Motel 6 Knoxville, TN

For a simple place to sleep while traveling, this Motel 6 was comfortable, clean, and well located, with quick freeway access. The staff were helpful and friendly, and my bed was just right. The other one felt a little springy, but it wasn’t an issue for me. If we come back to Knoxville, I’d stay here again and recommend it.

The outdoor situation was awful, too. There was no usable grass for the dogs, just piles of feces across every patch, so you couldn’t take a step. Maybe a pet fee could help deal with that mess. There was also EMT and police activity, screaming, couples fighting, and people whose dogs kept the whole hotel awake in the early morning. I’ll never stay here again. I hope they make changes so nobody else has to deal with this. Inside, there was mold in several ceiling areas, especially the bathroom, filthy floors, and baby cockroaches everywhere, even in my dog’s food bowl. Dead bugs fell from the light fixtures, the sink sprayed me when I turned it on, and the clerk had the nerve to ask my dog’s breed like he might refuse us. I appreciate hotels that allow pets and understand a fee, but the room conditions were vile. I’ve never felt so dirty trying to sleep. I paid $76, but it wasn’t worth a penny. I’ve stayed in far better places for less. Get it together, Motel 6!

My first Motel 6 stay was about what I expected: a basic, no-frills place to lie down for a few hours. The main downside was the heavy cigarette smell. It wasn’t as strong in the room, but it was everywhere outside and especially bad in the bathroom.

I left at 3 a.m. and drove a few more hours before sleeping in my car. I’d arrived around 10:30 p.m. after a 14-hour drive with my two small dogs, hoping to rest until 6 for $82. The entry door had no weatherstripping, so noise, smells, and drafts came straight in. I thought I could sleep through it, but at 2 a.m. a pack of dogs upstairs started barking nonstop. After 40 minutes, I went to the desk with videos showing when it began and how loud it was. I asked if they could speak to the guest. The man folded his arms and said no. He shook his head when I asked to move rooms, and refused a full or partial refund even though I’d been there less than four hours. He said I should have expected this.