Days Inn by Wyndham Morton

The people running the hotel were kind and accommodating, and I’d stay here again. The room was clean, although some of the linens were stained. Apart from that, it was a great stay.

My wife and I tried to stay at the Days Inn in Morton, Illinois, but the room key we were given had no markings or room number and didn’t work. A desk worker who spoke no English communicated with gestures, then fetched a colleague. The replacement key opened the room next door. We found that the wall switch did nothing and had to feel around in the dark before finding a working light. The room looked tidy at first, but smelled stale and unclean. When we checked the mattress, as we routinely do, the cover had several blood-like stains. Downstairs, the desk agent reacted defensively and combatively when we reported it. Another guest was also complaining about the cigarette smoke and a TV that didn’t work; the clerk raised his voice and obstructed her too. The lobby had overwhelmed us with cigarette smoke as soon as we entered. The whole experience felt unsafe, unsanitary, and badly managed. Save your money and sleep in a bush.

We left after two nights instead of staying the planned three. The room was warm and had a bed, but little else met even basic expectations. Blankets had fist-sized holes, and the pillows were tiny, like sofa cushions. There were cans and bottles under the bed. The door to the outside had a gap between it and the frame, and we were told to use the lobby instead of auxiliary doors because of heating costs. Only one outlet worked, so we had to choose between the fridge, phone, and TV. The TV showed a blank screen with no channels, and the mini fridge froze everything, leaving our pop flat the next day. There was no alarm clock either. When we arrived, the manager was on his phone and ignored three hellos without looking up. I banged on the counter, and he finally looked up, upset that I’d startled him. When I told him about the problems, he acted as if no one had ever mentioned them. At checkout, he took ten minutes to come to the desk, then said he couldn’t discount the room because the card had already been charged. He offered no other solution. The website photos don’t match the rooms, or at least the room we were given.

At about 1:00 a.m., I woke to a man screaming profanities and abusive language at his partner for at least 15 minutes. I had my young son with me, which made it especially disturbing. I called the front desk, and the owner did call the police, the only reason I’m giving two stars instead of one. But I was alarmed to see the man’s vehicle still there the next morning. With the unsafe environment, poor cleanliness, and broken amenities, I asked for a refund. The owner refused because I had booked online, even though the conditions were unacceptable. The room was filthy. The sheets, towels, linens, and shower were visibly dirty and stained. When I asked for clean sheets, I was told none were available, so I bought my own just to feel somewhat comfortable sleeping there. Tiny couch-sized pillows offered no support. Several outlets didn’t work, the TV was completely broken, and everything seemed worn, damaged, or neglected. This was an unsanitary and inappropriate place to stay. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, especially families. Save your money and stay elsewhere.