Sandpiper Motel

It’s first come, first served, with no reservations and no modern payment options. Bring cash, if you can find a room that isn’t lousy.

There’s no breakfast, even though the sign out front says KITCHENS, and the room didn’t even have an iron or ironing board. I booked at the last minute for my Seminar and found the place a disaster. There were tiny dead bugs in the bathroom at first, then I spotted live ones too. The traffic noise is awful, with the 55 right where the motel is, and noise from residents playing music was especially bad after 10 pm. While I’m writing this, someone’s playing music in the parking lot at 10:48 at night, despite the city’s 10 pm to 7 am quiet ordinance, and nobody seems to be doing anything. I can also hear the next door neighbor’s TV.

The room was worn and clearly not much remodeled, with some holes and things that could use replacing. It had a gas stove, which was nice, though the tall fridge was surprisingly small. This works if you’re between places and trying to save money by cooking instead of staying somewhere without cooking options.

Update: After several stays, I finally got one of the rooms other reviews warned about. Some rooms are nice, but others are really outdated, seem much dirtier, and have uncomfortable beds. These ones tend to have roaches crawling around, and the bathrooms are outdated and, to me, disgusting. On my earlier stay, my guest and I actually had a great time despite the reviews making me worry. The location is great, with lots of places within walking distance. Our room was spacious and clean, the beds and sheets looked clean, and there was a sitting area and kitchenette with a small sink, mini fridge and microwave. The bathroom was up to date, with no water or plumbing issues. Staff were friendly and helpful, too. I’d recommend it and stay again if I’m in the area.