Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center — Hotel in Southern View

This is by far the worst hotel, (if you want to call it that) i have ever stepped foot in.

I never had a hotel charge me the morning of if i choose to pay at the hotel. 1st Red flag. The pictures were so misleading, its nothing like that inside.

It was supposed to be a family event for my cousins birthday so we decided this would be a (good) hotel. When i checked in, i kind of let go of the early charge. However, after check in i went straight to get something to eat first. Oh, but when i came back to the hotel to finally see my room… i was beyond disappointed. Mold all in the bathroom, its non smoking but burn holes in the covers, stains all over the sheets, someones hair on both beds

I didn’t even want to sit down.. then my cousin called me over to his room…. Even worse, there was GLASS debris on his sofa bed once he opened it up, the curtains were broken, the pillows from the couch had tears and white stains on them, the headboard to the bed was all ripped up and somebody’s hair all in the sheets and mold everywhere in the bathroom from the tub.

As if we weren’t just livid, we both politely tried to cancel and get refunds because we were disappointed to the extreme. They stated because we checked in already we couldn’t receive a refund for that day but we can get the next days refund… then I asked can you all atleast come to clean the room ? The lady stated that she will have to see if maintanence is there???? Huh? There is glass in the bed and you cant change the room because your sold out but cant even take the time to come clean it up??? This is sooo unacceptable and sounds like a lawsuit for lack or accountability. We hurried up and called other family members that were on the way, to not check in and sent them pictures.

I was unable to get my full refund which i am still fighting because we have pictures and i am pushing to sue if i don’t receive my first nights refund.. i left the same day i checked in and paid more money somewhere else because this whole experience made me so uneasy and disgusted by the individuals that work there and how they treated us.. that is not customer service. I never had to deal with a hotel that just doesn’t care.

Whats even worse while we were outside packing it up… the hotel turned around and sold my cousins room and the lady from the desk went in there put everything back as it was and STILL didn’t clean the room. Just disgusting and sick

Please don’t go here, don’t even visit, you will regret this really bad. ITS A SCAM!!! Pay a little more some where else for peace of mind.

0/10, would never recommend.

8/18 UPDATE: The owner reached out and refunded me in full, that is much appreciated. However, i do hope they do better and be better...

One of my favorite lodgings on old Route 66 is the Route 66 Motel and Convention Center in Springfield, IL. It is a refurbished Holiday Inn type motel which has had the hallways enclosed, and added a restaurant, banquet facilities, and an impressive museum in its common spaces. Oh, and some slot machines as well.

Caveat: I stayed here on a Monday night. So the place was unusually empty and quiet, I suspect.

Caveat: Some bad press I've heard about this place concerned the banquet facility. I did not use the banquet facility. I didn’t eat at the in-house restaurant, either. But I did manage to engage the owner in some conversation and he told me that the restaurant and the banquet facility are independent franchises, separate from the hotel. There are plenty of other places to eat in Springfield.

First observation, plain simple, and clear: NO vermin, anywhere – insect, mammal, or human. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

The desk clerk, who I found out during my stay was also the owner, was very polite to me. He even let me go outside and sit in the rat rod that he has parked under the canopy for photo purposes.

My room was completely fine and well-appointed for the “under $100” price point. No extra charge for checking in before 3:00. I did need an extra minute to find a light switch when I first entered the dark room. No carpet smells. The HVAC unit worked perfectly. The room had a fridge with a freezer. The microwave worked just fine. If I had to nitpick, I’d say that the shower was very small. It’s actually a 1960 era bathtub with a shower retrofitted. It’s all done very nice; no rough edges or black spots, but narrow. Thus, the 2% of my stay duration that I spent in the shower was not the most pleasant. The pillows were fit for purpose but at this price point they’re not of big box quality. But comfortable enough and I got a good night’s sleep.

The hallways can be noisy, owing to the way they have been enclosed. A savvy traveler knows to tune the AM radio to white noise before bedtime, to drown out sudden noises and voices that can awaken. Anyone who has worked in a factory knows that it’s very easy to sleep with consistent white noise in the background. It sounds like the ocean.

The parking lot was clean but not immaculate. Nobody bothered my Corvette, parked out in front of the...

We are on an amazing journey - my buddy mark and I are on a charity drive from Chicago to California then - home again to Colorado. Enough, about us. I am not going to lie, the idea of staying at a branded Motel 66 hotel, was low on my list. I suspected. Tourist Trap. Over priced, etc. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Tonight after starting our Route 66 journey - from Chicago to Springfield, we stumbled upon the Route 66 Mote in Springfield, IL. Apparently, the very first and original Holiday Inn! Of course we had to stay here - we’re nostalgia junkies. But here’s the things, the staff. They are amazing. First we met our front desk greeter; I feel bad, because I do not remember her name. My fault. Let’s call her Mountain Dew, because I know she likes Mountain Dew, minus too much sugar!.

Now. Let’s jump to the lounge. Tommy and Suzi (sp.). . . Rock stars. These two ran a bar/restaurant lounge like no other. I have literally, traveled around the world. I have experienced terrible 5 star service. Snoby. Ungrateful Etc. I have, also, had great service in the smallest of places. What Tommy and Suzi did was made us feel like family. We were greeted by the mother road, due to their kindness. It was a quiet night in the hotel restaurant. We almost did not enter becuase it was so quiet, but something told us it was ok,.

They tolerated our stories - even, after last call - and were genuine, sincere people, that made me happy to be part of my journey, and I feel better for meeting them. They were not only kind to us, but their attitudes were infectious. Without trying, they brought all the folks in the lounge together - subtly, but well intentioned. We made so many friends tonight, thanks to their subtle, but sincere efforts.

I cannot wait to come back through and see them, and the crew, at the hotel again.

PS - Suzi, is an amazing hugger. I almost missed out, offering to shake her hand, she reminded me of why we choose experiences, like the mother road. It is all about connection! It reminded me of my wife and daughters at home - travel far, connect often . . . and, go home for for love!

If you get the chance, come on through, for losing, stay for dinner, some beverages, and...