Super 8 by Wyndham St. Augustine

West Texas. The place used to have a commercial about leaving the lights on for you. All I can say is, please don't. I didn't make the reservations myself, but we spent three days in a room with at least six roaches that we saw. We reported them several times, and nothing was done. They said they couldn't move us because every room was booked for the holiday. We asked for clean towels and a cleaned room each night, but that didn't happen until the very last night. At the end, all they offered was 20% off the bill. Never again. I don't plan to stay at a Super 8 ever, and I wouldn't recommend it even to an enemy.

The plumbing is a mess. I've already been moved to two rooms because of disgusting tub problems. The rooms smell moldy, and even the hard floor smells as though there's mold underneath. Bring plug-in air freshener, since spray won't help. Shower water feels like it already has dish detergent in it, no matter how long you rinse or whether you use soap. It's the same in the bath. I got sick here. The pillowcases smelled like men's cologne, while the others smelled like someone with very unwashed hair. The pool is completely closed. Laundry costs four dollars for a wash and four for the dryer. You need your own quarters because the front desk won't give you any, or you can pay by card with an extra $.50 per cycle. Housekeeping doesn't come daily unless you keep calling. I wouldn't book here unless it was a last resort. The good points I saw: maybe the quality has improved since the old reviews mentioning bedbugs, rats, and other bugs. I didn't see those, and hope they're gone. The AC worked, and the beds, microwave, refrigerator, and bathroom looked clean, just not the tub in rooms 106 and 108. It was very peaceful, perhaps because there weren't many guests. Still, don't expect things to smell good. The plumbing causes smells on the first floor, and the tubs don't drain properly. What goes down eventually comes back up, including hair and dirt, almost like mud, even while you're showering. They need to improve daily housekeeping, the mildew smell in every room, and the plumbing and water quality. These problems can make people sick. Don't book if you don't have to.

Cleanliness really stood out for me. The room was surprisingly clean, and I could smell cleaning products in the lobby and hallway. The bed was comfortable, the pillows seemed freshly laundered, and the shower had great hot water pressure. Check-in was quick and easy, and the front desk woman was friendly. Off-season nightly rates are very reasonable, and there's dedicated truck and trailer parking. The hotel is a little dated, especially outside, but it's a good example of not judging a book by its cover. It's Super 8 by Wyndham in Saint Augustine, Florida, off Interstate 95 at exit 318. Breakfast is basic, mostly carbohydrates and coffee, and there are plenty of restaurants and gas stations nearby. I'd definitely stay again.

For the price, this was a good value. The rooms are spacious, with comfortable beds and really nice towels and linens. Breakfast is pretty bare-bones, just coffee, juice that tastes cheap, and wrapped muffins or honey buns. The highway is right nearby, so you can hear it from a room on that side, though the air conditioner covers some of the sound. I liked having interior corridors, but the doors slam and some guests were loud in the hall well after 11, despite the request for quiet after 9.