Yes, I have stayed at one near Blacksburg, VA for a VT game....not bad, just cheap! It will get you through the night if you are ok with a standard surrounding. I'll do anything for my Hokies!!!!

I really wish I'd seen this post when it first came out in Sept 2005. I've stayed at the Super8 in Goleta near Santa Barbara that Heavens in the original post was asking about and it is unbelievably horrible. That means a lot coming from me because I have stayed at several Super8 hotels in remote areas that were a step above good and were considerably decent (Torrey, Utah for example) so I'm not against staying in one when necessary. Anyway, for anyone else who may ever see this post and be considering the Goleta Super8, don't do it. I slept with the lights on all night, not for the fear of criminals but for fear of bugs. I didn't have any type of shoes I could wear in the shower so I placed 3 layers of towels on the shower floor so I didn't have to put my bare feet on it. The entire hotel is creepy. Just don't do it.... pay extra $$ and go somewhere else. I stayed there with someone who was all about staying at bargain hotels and even that person felt this was just over the top horrible. It was actually laughable!

Is there some way to merge this thread with the one about people who hate certain amenities in luxury hotels (valet, bellhops, etc.) I think we have found a chain that would work for them.

We arrived in Jackson, Wy a day early with no reservations. After many attempts in town to secure accomodations, one of the hotels recommended the Super 8. I can also recommend it if anyone's interested. Three floors and no elevator but clean with a decent contenintal breakfest. ( hard boiled eggs, cereal, fruit, toast) and reasonably priced.

Actually, I have never had a problem with cleanliness in a Motel 6. The one on State Street in Santa Barbara is just fine and convenient.

Well just returned from a trip down south. We stayed at a Best Western, and it was my first time in one. It was filthy. I reserved a no smoking room and the room they gave me was horrible smell of smoke. Requested another and same. I and DH have traveled alot and have stayed in several Super 8 and Motel6 and never have had any problems. Paid up the hilt for the Best Western and learnt my lesson back to Super 8 or Motel6 from now on.

Generally speaking Super 8's are good value for money, the rooms are usually reasonably sized, the basics are fine. As other posters have pointed out: you don't stay in a Super 8 as a resort hotel - they are designed for, and their market is, overnight stays. In my experience the small town Super 8's are a cut above the local competition, and perhaps slightly more expensive. Whilst the city ones are very basic but cheaper than comparable accommodations, but for a bed for the night - WITHOUT BED BUGS! - they are usually a safe option.

One thing that I have noticed though is that the advertised internet access is very variable depending on which room you end up with - but then that is also true of Holiday Inn Express and some Best Westerns and so that side of it is a bit of a lottery.

As to locations the Super 8's are aimed for the transient traveller, not the "I am here for 2 weeks, what is a cheap hotel?" market and hence most are situated just off the major roads.

My favourite so far has been the Super 8 at Big Timber, Montana. Least favourite North Bergen in New Jersey (though that was down to the failure of the internet access and the stroppy attitude of the manager when I perched my laptop on the reception desk at (an overcrowded) breakfast.

I work at a Super 8. I agree that some are horrible! Stop by a Super 8, they have free travel guides that let you know how desirable all Super 8s are. Stay away from the ones that do not have a blue banner.Super 8 is strict with their upgrades and grading scales. Unfortunately not all franchise owners comply. P.S. Tip the housekeepers. They do a bigger service to you than a waitress does!

We've stayed at a couple of Super 8's and most likely will again. I most, if not all Super 8's are pet friendly.

Super 8 in Grants Pass, Oregon was nice. My husband stayed at one in Chicago near Ohare on Mannehein and there was a mouse in his room. Then he went through hell to get his money back. 4 months went buy and the "manager" kept saying he would call him back to take care of the situation, never called. Finally my husband went in face to face to get his money and he got it. During one conversation the guy told my husband that he already sent him a check and that my husband was a liar. Calling the 800 number is no help, since most super 8s are independently owned. Good luck

Our one stay at an "8"--husband came out of the shower and reported, "I went in there with the hotel soap, but I don't know where it disappeared to." Take your own big bar of soap!

I have been to a couple of Super 8s and have found them to be plain but not filthy. When I'm traveling, I don't want to spend much time in a motel room anyway.

I too have stayed in a couple of super 8s. They too were fine, Not at all grotty. Not sure I would want to spend an entire holiday in one, or even several nights but for the occasional night they are fine.
I have looked at a few fly-drive holidays on offer from Dutch companies lately and see that many offer only super8 motels as accomodation. I wasn't planning on booking one, I was just curious what they offered for the money, but the combination of Super 8s and the huge distances they expect you to drive in a day really put me off.

Stayed in a Super 8 for the first time in December and was VERY pleasantly surprised. We stayed in the one in Bozeman as there isn't a whole lot of choice in the winter time (lots of places are closed) and we wanted someplace with a Tv. It was clean, a very large room and the staff were great. Also, the mini breakfast of bagles, cereal, toast , juice & coffee was very good. I think the rate we paid was under $50 per night - a FANTASTIC deal. Would I stay in a Super 8 again - absolutely!

This is good information on Super 8 but do you guys realize this is an 2005 post?

Too bad that things haven't improved since the OP.

For every $50 bargain in Bozeman there are ten $100+ dumps elsewhere.

eeeeeeewwww. sorry, but no I haven't. we had some friends visit 2 years ago from the UK and they flew in to florida, stayed at a motel 8. told us a story about checking in to the motel 8, opening their room and there was a hooker in it! all she said was "oh, they must've given me the wrong room" and walked out the door. they turned around and checked out.

haha, sorry i responded instictively without reading the other posts and it looks like swalter, jersey and a few others had the same story to tell!