Sunset Inn & Suites - Lincoln Airport

We saw the stained walls, peeling floor edging, and dirty bathroom, then decided to leave without staying. Only one of the two beds had a bedspread. We’d booked the room in advance on a nonrefundable basis, and check-in took a long time. There were almost no lights outside, so we drove past the place at first. We found a room at the nearby Comfort Inn instead. Never again.

I slept really well every night, and the shower had hot water right away with great pressure. The staff were an eclectic, delightful bunch, ready to help and knowledgeable about nearby attractions. The location is handy, just off the interstate and next to the airport. Booking online cuts the price significantly, which helps make this a good stop for a traveler passing through. There are a few downsides, especially if you have children or loved ones with you. Signs say the outside doors stay locked around the clock and need a room key, but the locks don’t work, so anyone can get in at any time. My room had an obvious odor when I entered, though it faded after I’d been there a while with the windows open. The heater worked, but its cover was off and leaning against the wall. The TV was dated but worked. There was nowhere to charge a phone with USB, so I had to buy a plug-in charger at the nearby convenience store. Not a huge deal, but worth knowing if you arrive late. If you mainly want a restful room and a good shower and can overlook some things you’d expect at pricier places, this has a lot of potential.

Three stars might be a bit generous, but it really wasn’t as bad as the reviews had me expecting. I was traveling with a friend who booked it, and I’d been pretty worried after reading what people said. There were no bugs, the room felt safe, and we got a double bed for $45. The pillows were lumpy, the bathroom had stains, and the water tasted like sulfur. We did see tweakers and working gals. We were on a road trip and didn’t use the airport or shuttles, though those are available. It’s not that bad.

We heard people screaming at each other outside our window all night. Inside the room it was freezing because the AC and heater unit didn’t work at all. There were cockroaches in there too, and my fiancé killed at least a dozen.