Americas Best Value Inn Pell City Riverside

Just off the highway, this property was easy to get to and very well cared for. There's a lovely water view and places to sit and relax beside it. The pool was large and clean. You can tell the owners take pride in the place.

I wouldn't choose to stay here again. The bedding was clean, and there were no bugs or rodents, but other things were a hassle. I spent one night here one week and another night the next week in the same room. The dirt ring in the tub from my first stay had been cleaned by the second, but there were black smudges on the wall and the small recliner was so stained and dirty I didn't want to sit in it. The beds were extremely high, and I nearly couldn't get into one without jumping. I raised and locked the office chair all the way up, but it sank to the floor when I sat down, leaving me unable to work at the desk. The ice machine was broken, and a cashier at the gas station next door said that happens often. There was no coffee maker in the room, so I went to the main office for a very small cup. On both days, my key card stopped working before 7am, though checkout wasn't until 11:00am, and I got locked out at 6:30am. The bedding was a sheet, thin duvet, and another sheet, with one spare thick blanket. It was cold, though I didn't ask for another. The large AC and heater had knobs so worn I couldn't read them, making it hard to adjust the temperature. Taken together, it was too many inconveniences for me.

Overlooking a beautiful lake, this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. We just wanted somewhere clean, convenient, and inexpensive to sleep on the way home from Atlanta, and it checked those boxes. They also had a simple continental breakfast and coffee. We'd stay there again if we're in the area.

The staff were super nice, and the clean room had fresh-smelling sheets and an amazing bed. I hadn't realized when I booked that there was a beautiful river behind the hotel. It was absolutely breathtaking. There are swings at the edge of the property where you can enjoy coffee and watch the sunrise.