Rodeway Inn Denmark-Jackson

After a long drive from California, we needed somewhere to rest, but bugs were crawling around the curtain and A/C as soon as we opened the room door. At the front desk, the woman first blamed us for leaving the door open too long, then said there was a hole under the A/C but that turning it on would keep the bugs out. She went for bug spray, but returned with a mini-blind rod, swinging at the bugs, stomping on them, and kicking them away. We left and got a refund. I know places aren't perfect and you get what you pay for, but I still wonder whether anyone inspects these motels. When we talk about our trip through on Route 66, we think of the rooms along I-40 East and wonder how they're allowed to stay open.

If you only need a place for one night, it may be okay. For a longer stay, even with a working car, be aware that there's very little around. The only nearby business seemed to be an adult store next door. Restaurants and shopping were at least 16 minutes away, pizzerias wouldn't deliver here, and the BP station a few steps away looked like it had closed. Google Maps listed a continental breakfast, but there wasn't one. You'll need to drive out for food or entertainment. My husband and I got stranded here when our vehicle broke down and we learned the engine needed replacing. We'd stayed at another Rodeway Inn and had a great experience, so we expected something similar. This one was the opposite. It seemed to be run by a family, but only the older and younger female clerks seemed to understand English. The older clerk also appeared to have trouble entering online reservations correctly. When my husband booked another night because the car was still being repaired, she tried to charge him an extra $51 even though he'd already paid online. Our room had no full-size shower towels. We had to ask at the desk, and the towels we got felt unwashed and left lint on us. There was no housekeeping and nobody checked whether we needed basic things like towels, Do Not Disturb signs, or coffee cups. The bathtub stopper was coming loose, and I had to screw it back in. It barely stayed put because water damage had eroded the plumbing. The water shut off completely the day before checkout, so we left early. The A/C gave off a partly burnt smell when switched to heat, and the insect-sealing panel hung open, so marmorated stink bugs came in regularly. Its temperature sensor was faulty and misread the room temperature. The box spring was stained, including one mark that looked suspiciously like blood. The office chair and carpet were torn, and there were nails where the floor was exposed. Watching TV was a hassle too. The remote couldn't turn on the monitor or change its input, so both had to be done manually. The screen was damaged and had light bleeding through from the back. Once it only showed static and didn't work again for 20 minutes. The satellite also acted up sometimes, pausing episodes for a few seconds between scenes.

Breakfast isn't available, despite the location falsely advertising continental breakfast. Staying here feels like a gamble because you don't know what kind of room you'll get. I wouldn't recommend it.

I booked online. The outside seemed fine, but inside the room was awful and absolutely filthy. Ceiling tiles were falling out above the shower, and wires hung out of the living room wall. I asked for an office-style chair for the desk, which was just a table with a burn hole in the middle, but none was available. The mirror was propped on the desk against the wall. I couldn't get the entry door to shut all the way, even when I kicked it. I'm a truck driver who stays at 150 to 200 hotels a year, and this may have been the worst one I've ever been in.