Amazon Motel

The beds in our double room were decent, and we didn’t find any bugs. The room itself felt a little dated, but the bigger concern came on our last day. We went out and came back to find both of our double chocolate chip muffins gone. Someone working there must have used a key to get in. We hadn’t given permission for anyone to enter, and the motel doesn’t provide do not disturb signs. On our first morning, they called to ask about room service and we declined, but there was no call on the later days. I haven’t noticed anything else missing, and at least it was only muffins, not something valuable. When I raised it, the owner/manager said the cleaning lady would return the next morning, after we’d checked out. The conversation didn’t leave me expecting much to come of it. Ice was available from the office, but only before 10 pm.

The neighborhood looked bleak, so I wasn’t expecting much from a cheap place, but the cleanliness really surprised me. The towels were bright white, the bedding smelled fresh, and there wasn’t old dust tucked into the corners. The carpet even looked fairly new. The beds were comfortable, and the front desk staff were friendly. Nice bonus: the TV was set to the right aspect ratio, which is rarer than it should be.

We had a good experience, and the staff were friendly. The room was clean and nice, too. My only small gripe was the bathroom’s lack of a ventilation fan. There was just a little sliding window, but we kept it shut because we could hear the people living right behind the motel in their backyard. We left the bathroom door open for air instead.

I’d only choose this motel for a quick night on a tight budget, and even then I’d look for something better if possible. I’d recommend Comfort Suites, about 15 minutes away. I stayed there too, and it was a night-and-day difference, though it costs more. After a long day of travel, that extra expense felt worth it. The location and the place itself felt very sketchy. The motel’s exterior was unkempt, with weeds everywhere, and a trailer park behind it added to the atmosphere. In the parking lot the next morning, I saw a badly damaged SUV with its broken taillights spray-painted red and dented fenders. Both the driver’s door and back door were wide open, and a man was slumped in the driver’s seat with half his body hanging out. He may have been asleep or on drugs, but I couldn’t tell. I arrived in October 2020 without a reservation. The younger woman at the desk took my ID to the back, leaving me waiting in the dark for five or ten minutes while my cab driver stayed to make sure nothing went wrong. I eventually got my ID and key back, but the desk worker also asked for a $50 deposit that I never received back. The first time I went into the room, the wall light wouldn’t turn on. It was around 8 pm and already pitch dark, so I used my phone light to find another switch. I didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in the bed. I checked the mattress and the space between it and the headboard, and found bed bugs, so I put two chairs together and slept there instead. Luckily, I didn’t see any bugs on them. The room was very basic, with only a small bar of soap and no shampoo. The chain lock was broken, and the doorknob lock didn’t work, leaving only the deadbolt. I told the older woman at the desk about the bed bugs, and she said it was because of Covid. I’m not sure what she meant. She was kind, though, and when I realized at checkout that I’d left my phone in the room, she let me go back in after I’d handed over the key. The older lady was nice, but the property needs better upkeep. I understand it’s their livelihood, but I still wouldn’t recommend it unless you need somewhere cheap to sleep after arriving late from out of state.