Red Roof Inn Gurnee - Waukegan — Hotel in Waukegan

This was one of the best budget hotel experiences I've ever had. We traveled to Great Lakes by train for my son's boot camp graduation. All the hotels in the area were either $100-$200 per night or complete dives. This place was reasonably priced, rated in the middle, and not too far from base so I decided to take a chance that it wasn't too terrible.

Our train was hours late so we didn't arrive in time to get our visitor tickets on Thursday. We arrived dirty and stressed out after 8pm but the front desk had no problem with the late check in. The super supportive attendant on duty asked if I was there for graduation. I told him I was but we didn't arrive in time to pick up the tickets today so I'd have to hope to get them the morning of graduation (not recommended by the base because of time issues). The hotel helps out with taxi service for boot visitors so he got me connected with a service that night! Our driver was on it the next morning and we went from wondering if we'd make it to graduation on time to being one of the first people at the gate. We got the exact bleacher seats we wanted right next to my son's division.

The hotel has food, a gas station, and even a laundromat within a quick easy walking distance. There's even a large park with pokestops nearby if you're still playing in 2022. So if you stay for the weekend, you're set until you drive/fly/train out.

The cleaning lady made sure we had plenty of fresh clean towels everyday. The room was clean and the air conditioning and heater worked great (since it's Chicago we need one during the day and the other at night.) There was also plenty of hot water for everyone to shower.

All in all the customer service and support was even more on point than many of the more expensive places I've stayed at. If you're traveling for boot, this place is perfect. Just make sure if you're light sleeper to plan for occasional footsteps and voices in the hallway since there's a lot of people coming and going for...

We attended a graduation ceremony for our son into the US Navy ... I had called several hotels in the area .. an got nothing but a headache .. they were ether full or one just kept making excuses as the why we could not stay for the 5 days we were asking for ... we would have had to find another hotel for two days an then return for the remaining days we were looking for ... not at Red Roof inn ... they had no problems booking us for the five days .. they were vary flexible on our check in time because we were driving all the way from North Carolina ... Robin was extremely helpful and vary respectful ... took the time to make sure he had my Email right the first time ... that means the world to someone who is traveling 900 miles just to have a place that would most definitely be ready when you get there ... no worries about your room being taken before your arrival like some places .... if I travel back to Illinois or send any of my family or friends up north to Illinois ... I will be giving them this address ... you have a super Walmart right down the road ... lots of shopping ... restaurants are available within walking distance if need be .. the area is clean ... we had an amazing time here at this location and the surrounding areas .. free shuttle service to the graduation ceremony is provided .. if you had or needed anything they were vary responsive to take care of it .... I hope to return just as soon as possible .... to visit my son and I will be staying at the Red Roof inn ... Thank you all for the services you provide us on such a short notice ... Hooyah to...

I arrived late, exhausted, and ready to collapse into bed. Unfortunately, my stay quickly turned into a live-action horror comedy.

Night one: I was jarringly awakened by a man screaming in the hallway. He appeared to be holding an impromptu TED Talk about the hotel's cleanliness, though his exact words were hard to decipher—maybe due to the panic or the echo off the suspiciously sticky walls. I managed to fall back asleep, chalking it up to “big city energy.”

Morning one: I opened my door and two roaches sprinted into my room like they were checking in for their own stay. I played exterminator with my shoe, which honestly deserves hazard pay at this point.

Later that evening, I met another roach—this one on the bathroom wall. I tried to channel my inner ninja and struck it down, only for it to land on my towel. At that moment, I decided I would not be bathing here. I slept fully clothed like I was camping in the wilderness... with questionable linens. Speaking of which, a massive mystery stain on the bed sheet revealed itself like a jump scare in a horror film. Too tired the night before to notice—lucky me.

Checkout morning: One final roach made a farewell appearance as it scurried behind the headboard like it was clocking out of a shift. I didn’t wait to say goodbye. I grabbed my things, loaded up my car, and got out faster than a contestant in a haunted house challenge.

In summary, if you’re looking for a hotel that includes a midnight hallway performance, surprise bug attacks, and fear-based cardio, this is the place. Otherwise, run. Run like...