Rodeway Inn Cheyenne I-80 East

Because of some kind of mix-up, one of our two rooms was booked as a smoking room. The motel was full, so they couldn't change it, and as you'd expect, that room smelled awful. The Rodeway Inn is a small, basic place near a truck stop and a steakhouse in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and it works for an overnight stay. The beds were soft but sagged in the middle. The shower was okay, nothing special, and there's no breakfast.

I stopped here late at night on a long road trip after booking through Expedia. Nobody was at the counter, all the lights were off, and the whole place reeked of cigarettes. I realized too late it was a smoking hotel. I picked up the small white phone to get someone to the desk, but it just kept ringing. While I waited, other guests came through the lobby, yelled profanities at me, and called me names. The desk worker shouted from somewhere else that he'd be up soon. By the time I got checked in, I just wanted to sleep. In the room, there was dried pee on the toilet and floor, dust thick over everything, burned and stained sheets, missing light bulbs, and a TV that didn't work. I know you get what you pay for, but I spent half the night wondering if I should just get back on the road. It was a horrible experience.

The room was spacious, and it was clean, with a fridge that was old but worked. The place looks a lot better than on my last visit, so I think it may have new owners. The bed was fairly comfortable, though the pillows were soft and comfortable but flat enough that I brought my own. Room 101's TV was small, but I didn't end up watching it. The old AC/heater wasn't very cold, but I managed with my fan. The bedside lamp button was hard to push, the door lock took effort to engage, there didn't seem to be a bathroom fan, and the lampshades looked worn, probably from previous guests. There were only two bath towels and one hand towel for two beds, though there were two washcloths. I'd read reviews about towel charges, so I hope that won't happen to me. I'm not someone who takes things that aren't mine. For a budget motel, it was decent value. I knew not to expect a five-star room, but a microwave would have been nice so I could make coffee, and two curtain panels would cover the window better and look better than the single one. The woman I spoke with on the phone and who checked me in was hospitable, helpful, polite, and professional. I wish I'd gotten her name. She had no issue with my service dog, which I appreciated, though there wasn't much grass for him to use. The glass above the front desk might make the place feel unsafe at first, but I've never had any problems here, and it's normally quiet. Coffee was supposed to be ready at 6am, as the nice woman told me, but the man at the desk said it wasn't ready yet and acted as though I was bothering him. When it was ready, it was so strong it was almost undrinkable, so I had to dilute it. At least there was finally coffee. I'm punctual and always have mine first thing, and without a microwave I couldn't make instant coffee. That man started my morning badly. If he doesn't like his job, he should find another one. The cigarette smoke was also very strong when I stepped outside my room, and it sets off my asthma. Please improve the ventilation. Between that and the desk guy, I took off a star. Still, I'm glad I gave this place another chance. The improvements are amazing, though it could use a little more TLC. Kudos to the new owners, and keep updating.

Convenient budget hotel, with a nice bed and hot water. Even though our room was marked smoke-free, the smell of smoke brought on an asthma attack.