Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Rogers

We found this hotel for a good price while passing through from Kansas City to Arkansas. It was late when we arrived, but the women at the front desk were welcoming and helpful, and check-in was quick. The room was very clean, and the bed and pillows were comfortable. We usually skip hotel breakfast, but grabbed a little something the next morning. The continental spread had more choices than most places offer. Before we left, a man who I think was the owner or manager asked how our stay had been. We were happy with it.

The clean bed and bathroom were about the only good parts. This didn't feel comparable to the Wyndham family of hotels. The place is tucked behind a very sketchy-looking 8th Street Motel, parking is limited, and even finding the entrance is a challenge. Breakfast was just cereal and orange juice. The vending machine only took cash, and the ATM wasn't working during our stay. Our room phone was out of order, so I couldn't call the desk when the TV stopped turning on. They said maintenance would arrive in 15 minutes, but he showed up an hour later while I was getting ready to leave for an event. By then I'd gotten the TV on myself, so I sent him away, and I could never get the volume to work. It stayed loudly on one setting for the rest of our stay. There were no screens on the second- or third-floor windows. The morning breeze in Arkansas was nice, but I didn't want bugs coming into a clean room.

The bathtub was filthy, there was mold on the mirrors, and I couldn't identify what was on the headboard. I was afraid to touch the bed. This was the worst place I've ever stayed, and rock bottom compared with the years I worked for Wyndham. The man who helped us was very nice, but the rude "night auditor" wearing a North Texas sweatshirt and no badge made us ask to leave without charge. They refused. The girl should never be employed by anyone, and I'll never come back.

The parking setup was odd. I think they own the motel next door, because you have to enter from the other side. The rooms are small, though very clean, and the front desk staff were helpful. Breakfast was typical for the area, nothing special. They charged me twice, which scared me. I had to drive over because I couldn't reach them using the phone numbers I found online. When I asked about it, the money was somehow back in my account.