We didn’t eat breakfast, but the coffee was great. Highly recommend, and we’ll be back when we’re in the area.

The staff were kind, the pool was clean, and we liked that they’d made an effort to update the place. There’s a sidewalk across the street that goes all the way to the small town, and it felt safe in daylight. If you need a non-smoking room, be sure to ask at check-in. We had a dog, so I think that’s why the request we made when booking wasn’t honored. We were too tired to go back to the desk and ask, so we stayed in the smoking room.