Super 8 by Wyndham Newport News

The office staff were friendly and helpful, and the room was a pleasant surprise: clean and well lit. It’s still a basic room, but parts of it had recently been renovated, and it was much nicer than other Super 8s I’ve stayed in. The large flatscreen sat on a dresser with the channels posted nearby, and the bathroom had a new toilet and a lighted vanity. There wasn’t a coffee maker or hair dryer in the room, though I was able to get a hair dryer from the office.

The bed was lumpy and uncomfortable, and there was no hot water or coffee maker. I booked because smoking rooms were available, but when we opened the door, the air conditioning was off and the room reeked of wet dog. We got air freshener and tried to settle in. It’s listed as a two star hotel, but honestly it fell well short of even that.

The woman who checked me in through the window was helpful, and I understood since I arrived late. But the location felt sketchy and we were uneasy. The bathroom was dirty, with marks on the ceiling, and one bed made a metallic banging sound when we got in. Someone tried to get into the room that evening. That may not have been the property’s fault, but you’ll need to stay very alert and watch your surroundings. We managed one night and couldn’t have done more. There are better options nearby if you can drive.

We drove around for hours before finding somewhere else safe to stay. We had prepaid for a non-smoking room, but they would only give us a smoking one despite my severe allergies. The room was extremely filthy and smelled foul, with a moldy, smoky odor. We were also charged and hassled over our legitimate ADA disability service dog, which we disclosed at check-in. We considered calling the sheriff’s office. An employee watched from outside while other hotel guests, who seemed high on drugs, cornered us in the parking lot and demanded money. We never brought our bags into the room. We called the front desk several times to say we wouldn’t be staying, but they repeatedly picked up and hung up. When someone finally spoke with us, the very rude attendant kept saying the room was nonrefundable, which we already knew and accepted. This motel needs caring management, mold and mildew removal, deep cleaning and possibly fumigation, clean towels and bedding, capable housekeeping, staff training on the Americans with Disabilities Act and PAWS Act concerning legitimate disability service dogs, and security staff and guest safety practices.