Super 8 by Wyndham Charlotte/Amusement Park Area

The location was hard to find. The bathroom had mold in the shower corners, and one of the boards from the wall had come loose before we arrived and was left standing in the room, which felt like a safety issue. The beds were comfortable. At first, the desk attendant was absorbed in a video game and we had to call out to get his attention. Once he noticed us, though, he was personable and professional.

After stop-and-go traffic, I was glad to finally get off the road for the night as a truck driver. I'd prepaid online, but when I arrived they told me there was a $200 debit card deposit. I've traveled all over the country and never been asked for that. I offered cash so my money wouldn't be tied up on a debit card for a week, but he insisted it had to be a card. Completely blindsided, I spent the next hour in the parking lot trying to contact the third party for a refund. Beware of that $200 deposit.

The location feels a little secluded. The staff member who checked us in was helpful and nice, and switched our room without any hassle after we found the first one had no air conditioning and was very hot. The beds and pillows were really uncomfortable. You get what you pay for.

In less than 12 hours, we saw three German roaches, including two babies and one in the microwave. The ceiling also had strange mold growth, and the floors felt very thin. The bathroom looked clean at first, but the sink and shower pressure were hard to control. A small pull on the faucet sent water across the sink and onto the floor. The shower put out so much water that the drain couldn't keep up, leaving us ankle-deep in it, and the broken curtain rod let water spray everywhere. The room smelled strongly of mildew and dampness as soon as we entered, and my girlfriend was hit hard by the stale-shoe odor. We opened the window and turned on the AC, but that smelled strongly of urine. I've stayed in a few two-star motels before, but this was eye-opening bad. It made me realize that having a full-time job as an adult means I don't need to put myself through stays like this.