Suburban Studios Winston-Salem near Hanes Mall

For the price, this has been a quiet, comfortable place to stay while I look for an apartment, and I think the family running it is doing a good job. The grounds are tidy and nicely landscaped, and nobody has been making a lot of noise or partying. It's an older property that used to be the Extended Stay, with older fixtures and amenities, but everything has been kept in good repair. My room was clean when I moved in, and the staff were quick to sort things out: they fixed the heat in about 20 minutes and replaced my key card within minutes on the couple of occasions it gave me trouble. I've been here for two weeks and am very satisfied with both the service and the accommodations. For comparison, the Quality Inn across town cost a little more and was a mess when I stayed there for a few nights. It had roaches and broken appliances, the toilet wouldn't flush, and I waited a whole day for a plunger. The refrigerator broke just after I'd carried in groceries, and replacing it took six hours and two trips to the front desk. If you're on a budget, house hunting, or looking for an apartment, this is a good place to stay in the meantime.

The Hampton Inn next door was much friendlier and nicer, and luckily they had a room available. We had to spend 20 minutes scraping snow and ice off our cars before we could leave, but I was ready to go after just one night here. I'm a hospital employee and had planned to stay because the winter storm might leave people snowed in. Instead, I felt uncomfortable. The staff weren't friendly, the room didn't seem properly cleaned, and the sink water was cloudy. The TV wouldn't turn on with either the remote or its own power button, and the remote was wrapped in tape. There were cigarette burns on the tables, peeling paint, exposed outlets, and a paper towel stuck in the smoke detector. There was a kitchenette but no dishes or utensils. Breakfast was listed, and there's a breakfast room by the lobby, but an employee said they didn't have any. I was glad to find somewhere else.

We got a good night's sleep here on our way to Hilton Head, and two rooms cost $134. The beds were really comfortable, and the bedding, bathrooms, and floors all looked clean. The A/C was cold, the water was hot, and I didn't spot any bugs. No complaints from me. It's an extended stay hotel, so don't expect fancy amenities like you'd get at a Hilton, but for a cheap stop off I-40, you can't beat it.

I stayed only because the place was close to my job and I needed to work and sleep. It felt unsafe and badly worn, with stains on the sheets and trash all over the street as you drive in. A bug crawled across the floor when I turned on the light, and I nearly left right then. There were large gaps around the main door letting in air, and I could hear everything all the time. The place has clearly been used and abused.