Super 8 by Wyndham Sturgeon Bay

The smell of curry was strong throughout the hotel, and everything from the lobby to the room looked old, dirty, and run down. The whirlpool was closed, the room stank of bleach, and the beds looked about 30 years old. I took one look and left. I'd sooner sleep in my car, which feels cleaner and less likely to give me a rash. Better than nothing.

This was the worst hotel experience I've ever had. The booking was nonrefundable, or I would have left and stayed elsewhere. The front desk person was rude and belligerent, and then she wrote in the check-in notes that I had been rude to her. I never raised my voice, though she did. She asked for my credit card, and I explained I didn't have it on me because it was a Capital One Virtual card. She argued that it couldn't be, since the room hadn't been paid for. I showed her the virtual card number in my Capital One account and asked why she needed the physical card when she already had the number in the computer.

The group staying under a long-term contract was loud, drinking, and obnoxious late into the evening under awnings set up behind the hotel. The manager spoke to them twice, but it made no difference. Since management allows this behavior, the room above the outdoor awnings should not have been assigned to anyone. I've been traveling for three nights, and this was by far the worst place I've stayed. I strongly advise paying a little more to stay somewhere else, anywhere else.

It was quiet, and the staff were very nice and helpful. Still, the downsides outweighed the good. The Super 8 is very outdated, and my window looked out at an old, dirty mattress. There's no elevator, so hauling luggage up and down was a hassle. At close to $200 a night, it was a bad experience and not worth the price. Around $50 a night would feel more reasonable.