Best Budget Inn

The room was clean and smoke-free, and nobody was overly loud. We had no problems during our stay. The clerk who checked us in was really kind. We skipped the free breakfast, though I saw muffins, coffee, and a fridge stocked with drinks while checking out. There are 12 fast-food places within a two-minute drive in either direction, along with Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Walmart, and CVS. The pool was clean and 8ft at its deepest. We'd book this hotel again if we visit.

The only reason I can give this place 2 stars is that it was close to the amusement park we planned to visit. We had a terrible stay, and I'd highly recommend finding somewhere nicer in Tell City or nearby, even if it costs more. The room smelled strongly of must and cigarette smoke as soon as we opened it, so I used a lot of B&BW spray to cover it. It was filthy: stains on the sheets, bedspreads, furniture, and carpet by the beds, plus a dirty tub. We kept our shoes on the whole time. The room had very few towels, no coffee pot, and the free Wi-Fi didn't work at all. The A/C blew hot air that smelled burnt, and its worn-off buttons were so hard to read that figuring it out felt like an engineering project. We know how to operate a window unit, and legible buttons would have helped. Calling that a lie is unfair. Insulting guests in review replies won't bring in more of them. The owner still hasn't apologized for the stained sheets or crusty carpet, which says plenty about the property's professionalism. The door also had to be forced shut. The so-called continental breakfast amounted to a coffee maker and juice machine. The desk clerk was behind what looked like bulletproof glass, and the whole room transaction happened on a cell phone. We had a major issue with hotelsdotcom and the property, which ended with a refund of the vast difference. I've stayed in hotels ranging from great to okay, and this was by far the worst. If I could have gone right back in and canceled, I would have, but we'd already paid through a travel site and had to stick it out. Never again. We'll stay with major chains that have high ratings.

I spent about a week and a half here for work. Room service wasn't offered until after the first week, which was okay for me since I bring my own sheets and towels. If you don't, keep that in mind. The strange part came at checkout, when they threatened to keep my $50 deposit over a supposedly dirty room. I asked for an inspection so I could make sure I got it back. The woman who checked said the towels were dirty and there was garbage everywhere, so I wouldn't get a refund. I'd put the trash into three Walmart bags, neatly grouped beside a full bin, and left the used towels in a pile on the bathroom floor. That's how I've left rooms at plenty of hotels and motels. As I was heading out, Shakebe, who I think was the owner, backed up the woman who inspected, possibly his wife or daughter. He said stained or damaged towels meant no refund. I told him his thin, discolored towels looked like they could survive another 1,000 washes before being sent to my room. The $50 did come back to my card two days later, but what a bizarre hassle over a deposit, especially after paying over $600 for a week and 3 days. Hopefully they'll rethink how they handle this.

The woman running the place was patient, kind, and understanding. My first assigned room wasn't ideal, but she showed me a few others and let me choose. During my week there, staff cleaned the room, and when I asked, they brought a fresh towel and wash rag. Fast food, restaurants, and Walmart were all very close. Thanks for making me feel welcome.