Super 8 by Wyndham Phoenix Metro North — Hotel in Phoenix

I want to say this first -- for a motel in a big city at this low a cost, keep your expectations REALISTIC. $80/night is pretty cheap for a big city motel.

Okay. My partner and I look for 3 things in a motel/hotel. Pet friendly (specifically cats, which we have 2), has semi truck parking (with a trailer...most places allow just the tractor but it is nice to have an empty trailer with us for the next load already), and wifi that is equivalent or better than our mobile hot spot. This place checked all three of those qualifications. For my fellow truckers out there, they are actual truck spots. Not just a road that allows truck parking. They are angled for a blind side backing but due to how empty the truck area is, you should be able to finesse a proper backing if you prefer.

Now onto a more detail and less niche review. Keep in mind, much of what I say has to do with specifically room 262 on Feb 14-16 and may or may not speak for the whole motel.

If you arrive at night, yes, there will be those who are financially less fortunate sleeping in places. They caused us no problems and we went out of our way to use other stairways so they could get a proper nights sleep. I for one appreciate a property that allows (harmless) individuals to use out of the way coverings to keep safe from elements. The people were respectful to the property and customers (aside from one person who had their area buried in trash....but largely the population were good and should be given respect in return).

The area is very messy. I wouldn't blame the people who live in the streets there. The litter is scattered EVERYWHERE so I believe it is the clientele and the establishments lack of recourses to properly clean up the place. If people just put their trash in the numerous dumpsters around (through the dumpster door people, don't just chuck it up on top so it sits on the lid!!!) it would be fine. I think it is the close proximity to the interstate, too, though. People are careless with their trash and likely the wind brings it to the lot from there.

The room was....unique. The ac worked BEAUTIFULLY but we had no blanket, only sheets, so I couldn't make it the artic like I typically want or my husband and cats would probably die haha. They are warm weather creatures for sure. No proper towels, either. 2 face clothes and 2 foot long towels that I kind of reminded me of a dish towel.

No TV in our room. There were wires and a holster where one used to be but that metal holder was beat up so I wager someone stole it. I can't exactly fault a low cost hotel being unable to replace every stolen electronic. People don't use TVs much these days, anyway. The wifi held up so the laptop could do everything we needed. Now, on the topic of the wifi, two things. 1. We called the front desk to get the passcode and no one would answer. After 5 minutes of ringing, we gave up. But if people actually look at the page where it asks for the passcode, it says you can call the main Super8 hub and gives the number and reference ID for that location. It was a quick process and our rep, Mark, was easy to work with and understand. Once we got the wifi working I did a few speed tests and the wifi does hold up but it sort of bounces around in strength. Seemed to stay between 4MBPS and 9MBPS. Not wonderful wifi but it can allow some less hardy gaming so I'm happy haha.

On the topic of the front desk and their phone etiquette. Before we arrived, we called to ask a few questions. We got a gentleman who was very helpful and kind. We arrived several hours later and now it was a young lady. She was a bit crass but not all together rude. Didn't seem to do the whole "customer service" thing very well as she said nothing and just kind of shoved our cards through a slot at us. She had a sign saying no vacancy blocking the only opening with just enough room for the room keys so she couldn't hear us when we tried to talk to her. (will be continued under a review by...

(continued from a review by Lindsay Lagasse)We wanted to have the pet fees added onto our reservation but she seemed to want to get back to her phone so it became clear we would have to break down the lobby door to make her hear us so we gave up. Sorry to the owner of this location. We wanted to right by you but when there is no paperwork to fill out or chance to converse, kind of difficult.

The flooring in the rooms is hardwood (or fake hardwood...not carpet which is all I care about). Such a nice touch. I always get so anxious in those hotel rooms with carpet. My cats are treated for fleas but I do worry about it in cheaper places because they will get out of hand quick in a semi truck since the fleas do like human blood, too haha. I didn't see any little bug friends, at all, honestly. One water bug in the tub but that is true even in houses and such so I don't really count that.

I haven't slept in the bed, yet, but my husband grumbled about it nothing being very comfortable when he climbed in. We are used to a a very stiff truck bed in the semi so takes a lot to be uncomfortable to us....so maybe avoid if you have a bad back.

The curtains had holes in them patched with electrical tape. Seems an odd patch choice but at least it shows that, while maybe unable to afford to replace the curtains, they are trying to retain our privacy. I appreciate it.

The last thing I want to make out is the one thing I can't really put a positive or gentle spin on. All over the room, on mirrors, desks, door frames...there is grafitti. Most is perfectly harmless ("so and so was here") or subtle innuendo enough to be harmless to those who shouldn't be seeing such things "your mother is a nice lady"). But the F word is also scattered everywhere. It was just my husband and I and the two girls (cats) can't read english so not really a big deal, but we do have two human children back home with their mother. If they were traveling with us it would be a bit annoying have such crassness shoved in their faces. It is written in what appears to be perminant marker so I can't even say I am upset with the hotel. The people who wrote it are the real low lifes. But maybe at least have some staff scribble it out until you can replace or paint over it. It will look messy but, lets be honest, it already looks messy so at least it isn't a word I want my kid sounding out and learning just yet haha.

All in all, we would stay here again. Not with kids, but just us two and the cats, sure. Its cheap and in a convenient spot for our truck and leisure's. They just need to work on some cosmetic stuff and some of their staff's dedication to the job (I emphasize SOME because the first guy we spoke to on the phone was awesome). I know this was A LOT but I see so many negative reviews from people who want a $200/night experience but only pay 80 so I wanted to be sure all details were put as realistically as possible to keep out the entitled while not exaggerating it to the point you keep out the...

My first mistake was not looking at google reviews before I made my reservation (there are some doozies). My second mistake was not running away immediately after walking into "lobby" to check in. We booked a room for 2 nights for our daughters softball tournament. I had a hard time finding any available rooms at other hotels - every place was booked. We arrived around 10:30 pm and I went to check in. The first thing that I found odd was the fact that the hotel clerk was conducting business behind bulletproof glass. The second thing I found odd was the woman that was in line ahead of me. She looked tweaked out. Meth mouth and all. She was yelling into her phone. Apparently someone named Tony owed her $600. She wanted a room but was turned away because there was no room at the Inn. I was too tired to care. We got our keys and headed to the room. We passed several sketchy characters on our way. Upon entering the room, I thought to myself "maybe it won't be so bad". That was my third mistake. The bathroom area was filthy. There was lipstick and makeup smeared on the wall near the mirror. The bathroom floor was grunged up around the tub. In the bedroom area there was what I thought was a big blob of paint marring the wall. It turned out to be a big blob of old and dirty chewing gum. Who puts gum on walls? Who puts lipstick on walls? What kind of hotel allows this to happen? The kind that allows hookers and tweaker and drug dealers to congregate in the parking lot. By midnight I had already booked another room for the next night. When I woke the next morning - still sleepy and not thinking straight- I thought to myself, maybe I was too harsh? Maybe I acted too hastily booking another room a few miles down the street? We went to get breakfast in the lobby and within seconds I was reassured that I had made the right choice. The manager was on the phone calling an ambulance for someone that was obviously suffering from serious drug withdrawal. This place is a hole....