Motel 6 – Santa Nella, on I-5

The main problem is how close the motel is to the freeway. I don’t think sleeping beside Interstate 5 is possible unless you’re a heavy sleeper. Still, my car wasn’t broken into, even with my camper attached, so that was good. The room itself was basic, with just a couple of towels and two bars of soap. I had trouble working out the lights, and there was only one chair by the small table. Oddly, I actually liked having just one chair. The service was basic too. The showers were piping hot, which I liked. At 8 a.m. I left for breakfast and went to Hotel De Oro. It costs twice as much, but you can actually sleep there, and the restaurant has a dog menu. I ordered my dog a handmade raw Angus beef paddle. To sum it up, Motel 6 is fine if you sleep heavily and want to save money.

The towels were really thin and worn, though I guess they were better than nothing. The place was very old and not very clean, but the beds were comfortable. We had two rooms for just a few hours of rest during our trip to Redding Ca, so luckily it wasn’t a long stay.

This was supposed to be a non-smoking room, yet the blanket had cigarette burns in it. The room was really dirty. There were cobwebs in the vent, and the showerhead and floor need a deep clean. The floor needs a really thorough cleaning, especially under the beds.

We only booked because dense fog left us desperate for somewhere to stay. We’ve been loyal to Motel 6 after good experiences in the past. The man checking me in was nice enough, but seemed confused and took a full minute to find our room on the map. The stairs to the room felt like a labyrinthine fire hazard. The lights were hard to operate, and the room stayed dim even with them all on. It sounded like we were sleeping on the freeway. The room was cold despite the “heat” being on, and cold air came through the windows. The cigarette-burned blanket was so thin we had to wear hats to sleep. The bathroom door was coming off and stuck in the jamb. When we pried it loose, bits fell off. Someone’s shaving hair was still in the sink. The thin towels didn’t absorb much, and there was no shampoo or conditioner, only soap. This place is passable when you’re in a pinch, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you have another option.