Knights Inn Franklin, PA

Getting checked in meant calling and waiting for someone to come over, after a long online reservation process. There are no outside entrances to the rooms, so you have to go through the office. No vending machines or breakfast, either, which meant going somewhere else for a drink or food. After a night of drinking, that wasn’t great. For what we paid, it wasn’t the best hotel.

The parking lot and area around the motel were clean, and I wouldn’t say the neighborhood felt unsafe. Our room was nice and seemed clean, and the TV and Wi-Fi worked. The bathroom could use some cosmetic attention, like grout and door casing repairs. Breakfast was supposed to run from 6 to 9 AM, but we found expired milk, almost empty cereal dispensers, and just four slices of bread. Individually wrapped butter, muffins, donuts, croissants, some fresh fruit, and individual cereal boxes might look fresher and last longer. We’d stay here again.

The rooms were filthy, the neighborhood felt bad, and the door’s safety measure was just a pin. The butter was really old and there was nothing else to use. The photos don’t match what it actually looks like. This was the worst place I’ve ever stayed, and I wouldn’t come back or recommend it.

After nonstop rain on our drive across Pennsylvania, my friend Seth and I reached Franklin worn out and soaked, needing somewhere to sleep. Knights Inn was warm, dry, and ready for us, which made it feel like a sanctuary that night. We were greeted with a smile, given a key, and found a soft bed waiting. Smoking is allowed in the rooms, which feels like something from another era, but it fit the vibe. Like the inn that sheltered Mary and Joseph, this humble motel was a bright bit of hope at the end of a long trip.