Travelodge by Wyndham Missouri Valley

We picked this hotel when we needed a stop during a winter storm, and I was very happy with the choice. You check in at Penny's Diner and get your room card there. It doesn’t have a lot of amenities, but the place was warm, very clean, and smelled pleasant. The carpets, walls, and beds were clean, and there were no issues in the room. The bathroom was very clean too, and the shower worked well. Look above the shower head to see how to use it.

This was a great place for the night, and I had no complaints. It’s a railroad hotel by the tracks, with railroad workers staying there. I liked the small old-fashioned diner where you check in, and the owner was friendly and explained everything. The hotel seemed full. Since my room was at the back of the long, narrow building, the owner said I could park behind it, but there was no parking there and the lot was full, so I parked on the other side of the dumpster. It wasn’t a big deal. The diner is open 24 hours, but I was too tired to try dinner, so I can’t comment on it.

I checked in for my reservation around 5:30 PM and found trash on the counters and an unmade, dirty bed. I told the front desk I wasn’t satisfied and wanted to go somewhere else. She said the room could be canceled and refunded, but the GM had to do it. He was supposedly unavailable on a plane and would be in later that evening. Nobody called me back, and when I called again I got the runaround. I’ll contact corporate about it too. I stay in hotels three or four nights a week, usually Wyndham, but I’ll probably change that whenever I can if this is the best service they offer. Don’t be fooled by the photos, it isn’t that nice.

You check in at the diner, where the night auditor sits behind the counter. There’s no lobby or front desk, unless that counts. On the way to the entrance, there was a tire leaning against the building. It felt a bit like Hotel California. The room was a mess: no bedspreads, torn drapes, a bad smell, filthy carpet, and furniture that looked like it came from a lousy thrift store. I noticed all of that within five minutes, before checking out. The website photos must be from 25 years ago.