Best Western Shackleford

The building itself is beautiful, with a lit parking area out front and nicely decorated enclosed spaces where groups can lounge. There’s also plenty of delicious food nearby, and the front desk service was the best of the three places I stayed. The room was clean, but the square pillows were flat, the bed wasn’t very comfortable, and it shifted whenever I leaned against the headboard. The towels felt thin and scratchy, and I had trouble with the key cards more than once. I loved the infused water when I walked in. Breakfast was limited compared with BW Exec: sausage and eggs, corn flakes or Cinnamon Toast Crunch, bananas and oranges. A healthier cereal option would be nice.

We stayed eight nights and never regretted it. My daughters and I felt safe, and the hotel and rooms were extremely clean. Instead of carpet, the floors have a laminate that looks and feels better quality than the usual cheap hotel kind. The heated indoor pool was a welcome feature for traveling with kids.

The noise from the Twin Peaks Restaurant and Bar went on until around 12:30 a.m., when police arrived. There was yelling, swearing and tires spinning out like at a racetrack. It wasn’t the hotel’s fault, but I wish I’d seen a warning about that side of the building. I was three hours from home, exhausted and hoping for seven or eight hours of rest. I got maybe five. The room looked average, the bathroom floor was dirty, and the towels were so worn they should be replaced. I bring my own towels for this reason. The four small pillows were old, worn out and not firm, so they weren’t comfortable either.

Check-in was quick, parking was easy and free, and I didn’t see any bugs. Those were the good parts of my second stay, which will probably be my last. The floor-cleaning product was so strong it gave me a headache, and I spent the weekend breathing in the smell. I couldn’t sleep on the mattress: it was too hard for me and I could feel the springs. The sheets and pillows had hair and stains, and there was dried blood on the mattress cover. I told the front desk, and the woman gave me replacement fitted sheets, but I don’t think she understood that I meant the cover too. The towels were dingy, not very white, and had lost their fluff from too many washes. I bring my own towels when I travel. Breakfast was free, but it wasn’t hot, and with just one waffle maker there was a line to make waffles. The location was good. I’m pretty simple about hotels, really, just want a clean room and a comfortable bed.