Super 8 by Wyndham Eddyville/Kuttawa

The location is great, the rooms are cleaned really well, and the front desk manager has been very helpful. The price is the problem. I booked a week at one rate, then the next week the same room cost $300 more, even though I could book it online for the original price. I’m meant to stay here for three months and bring another 30 guys, but if they can’t honor their posted prices or keep their word, I’ll have to move my crew elsewhere. I hope we can sort this out so we can support the hotel and owner.

The lobby and much of the hallways reeked of cigarette smoke, and we could smell it in our room, too. We needed the pull-out couch for the kids, but it was broken, with one corner of the mattress unsupported. They had to sleep on it sideways. Our room was a “kitchenette” with some kitchen space, cabinets, a small sink, and a place under the counter for the fridge. But the microwave and fridge were out in the main area. The light switches and outlets were filthy, like someone had smeared some kind of sauce on them. The bathroom door didn’t lock.

The room was clean, the beds were okay, and the bathroom had a walk-in shower. There was an ironing board but no iron, and no coffee maker. Breakfast was basic: white or wheat bread, waffles, cereal, and coffee. I paid $95 for one night. When I arrived, no one was at the front desk, so I had to wait. The woman eventually came out and was very curt. She couldn’t find my reservation, even after I gave her the confirmation number, and said it was wrong before asking to see my phone. She said there were no first-floor rooms and no elevator. She also accused me of sneaking in a pet, though I don’t even own pets. The hall carpet was stained and smelled like dogs, and the hallway itself had that dog smell too.

The hot tub room was fine, though a couple of the jets had weak pressure. I liked that the TV had DirecTV so I could watch my sports team. Housekeeping and cleanliness were the problem: obvious smudges on the mirrors, stains on the sheets, and I killed two cockroaches. To me, an insect problem at a motel is a telltale sign the owner is cheap and lazy.