Super 8 by Wyndham Keokuk

The owner seemed like a friendly, nice guy who was really trying, but that wasn't enough for us. The room looked severely outdated and worn. It was as clean as its worn furniture and fixtures could be, but still not great. The mattress looked worn too, though it seemed clean, and overall cleanliness was only fair. There were several problems: no smoke detector, just wires hanging from the ceiling; windows that wouldn't lock properly, with heavy condensation between the panes; and a toilet that wobbled because it wasn't secured to the floor. The shower also had several issues. At least we didn't run into any bugs. If you're staying in Keokuk, The Chief Motel and The Budget Motel are both independent places that looked really nice.

It was quiet, pet friendly, and conveniently located. The room was clean, with fresh sheets and towels, a mattress cover, hot water, good drainage, secure door locks, and working a/c. We didn't use breakfast or the other amenities, so I can't comment on those. The room was a bit small and slightly outdated. The toilet needed bolting down, and the fire alarm needs repair. No bugs, either.

We used the Super 8 Motel in Keokuk as a base for visiting Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saint historical sites in Nauvoo and Carthage. Nauvoo was about a 20 minute drive away, with a lovely route along the Mississippi River. There were lots of pretty-as-a-picture turnouts where we could stop and admire the river, its ducks and Canadian geese. We even saw bald eagles hunting there. A super Walmart was nearly across the street, and Keokuk had many delicious restaurants, plus fast food. We especially liked the nearby Mexican restaurant with $6 lunch specials every day. We'd planned to stay two days, but liked it enough to add another. It's a two-star place with clean rooms, friendly staff, a convenient location, a comfortable bed, working AC, and good daily housekeeping. There's no luxury, but for sleeping and showering, with a solid breakfast to start the day, it was a great budget choice. We also appreciated the 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi. We're definitely coming back to this Super 8!

For a quick night, the room had what we needed and was reasonably clean. The young man at check-in was very pleasant, and we appreciated being able to bring our dog. The furniture could use replacing and the room could use some touch-up paint. Breakfast was basic but enough to tide us over for a few hours. Everything felt reasonable for the price.