As promised, I have created this post to highlight 10 of my favorite motels across the country that I have had the luxury of staying at. I have also mentioned some that I would urge you to completely avoid at all costs. Through my years of life on the road, I have experienced some incredibly cool people in the lodging industry and I want to put those who have provided me with exceptional stays in the spotlight. Please note that I am being as honest, fair and practical as possible with these reviews. Also note that I use the internet a lot while I’m on the road and in my room so assume that every place I mention does provide free WIFI.

Sands Motel and RV Park – Carrizozo, New Mexico.

Trip Advisor price: $50

Out of the 3 motels there are to stay at in this tiny and some what rural New Mexico community, Sands Motel actually scores the lowest, but I’m here to tell you why you shouldn’t always be so guided by others and challenge a place for yourself. Many of the reviews that gave the place 3 or less stars complained mainly about the motel being outdated and old. I understand the appreciation for shiny, complex and brilliant technology, but I also know that’s not what you’re in store for at a place like this. It is reasonable to expect everything in the room to be working, and with my 2 stays that were over a year apart, they were, but unreasonable to think you’re going to be greeted by a 56” flat screen and an alarm clock that actually states your name in the morning. These things exist, but not here. The owners of this establishment are older. They were kind and polite to me each time I stayed, one encounter quality I appreciate, but will never be a determining factor in whether I stay at a place again or not. The check in process was traditional and easy. The room came with a nice bed, but an unusual amount of pillows! 6 of them! In my own place, my bed is loaded with 4 pillows at all times. It’s just how I sleep best, but I rarely get more than 2 in a motel room and I can do sleep just fine with that, but 6, that’s definitely going to leave a lasting impression on the right person and a tidbit I feel is worthy of mentioning. Both times my room came with a very large table, one much larger than most. This was nice as I was able to layout and unfold my giant state map and start planning for the next day. I’m a photographer, I’m a very visual person and sometimes, large physical detailed maps really put things into perspective for me. Outside of that, the room was everything I expected and both my stays were without flaws. Despite being an older place, the TV allowed me to watch a show and view the weather, the shower enabled me to wash myself, the sink made brushing my teeth enjoyable and the bed allowed me to sleep well. My life was never in danger, no bed begs or horrid sightings of that sort and I woke up thinking this place is alright. My point is this place gave me 2 quality stays just as many name brand chains generally would, but with a more down to earth vibe and a lesser price. May I add this is the ONLY place in town that welcomes RV’s and has full hookups. I’m not the RV type, but some are. If that’s the case, this place is a no brainer:)

 

2. Hiawatha Motel – Escanaba, Michigan

Trip Advisor price: $65

This past winter, I had a couple days off and plans to shoot a thing or two in the area. As I was getting dinner just outside of town, I was also looking for a place to stay. I generally do not make reservations too far out in advance because I rarely actually know where I’m staying the night of. After asking about availability and pricing at a couple other spots, it was this place that gave me the best price and I decided was going to get my money for the evening. Price is a huge factor with me and probably most of you reading this. I simply do not stay at places that charge 80 dollars or more and I have only paid over 75 dollars for a room once in the past 4 years. The Hiawatha is a tidy little place. It’s an older property, but most of the rooms including the one I stayed in are freshly remodeled. The owners, an older couple, have their living residence built into the property, which is common with locally owned places. My room was clean, without defects and despite being off a main drag in the town, it was quiet and I had no problems sleeping. The bed in my room was your basic full size one that came with 2 appropriate comforters and 2 pillows. I stopped by at the office after I got situated and requested 2 more pillows which were given to me. The heater worked great and warmed my room to the desired temperature in about 20 minutes. Now, if you’re waiting for why this place made this list, I’m about to tell you. The husband of the couple who own this place checked me in. He was polite and asked what brought me here. I gladly answered I was photographing something in the vicinity and followed by asking him if he knew what I was talking about. He did, and then he followed up with giving me precise instructions and tips on how to capture what I was after. This is rare because in my line of work, the subjects I go out and photograph aren’t always ones that others do too. A lot of times, even an iconic structure like an abandoned church, even a church that is so distinctive and massive, if you had seen it once, you’d remember it for a very long time can be unnoticed by some. I have inquired with many locals in the past about places I can’t find and many times left with the same unanswered questions. It’s a last resort for me, but sometimes I’m surprised and I can call it a saving grace in that case. After this man gave me these valuable pointers, he followed up with getting online and pointing me towards a couple certain photographers who had shot some rare and not so rare places in the area and breaking down how to get to each one I asked about. I don’t think any other host has ever given me so many spots to photograph and then actually broke down directions to each one. The upper Peninsula is known for it’s hiking trails, rural settings and especially its waterfalls. There are books out there that can tell you where basically every one of them is, but many only advertise the ones that are well known and easily accessible. Within a matter of minutes, I had been given information that not too many others know about and for that gesture, I am mentioning this place. My time here was spectacular, my sleep was superb and I greatly appreciated the surprise schooling on the area I was in.

3. Mull’s Midway Motel – Caliente, Nevada

Trip Advisor price: $59

Back in early 2016, I took 10 days off to go and photograph some new and familiar places in the southwest. On the trip, despite the knowledge and fine past experiences at many local and smaller motels, I had to mind the fact that I was traveling with a woman this time and I would have to listen to what she wanted in our lodging arrangements, as well. This trip will actually highlight another motel we stayed at in Texas, but were in Nevada for the time being. Caliente is a small community of about 1100 folks. The quiet and rural place has all your bare necessities including a mechanic, a grocery store, 3 eateries and 4 lodging locations. A famous railroad depot sits on the edge of town. Based on reviews of not just lodging, but the 3 places to eat at, the town appears to be very competitive with one another regarding who can call themselves the best in terms of ratings. This is a good thing because this means more times than not, wherever you decide to spend money here, you’re going to have a solid experience at the very least. If you offer a less than satisfying experience with whatever you have on the market, you’re going to go under eventually and it seems to happen quicker in rural parts of the country. Being attentive, keeping up with competition and absolutely loving what you do is key out here. Mull’s Midway ultimately got my business because they were the cheapest in town and nothing too alarming came up while reading reviews. As I checked in, I got talking with the owners behind the desk, a husband and wife who had purchased the business about a year ago. My companion came in a bit after and told me she had to use the bathroom so I wrapped up the chit chat and proceeded to pay. The totally came to 53 dollars and when I opened my wallet to find I only had a 50, I told them I had to run out to my car and grab more money. The woman said don’t worry about it, took my 50 and called it good. Even though this was a matter of just a few dollars, this was a super way to kick off this experience. It’s not so much about getting a deal or saving a buck or two, but it’s the courtesy factor that did it for me. I even offered to give them the rest after we had unloaded our car, but they still refused. I learned several years ago that if someone does a good deed for you and doesn’t want it back, give it to someone else somewhere down the road of life. Maybe I’ll write a “life lessons” entry sometime, but meanwhile at the Midway…..Ashley and I are unpacking and I’m just looking around and thinking what a neat little room this is. Everything from the brightness of the lights to the fine detail in the cleanliness throughout the entire room and even the smell really came together here for me. It’s hard to explain, but I just felt really good about walking into this place. The room wasn’t huge, but it was all we needed. My bed came with 3 pillows(extra pillow is never a bad thing) and was comfortable, clean and without any apparent flaws. Our beds had different, but similar bedspreads that had false afghan designs on them. Since it was January, I was demanding a lot from the heater and it delivered in perfect fashion. There were enough outlets in the room to charge all my camera batteries and power my fan and phone charger, as well. All outlets were in convenient spots and all of them made solid connections with my applications.

 

4.Coachlight Motel – Mitchell, South Dakota

Trip Advisor price; $70

When I travel to South Dakota, many of the places I photograph are in the central or western half of the state. Even with an 80mph speed liimit on I-90 that stretches through the entire state, it still takes a good chunk of time to get many places. In the past, I stayed in Sioux Falls, but the downfall to staying there was my spots were still 3+ hours away. When you’re a photographer like me, time is something you don’t waste and when I’m in South Dakota, it’s because I’m photographing something. So, a couple years ago, I decided now was the time to find that place that suited my arrangements better. I decided Mitchell was a good place to inquire about a room due to the large variety. Many places I called were actually 80+ dollars a night, but one wasn’t, the Coachlight Motel. Mitchell is an established town, the 6th largest in the state actually, that homes a technical college, a university and the one and only Corn Palace. If there is one thing South Dakota has proven they’re really good at, it’s tourism. Over half a million people visit the Corn Palace each year and with a figure like that, you can expect hefty prices to pay at any motel in town. Even though much of the Corn Palace is mostly indoors, Mitchell and much of South Dakota still falls victim to the start and finish of tourist season every year. In late fall and winter, many spots through out the state are as quiet as can be. Motels and many small business’s across many towns close for the season. With slower times, you can find I won’t say “great deals”, but more practical prices on lodging which is what brought me here in the first place. The Coachlight Motel is owned by a family who actually lives on the property. Their prices don’t fluctuate a whole lot through out the year, even when tourist season is in full swing. During the off season, you can get a single bed here for 56 dollars including tax, but the 70 dollar figure I listed originally is close to what you’ll pay during peak tourist season. The first time I stayed here, I got into town real late. I told them I wouldn’t be to my room until after midnight and they said without hesitation we’ll leave a key taped to the office door with your name on it and you can pay in the morning. Some independent places will do that, but not all. The office closes at 9PM, which means if you call and are looking to book a room or ask any general question past 9pm, you’re out of luck and that just may be my biggest complaint. But, it’s ran solely by this family, they need to their time and they make the rules. I get it and I’m quite OK with that. The rooms are basic and not big, but not small. They are always clean, comfortable and without defects. The motel is located right off a main avenue, but the speed limit is only 35 and noise from traffic has never been a problem for me. They do offer coffee and donuts in the morning. I have stayed here on 10+ different occasions and can honestly say this place is consistent with their product. I value consistency A LOT and that is the main reason they are making it onto this list. Before I forget, I want to mention one more thing. Sioux Falls to Rapid City is 348 miles. In between those 348 miles, you will find only 2 McDonald’s off the interstate, one being in Mitchell and the other being 70 miles west in Chamberlain. I get my coffee at McDonald’s and I drink a lot each day, especially when I’m on the road.

 

5. Bell’s Motor Lodge Motel – Spearfish, South Dakota

Trip Advisor price: $64

Western South Dakota features the majority of the states tourist attractions and very few other states push tourism as hard as South Dakota. Considering the fluctuation in quality and what’s included in each place, one thing is for sure; you will pay a premium price at nearly every single lodging property along the 1-90 corridor in South Dakota, which stretches from one end of the state to the other and homes some of the largest cities and most popular places for commerce in the state. But, it’s a trick that’s worked for so many places for so many years and many thrive for a good 5 months out of the year. I get it, but it’s not something I can really afford and I refuse to stay at places that have such hikes in prices during tourism high points. Even with the Air BNB trend coming more and more popular, many travelers, even with the diversity they have been given in lodging choices, still demand the privacy of a motel room and this part of the world refuses to let up on their prices. But, every once in a great while, you’ll stumble upon that place that keeps it real and keeps it simple even in the hottest of tourist times for its clients not demanding a full plethora of amenities and requests in their stay. Some of these places may not be able to lodge a group of 300 or have the hottest Starbucks in town on tap, but they can give you the bare necessities of an overnight stay for not a ton of money and they can do it well. That’s exactly what you’ll get at Bell’s. The man behind the desk( I did not get his name) appears to the one who maintains the property the most and he was welcoming, polite and attentive(wrote down the WiFi password on my receipt without me having to ask) and I believe him to the be same person mentioned in many of the online comments. It’s a tidy little place, the rooms are not huge, much of furniture and woodwork is without a doubt outdated, BUT, it gets praised for its cleanliness and prime downtown Spearfish location. Even with a sufficient reviews highlighting strong and low points of a room, you truly never really know what you’re getting until you’re able to experience it first hand. When I stay somewhere, I don’t think too much about what reviewers have said in the past because I simply won’t judge or tell myself this is a good or bad decision and money well spent or money poorly spent until I actually experience it. Bell’s certainly did shine in the cleanliness department. I utilized my whole room by using the shower, toilet, sink and even sitting down briefly in the small chair. Everything performed as it should and I found no imperfections. It was during winter when I was here so I was demanding a lot of heat from my furnace( I set my dial at 74 in nearly every room I stay in) and it heated fast and without problems. I mention the heater more than the air conditioning in these posts because being in a cold room is probably one of the most uncomfortable events I could be put in and you will read about a place later in this article that failed miserably in that department. Back to Bell’s; the shower was older, but sized appropriately and the bathroom came with 2 bars of soaps, 1 shampoo and 1 condition, and a sufficient amount of towels. My bed came equipped with 2 typical pillows and your basic covers setup. Although the room was older, my bed appeared to be newer and its firmness was perfect. The TV was also a newer appropriately sized flat-screen LG model. Since Bell’s is a smaller property, I was able to park immediately outside my room, a huge plus for someone like me who takes 3 trips unloading and the same number loading back up. Also another key note I want to add here is there appears to be little if any price hike during tourist season as many of the comments highlight Bell’s great price and I think that’s worthy of taking into consideration.

 

6. Post Rock Motel – Lincoln, Kansas

Trip Advisor price: $58

Originally, I planned on staying in Salina which is where I’ve spent the night while in Kansas on many occasions. There is a reason I stay in Salina; cheap rooms. Not the greatest rooms and none that you’ll hear about on this list, but the city usually have a surplus of what fits my budget. For whatever reason, there seems to be a great fluctuation in lodging prices throughout all of Kansas. In the past, I had struggled to find a good base motel that would act as the place I would generally go to, no matter what direction I was coming from, while in Kansas. I found a place in South Dakota and North Dakota, so why not try to find that “one” in Kansas. I didn’t find exactly that, but the Post Rock Motel is one worthy of your time. In the spring of 2018, I was shooting a little town about 60 miles west of Salina. Just as I was getting ready to pack up, a couple drove by, stopped and began talking to me. After they got the feel for who I was, they suggested I check out the Post Rock Motel because it was a lot closer than Salina and honestly made my next day a lot easier. My plan was to spend the night in Salina, then backtrack to the area where I left off, continue shooting and then head home going east once again. Staying in Lincoln, a town of about 1300, saved me about an hour and a half the following day so this was a nice surprise. The motel is older and only houses about 30 rooms, but for a place like this, it’s pretty much perfect. It’s on the edge of town near a major highway intersection and a C-store, but the property is tucked back far enough that noise from either was ever a problem. I had called about 40 minutes prior to check availability and pricing. When I arrived, the woman who I spoke with on the phone already had my room picked out and prepped, meaning she had turned the A/C on and made sure everything was in working order. I pay in cash as much as possible when staying anywhere so I was pleased to hear there was no deposit required for cash paying customers. The woman got me checked in and I was off to my room in under 5 minutes. My room was somewhat outdated, but spacious and appeared to have a brand new larger than typically seen flat screen TV. My bed came with 2 pillows, both with a great firmness, a comforter and a sheet. There were no more power outlets than any other room I had previously stayed in, but all of them that I used made tight connections with my devices. Numerous towels were stocked above the toilet along with 3 bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner on top of another 2 towels near the sink. My HVAC unit was sufficient for the room and worked as it should. Despite the room being older, it had absolutely no flaws. The woman running the counter that night minded my time and made checking in a breeze. In a part of the state that is fairly rural, this place excelled and even though this place could probably get by with sub-par performance because of the lack of nearby competition, it doesn’t at all and maintains that squeaky clean standard to a T and ma and pa persona so many people love and appreciate.

 

7. La Loma Inn – Alpine, Texas

Trip Advisor price: N/A

Situated on the edge of west Texas, Alpine is a rural yet very healthy and lively community that is probably most notably recognized as the gateway to Big Bend National Park. It also homes Big Bend Brewing Co. and Sul Ross State University, which enrolls about 2000 students. Despite the park being almost 80 miles from town, travelers are left with few options for a reasonable motel room elsewhere and absolutely no alternatives for another nearby town that offers the variety of services Alpine does. So, with all these factors going all for Alpine, you’d think lodging was expensive here. Well, that is mostly true, but my friend and I found the La Loma Inn to be within our budget back in 2016. I was no stranger to this area, but I had purposely avoided this town in the past because I knew what was around it and like so many other towns that are dotted near National Parks, they feed on tourism and tourists bite every single time. Even in the winter months, Big Bend gets just as much traffic as it does in the summer so there is really no real “slow period” for the town to worry about. We arrived about an hour before sunset. We strolled into the office and I mentioned that I had called earlier about a room. The woman behind the counter promptly handed me a registration form and asked the ever so common question “what brings you to this part of the world?” I explained to her our objective, but made short of conversation because I was tired and still needed to eat and then finalize plans for the following day. Our room was just what you’d expect from a independently ran motel. It was an appropriately sized room with 2 beds, a little table with two wood chairs and a typical little bathroom.  Additionally, a coffee maker with 2 cups, a mini fridge and microwave also came standard.  On site laundry is available, but we did not utilize it. Everything worked perfectly, all outlets performed without flaws, the heater was sufficient, no complaints as far as cleanliness goes and outside noise was never a problem. So far, so good! Now, I’m about to share exactly why I’m including this place on this list. Right before I headed to bed, I stepped outside, sat down and enjoyed a few quiet moments of not being in a car. In those few moments, a small dog came by and was looking for some attention. I personally love when friendly animals stop by and visit so I approved of the situation. The dogs owner, the woman who checked us in, followed a few moments later and stopped by to let me know there was a town about 30 miles from Alpine that might be something I’d enjoy. And let me tell you, she was right, she was spot on with that and this place would lead to some incredible images. I had never heard of this place before and without a doubt, would have missed it entirely if she hadn’t said something. I can’t thank people enough for these tips that lead me to the places I so very much love and these sort of conversations with staff in corporate places are so much rarer. I also asked who had the best food in town and she broke down every single spot in pretty spectacular detail. Once again, the reasons I try so hard to stay at places like these reveal themselves and I’m left anxious to experience the next little motel hoping it can live up to the last.

 

8. Delta Motel – Winslow, Arizona

Trip Advisor price: N/A

Besides the fact that Winslow is an original and still living route 66 town, there isn’t a whole lot to do in this place. It’s in a rural part of Arizona and not really close to any of the states iconic attractions. It’s a place you’d fill up your car in, maybe go check out the little park the Eagles made famous and then that’s about it! It’s a tired town that never really found its voice beyond the mother road(R66) and the common roadtripper isn’t going to do a whole lot in Winslow, Arizona. I, on the other hand, have stayed in Winslow on 3 separate occasions and all in different motels each time. Winslow is also a phenomenal place to photograph. Many original structures from the R66 heyday still stand. Although many are nearing their end and in disrepair, there isn’t anything standing in the way of making a great photograph of them. Winslow is also a cheaper alternative to the tourist magnet that is Flagstaff to the west and Holbrook, a small but nicely preserved R66 town that gets many of the Petrified Forest NP goers to the east. The fact is Winslow has much of what they have, just less of it. It’s one of those towns that has sadly slid beneath travelers radars mostly because “better” and “more” is right down the road in whatever direction you’re traveling while on I-40. But, that’s not to say a stellar experience can’t be had here in little ol’ Winslow. The Delta is conveniently located off business I-40 and features themed rooms! Most of the themes revolve around the R66 era and a few of the celebrities that were larger than life during that time. Others are more humble and just emphasize the desert and art like the one I stayed in. My stay here did happen in the middle of winter in early 2017 and honestly, I wound up here because the place I stayed at previously 6 months earlier didn’t answer the phone after about a minute of nothing but rings. My check-in was simple, fast and easy. The outside temperature wasn’t too terrible on the night of my stay, but I did demand a lot from my heater like it was miserably cold out. I really enjoy my room warm and if the heater inside it can’t keep up, that’s one of the few deal breakers for me. My bed was spotless and clean and came with a common bedspread that had a radical colored cactus printed on it, a quilt cover and white sheets. Compared to the one or two pieces of artwork found on the walls of other motels, this place went all out and I counted 9 paintings and pictures through out the room. A coffee maker, mini fridge and microwave were also in the room, but I did not utilize any of them. The WI-FI was password protected, but complimentary and once signed in, fast and consistent. All outlets made solid connections with my devices. The overall cleanliness of the room was great and I had no complaints. The bathroom came stocked with several white towels, all spotless, and 3 bars of citrus soap, 1 tube of shampoo and 1 conditioner that were also citrus accented.The shower head and knob both worked as they should. I enjoyed my stay here so much because I was able to check in, get situated and then go and grab some dinner all within about a half hour. Now, l am a huge R66 nerd and the themed rooms are cool, but that alone isn’t going to make me stay anywhere no matter what it is. I’m writing about this place and telling you to consider it because it upheld all the qualities involved in a motel room in great fashion. Consider the themed room concept appreciated in it’s own right, but in this instance, it didn’t actually enhance my stay like say a in room hot tub or even free continental breakfast could. For me, this place won my heart because they have their operation down to a science and clearly have the right people in control and maintaining it. It was everything I could ask for, nothing less, nothing more.

 

9. Rangeland Court Motel and RV Park -Moorcroft, Wyoming

Trip Advisor price: $70

For as many motels that I’ve stayed that, this is a place that has always stuck. Back in 2011, my 2 closest friends and I set out to visit Yellowstone National Park. I was much of the same adventurer as I am now and I wasn’t afraid to drive 15+ hours straight. Unfortunately, not everyone is built that way and I had to mind what my passengers felt and what they wanted so we settled with this place that was just under 13 hours from Madison,WI. My demands were simple; I didn’t want to stop until we got into Wyoming. Sundance apparently had higher than desired prices so while looking for alternatives, along comes Moorcroft, a community of about 1000 people. They had found and agreed upon a place that was willing to work with our scheduled arrival which was around or shortly after midnight. Almost every independently operated establishment across the land closes at or around the latest 11 PM, no exceptions. The good ones will accommodate you while the ones you should avoid just for this reason will refuse to work with your schedule. We were given  instructions where the keys would be and sure enough, it was. Our room was large, came with 2 beds and plenty of room for all our belongings. It was clean and everything worked as it should. It was warmer during this time so if I recall, the A/C was used. After getting situated, we strolled on down to a local tavern and relaxed a bit before heading to bed. The locals were actually quite welcoming and the staff provided great and prompt service. I mention the service part because I ordered a bloody Mary and bartenders HATE making bloodies in general, but especially at odd hours of the day. My bloody was superb and both my friends were happy with their own selections. It was a slower than usual night at the place and I think all of us greatly enjoyed the low key atmosphere. Nearing bar time, we closed our tabs and headed back to our room. Since I was driving for the entire duration of the trip, I decided I’d let my two friends have the beds and I resided on the floor which I had prepared for before we left. The next morning after showering and packing up, we returned the keys to the office and thanked the host, who was actually one of the owners, for accommodating us. She was cheerful, polite and genuine and we all enjoyed the small chitchat before hitting the road again. A few hours later, one of my friends received a phone call. It was from the Rangeland Motel and the same woman that had checked us in was calling to tell us someone left behind a comforter in the room In my early days of traveling, I was notorious for leaving things behind. Clothes, blankets, chargers, batteries, you name it. Nowadays, I value the places that go out of their way, call me and set aside my belongings until I’m able to pick them up again because I know of many occasions where they didn’t. I asked if it was possible to put it aside for a few days until we’d pass through on our way back. The lady said that was more than fine and kept it in a safe spot. When I picked it back up, it was inside a tapped up plastic bag. She had even washed it! I really valued that kind and simple gesture and probably thanked her 10 times for it. On our way back home, Moorcroft became our home for the night once again and there was no reason to even consider the other motel in town. On this instance, we would visit the same tavern again and even have a drink with one of the local police officers. On top of a clean and appropriately priced room, this place provided superb hospitality and handled everything involved with our stay in perfect fashion. We had enjoyed our stay and the little town so much that another nights stay just had to happen.

 

Buffalo Motel – Jamestown, North Dakota

Trip Advisor price: $53

North Dakota is setup much like South Dakota in a few ways. Both their biggest cities are platted at the extreme eastern end of the state with another fairly large city about 80 miles directly west. I like both Sioux Falls and Fargo, but have only stayed in Sioux Falls a handful of times and never in Fargo just because of their geological positions. The things I shoot are spread out all over and a centrally located “base” serves me much better. That’s kind of how I ended up in Jamestown originally, that and it is a good sized town with everything I could possibly need and a place I could get in and out of within a matter of minutes unlike larger cities. There are at least two family ran motels in Jamestown and I have stayed at both, I just happen to like the Buffalo Motel a little bit more and here’s why. After a great stay and experience at the Jamestown Motel just down the road, I planned on staying a 3rd time. But when I called, the price for the same thing I had requested in the past was nearly 20 dollars more all of a sudden. I asked what was up with the drastic hike in the rate and I was given one of those responds along something of the lines of “well, there is something going on in town this week and it’s effecting the rate.” You know the deal, right? Ya, I actually do because I’m in the lodging industry, but I can not stay here this time. So, over onto the Buffalo we go and I’m quoted and charged a similar rate to what I originally payed at the Jamestown. I then asked if they ever raised their rates during busy times of the year and the older gentleman behind the counter replied with “no, we don’t play that game. The rate I quoted you is the same you’d get tomorrow, next week, next month and so on.” WINNER! Despite the Buffalo Motel lacking the free breakfast the Jamestown Motel has, it didn’t surprise me with 30 percent hike in the room price and it wasn’t ever going either. I understand business’s need to make money when they can, but motel room shoppers should also consider other options when inquiring and being charged that much more than they would say a week prior or later. If you’re unsure about the rate, get online and start looking around. We live in a day and age where you can find out nearly everything regarding motels. Try your hardest to find a price for the place you’re planning on staying at prior to calling or making reservations. Many times, online prices are a bit over or under the real price, but they are close. Even if a price is not listed, scroll through past reviews and try to find something complimenting the price. My check-in was a breeze and I able to park right next to my first floor room. One of my favorite things about smaller motels is you can park right outside your room. When you have a lot of stuff, it’s super convenient and saves time and energy. Even in the most sophisticated and highly regarded hotels, you will spend twice, three times or even more time with this process. For me, time is huge. I like to utilize absolutely as much of it as I can when I’m out shooting and I calculate the little things into the bigger picture. My room was a bit dated, but spacious, clean and without any flaws. It came with all your basics you’d expect from a room and it served its purpose well.

3 MOTELS YOU SHOULD AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

My intent has never been to go and stay somewhere and actually find everything possibly wrong with it, but with these 3 entries made it impossible to support in the slightest way and I’ll break down why you should never stay at these places for any reason.

 

#1 –  Travel Inn Portage

Portage, Indiana

Trip Advisor price: $49

Last year on my way back home from Syracuse, New York, I decided it was just too long of a haul to make it any further and decided I’d stay just outside of Chicago. The Portage Inn had relatively normal and decent reviews and the amount of alarming statements throughout the first few pages was minimal. Signs all over the building stated “smoke free environment” and the man behind the counter even told me this hotel is a smoke free one. Terrific because the last thing I want is to rest in a room that wreaks of an ashtray. Well, all smooth sailing until I actually stepped foot into the hallway of my room. Smoke, everywhere smelled like smoke. It was obvious that numerous people inside this place were smoking and not attempting to cover it up one bit. I kept my confidence and thought my room might be sealed more than it was, but nope, the smell was as apparent inside my room as it was everywhere else. I immediately skipped calling anyone associated with the hotel and instead walked back downstairs to speak to the man that checked me in about not getting into another room, but getting my money back. The only problem was that he actually left the property and nobody answered the emergency number posted on the front of the lobby window. I was stuck here and would have to wait until the following morning to address my problem with anyone. I would speak with someone the next day, but an apology and a complaint form were as far as I made it. My room was clean and without any noticeable defects, but the ever so presence of cigarette smoke lingering throughout the entire building completely killed this stay and any possibility of another one.

 

#2 – Motel 6 Waco South

Waco, Texas

Trip Advisor price: $51

I don’t stay at too many lodging chains anymore. No real apparent reason, I just prefer to support the little guys more. But out of all them, Motel 6’s have been winners nearly every single time and are usually my first pick when choosing between the giants of lodging strictly because of the price. Every location offers a generous array of services and benefits whether it be a fitness center, on-site coin laundry or free hot breakfast. For the consumers who demand these perks, this is a no brainier and a reason to completely ignore anything and everything that offers a single thing less. After all, you trust brands vs independent properties much more because the brand has created a perception of quality, consistency, and trust. You expectations, obvious ones, when you stay with a brand name under your head as were sometimes you’re not really sure what you’re going to get with anything else. But for me, I don’t demand much from a room and I surely don’t demand any brand. If I broke it down, cleanliness, safety and a good night’s rest are about all that I would call “essential” in my stays anywhere. A stay at this property gets you free coffee, an outdoor pool, coin laundry and free parking. It’s conveniently located right off I-35 and is just minutes away from numerous restaurants, a mall and the airport. On paper, it has everything going for it so what went wrong here? This hotel property clearly states it’s a non-smoking one which means smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the hotel or common outside areas. The lobby and elevator were both clear of smoke and any traces whatsoever so I was surprised to notice the third floor hallway and my room itself did wreak of smoke. I called down immediately to ask why my room smelled like smoke and they told me they would look into it, but the issue was never going to be resolved. Already upset and frustrated that I had just spent money on a smoke infested room, I ran back out to my car to grab the rest of my stuff. As I was walking towards the door, two men probably in their late 20’s approached me asking for money. After I told them I had nothing to offer, they continued to hustle me and then offered a pair of shoes, brand new shoes, for 10 bucks. Again, I respectably declined, but I was ultimately upset at the fact that this property clearly didn’t care about itself, its guests or who associated with it. These two were not guests, they weren’t associated with the hotel, they were just trying to hustle folks for whatever they could. Since the two gentleman saw which vehicle I came from, I then became concerned about the safety of that, but what was I really going to do, sleep in my car? I brought the issue up to the front desk after the first incident, but an hour later and they were still outside roaming the lot. Finally, I had to just deal with my situation and either stay or leave. Because of the time and in the interest of time, I decided to stay.  My room was clean and everything worked. I actually slept really well, but I was cautious, stressed and on edge for nearly every second I was awake here. Like I said, I don’t go out looking to write poor reviews or knock anyone, but bad experiences are nearly inevitable and bound to happen at some point. This place just straight up lacked control and basic standards.

 

#3 – M-Star Motel

Mansfield, Ohio

Trip Advisory price: $51

When you type in this place via google, it reads ”  Casual rooms with in an unfussy hotel with a convenience store & freebies like Wi-Fi & parking.” What it doesn’t state is half the rooms are dedicated and reserved for smokers and the scent is ever so present though out the entire complex. I mean, that should be the end of your readings for this entry right there, but hopefully you’ll make it to the end:) Just take a look at the reviews! I typically don’t judge too harshly after skimming through them(we live in an age where people complain about some truly ridiculous stuff) but these seem to show a lot of the true colors of this establishment. Back in 2016, I had booked 3 nights here before even arriving. The group I would be hanging out with was all set up at a different establishment with much higher prices and I wasn’t about to pay what all of them were willing to. Immediately after I stepped into the building, the scent of smoke was present. No big deal, right? My room was on the 2nd floor and a ways away from the check-in counter. I have stayed at dozens of places that still allow you to smoke in their rooms and never been affected by it. This however was the complete opposite. After I walked into my room, I realized the scent was just as present here as it was downstairs. Before even dropping my bags, I walked downstairs and asked if I could be given a room that didn’t wreak of smoke. The guy behind the desk was straight forward in saying that all the rooms were probably going to be homing the same level of smoke. The ventilation system was insufficient and simply not fit for the square footage area of this building. Instead of demanding a refund, I simply asked for it. I kept it sweet and simple and said this is an uncomfortable and unpleasant environment to be and sleep in. After a brief “policy” schooling from the man, he gave in and credited me back every single penny. Unless you’re a diehard smoker and this annoyance to so many others doesn’t phase you, avoid this place at all costs. The situation was handled properly, but its major and obvious flaw that shows no signs of going away anytime soon make the M-Star the subject of the 3rd and finally entry on this list.