Super 8 by Wyndham Grand Island South

From outside, it didn’t look like much, so the rooms and staff were a nice surprise. The hotel is a little off the highway, though that’s where the town is. There’s a pleasant spot out back by a small pond, and the employees were helpful and friendly. Breakfast was great, with biscuits and gravy.

The room was compact, but the bed was wonderful. I slept like a baby through a thunderstorm with lightning flashing almost five times a second, and the thick walls kept things quiet. Bruce was welcome too, since they’re pet friendly. The bathroom was spacious. There’s a pretty lake or pond beside the hotel, plus a backyard patio and tall willow and other trees that make it feel peaceful. It’s not the Ritz Carlton, and the building doesn’t look like much from outside. I’d thought it might be a cheap fleabag when I booked through Expedia on a Fourth of July budget, but the rooms were clean and the staff was nice. The location gets four out of five from me because it’s in the south part of Grand Island, a little away from the main scene, though not too bad. It is somewhat out of the way, but manageable if you’re traveling through Nebraska on a budget.

We paid for a non-smoking room, but it reeked of smoke, and the smell got onto our bedding and clothes. Someone had put a plastic bag over the smoke alarm. The place is old, dated, and in poor shape. We found wet carpets and a stench of Asian foods. Bed bugs are a big issue. When I spoke with the manager or owner, he was rude and aggressive. He seemed tired and stressed by all the complaints and needs training. Everywhere felt horrible. This is an outdated, old-fashioned place, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here. Zero stars.

The highlight for me as a birder was seeing a lovely pond and waterfowl from my second-floor window when I woke up. The evening was quiet, with no slamming doors or loud neighbors, and the room itself was spotless and peaceful. It could use a place to hang coats and clothes. Check-in was easy, friendly, and professional, while breakfast was what I expected. I just had coffee and ate later in Lincoln. I wasn’t sure about staying here on our last night in Nebraska, during our trip to see the Sandhill Crane migration, but it worked out just fine.