Holiday Motel Creston

We were comfortable enough to stay again next time we fish 3 Mile and 12 Mile lakes. The room was older and a little dated, but basic and not bad, and it cost almost half what the bigger chains charge. The shower controls were odd because hot and cold were reversed, though there was hot water and the bathroom was clean. The guy was cool, and the location was convenient for our two-night ice-fishing trip last month.

The shower was cold the first time, even with it turned all the way to hot; the hot water seemed to come through by the next shower. The place smelled really musty, maybe from humidity or mold. My friends were the ones who stayed, and they had to call the owner to check in and out because no staff were on site. They said he spoke very little English, had no cash to make change, and seemed unsure how to fill out a receipt. I wouldn't recommend it. It was the only room booked on one of the town's busiest weekends, Balloon Days, and there's a reason for that.

The online pictures are pretty accurate. The place is clean and the staff are friendly. The bed was somewhat comfortable, and the newer TVs have cable. The heat and AC both worked well.

The room still wasn't cleaned by 5 pm, and there was a nail sticking out of the door that cut my shirt. It was loud and stank, and the whole place was a pigsty with poor customer service. I was meant to check in at noon, but the receptionist could only tell me, "room not ready," and couldn't speak English.