Econo Lodge Russellville I-40

We paid $75 for a non-smoking room and another $30 for our pet while taking a few hours to rest during a 20-hour cross-country drive. For over $100 a night, this place felt nowhere near safe. The fire detector had been removed from the wall, the linens were dirty, and there weren't clean towels. The heater smelled like an electrical fire as soon as it came on, so I turned it off. I was scared it could start a fire or leak carbon monoxide, especially with no fire alarm. The door latch was broken too, and this was a ground-floor walkout room where a secure lock matters. I know the usual smell when heat kicks on, and this was different. It was unacceptable. We weren't expecting anything fancy. The two men at the front desk were friendly and helpful, though. Check-in was easy even without a reservation, and the morning desk worker was nice when we checked out.

The bed was especially comfortable, which I appreciated since I have back problems. We were in the area for a fishing trip and only needed somewhere to sleep, but the place was a pleasant surprise. It was clean and well maintained, the staff were helpful and friendly, and the price was very reasonable. We were impressed and will stay again when we're nearby.

The room ended up costing over $170, though I'd booked about three weeks ahead expecting to pay $60 a night for two nights. We had four people but got only two towels. I asked for more and they never came; the next day I called for four clean towels, but only two arrived, so I went down to get the other two myself. They basically warned me not to take them home. I've stayed at plenty of hotels and never taken anything, so I found that really insulting. Everyone should get a towel without a rude comment. On top of that, my in-laws' room was covered in mildew, and I bought Clorox wipes to clean it for them. I wouldn't recommend this place or come back to this location.

The breakfast had no protein or low-sugar choices, so it wasn't diabetic friendly. The musty, moldy smell in the room could also be rough for people with allergies. The bed felt soft, but when I stripped it I nearly freaked out. There were liquid spill-looking areas on the side of the mattress and marks along the edges that looked like bedbug signs. I can't say for sure what caused them. Maybe there had been bedbugs before, or the bed had sprung a leak. I know what bedbug problems can look like from my home health care work, including helping a client get an exterminator and replace their bed. Check the mattress before sleeping there. I'd give this half a star if I could.