La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Jonesboro

Lee was the bright spot in what could have been a much worse stay. She was courteous, accommodating, and went out of her way to make us happier. Our room wasn't ready at the 3 p.m. check-in time, reportedly because the washing machines were broken. There was water damage in the breakfast nook, the elevator made noises that sounded scary, our shower drain was broken, and the shower took 5-10 minutes to warm up enough to use. The setting was odd, with abandoned hotels and rough-looking parking lots nearby, with people loitering. That may not be the hotel's fault, but it's worth mentioning. Aside from these problems, the stay was fairly good, largely thanks to Lee.

For a quick stop, this was a really good little budget hotel, with friendly service from both people at the front desk and a great breakfast in the morning. Our room had what we needed for a night or two. Finding the place was a little confusing, but once we found its tucked-away spot, we were fine. Highway noise could bother light sleepers, but we were too tired to mind.

Our room and breakfast were great, and the stay was amazing overall. The young woman at the desk, who I think was named Maude, was so helpful. We asked for her help a few times, and she never hesitated. I saw her hurrying up and down the halls, trying to help everyone. When I asked how to pass along my praise to the manager, she simply said there was no need, because it was enough that we'd noticed her effort.

The staff are always so nice, including the kitchen attendant, and I really look forward to the tasty breakfast whenever I visit. A couple of issues kept me from giving a higher rating, though. When I first got settled in, I found stains on the bed sheets. One body towel had a huge brown, diarrhea-looking stain, and a face towel had a giant yellow one. I showed them to the front desk and asked to change rooms. The staff member accommodated me, but the new room had dog hair all over one bed cover, and its shower drain emptied extremely slowly.