Super 8 by Wyndham Laramie

The room was $145, though it felt like a $60 room. The beds weren't too bad and the TV worked, but only one of the four lights came on. We had two queen beds and just one clean set of towels, plus two used towels hanging behind the door. The smell of cleaning fluid was so strong that we were glad the window opened. The ice machine and washer in the hallway were both out of order, which should've been a warning. It's off the beaten path, and the clientele didn't seem like the best. I'd pass this place by.

We picked this place for the Border War football game and were glad to stay in Laramie without hearing traffic, since the hotel sits away from the main road. The rooms have new flooring and were clean, and we slept well before getting on the road early. The bathrooms and hallways still look old, though. Don't let the Super 8 name put you off.

I arrived at 11 p.m. and the manager on duty was terribly rude during check-in. He even said he didn't need to file any paperwork, so I insisted on giving my information and vehicle details. The room door had no locking bar, which felt like a serious safety issue, especially as I was traveling alone. At breakfast the next morning, there were no plates out. I asked, and he brought some later.

We had to switch rooms. The first had bare wall patches where paint had been scraped off, including above the baseboards. In the second, the laminate floor was lifting and uncomfortable underfoot. There was only one towel. Breakfast was the least I've seen at a Super 8, just waffles and two other breakfast items.