Super 8 by Wyndham Centerville

If my elderly mother hadn't been exhausted, we would've asked for a refund and left. I have photos and a video, if Super 8 even cares. The room smelled like an old ashtray. Its carpet was filthy, stained, and looked like it had been decaying since the 70s. There were patches of repainting on the walls, and glitter paint on the ceiling. The lock on the door was broken, with only half of it still attached. The bathroom felt frozen in time. The mirror, counter, and sink area looked modern and nice, but the very old tub had been painted over along with the walls, apparently to cover mold and rust. The faucet was coming out of the wall. The air conditioner smelled awful, and its entire plastic shell dropped to the floor when my husband tried to adjust it. We found dead bugs between the sheet and mattress pad. The inner blankets had cigarette burns, and the outer comforter was stained. The stained arms on the fabric chair made us wary of touching it. A three-inch spider on that chair beside the bed in the morning was the last straw. The lobby was filthy and had no air conditioning. It was behind what looked like heavy safety glass, and we could barely hear the woman there. One of the two doors was locked; using the other meant negotiating a dangerous step. We used blankets from our vehicles, slept on top of the bedding, kept our shoes or socks on, and left early.

The room was cold at first, and it took about six hours for the heater to catch up. After that, it was acceptable. I stayed Thursday through Sunday, but no one offered or provided room service: no bed-making, fresh towels, or trash removal. The tub also clogged whenever I showered, and eventually I’d be standing in water. On the good side, the front desk staff were very friendly and accommodating, the room was clean on arrival, and the continental breakfast was good, appreciated, and served in a clean area. For the price and location, I think it’s the best value in Centerville.

I booked two rooms, then canceled one three days before my reservation. Their records showed the cancellation, but my card was charged for both rooms in May, even though the stay was for June 13. The owner or manager, I’m not sure which, is refusing to refund the canceled room. He had told me cancellations made at least 24 hours ahead would be refundable. I found that dishonest, and I don’t know how he stays in business.

Good choice if you're heading to Rathbun Lake to fish. The rooms were very clean, pet friendly, and didn't smell of smoke. For the price, it wasn't bad. Fast food and a pizza place are nearby, and the movie theater is an easy walk. The continental breakfast was okay, though warm biscuits with the gravy would've been nice.