Although the staff of this particular franchise cannot be faulted for trying, their repeated amateurism gives me pause when it comes to giving them a fully enthusiastic endorsement. However, should you be able to overlook a few things in conjunction with the luck of the draw when it comes to getting a fully acceptable room, the proximity of this location to the highway (and coincidentally halfway between Chicago and Rapid City) makes this Super 8 tolerable.
Location: 4 out of 5
If you happen to be in Jackson, or if you are an employee who works weekly at one of the wind farms in the area, or if you are passing through between Chicago and Rapid City, the location of this Super 8 is mighty convenient. Once you get off of I-90, it's a quick drive north. There are fuel options close by, and the area right by the exit ramp offers fast food and "truck stop" fare.
Price: 2 out of 5
I was able to obtain a discount which made my stay 61$ an evening plus tax. This may be seasonal, as I stayed on two non-consecutive nights (06/16 and 06/19). For what you get, I think it's a little bit steep, but pricing seems to be commensurate with the other inns off of the exit ramp.
Amenities: 3 out of 5
Non-boutique toiletries (it's a Super 8, not the 4 Seasons) in the room, a standard hair dryer, mini fridge and microwave are included. I should note at this time that the quality of the appliances can differ depending on which room are you staying in. On my first evening in #219, the microwave and mini fridge were both quite old, and the air conditioning unit was an older model as well, with manual temperature controls. On my second evening in #115, the appliances were newer, and the air conditioning unit was "automatic." The TVs are standard tube TVs with the curved screens. Not the newest, but they'll do. Free Wi-Fi with decent signals persist. There is a decorative(?) exercise bike in the lobby area, and there is a separate breakfast area.
Cleanliness of Public Spaces: 5 out of 5
The lobby area was quite clean. Although the furniture is a bit outdated, all of it was well maintained, and the carpet in the lobby was clean and well-vacuumed.
Cleanliness of Rooms (not aesthetics): 2.5 out of 5
Not to be confused with aesthetics, the cleanliness of the rooms was ok, but for one thing: on my second evening, there was leftover pizza and some type of sandwich left in the mini fridge. I have no idea how long it had been there. Otherwise, the carpet was well-vacuumed in each room, the beds were well-made, and although the bathrooms were falling apart (slightly), they were clean.
Aesthetics: 1.5 out of 5
Oh dear. Bathroom tile rotting out, stains on the shower liner (I know...you can wash and wash, but they won't come out), stains on the wall (same thing...not necessarily dangerous, just unsightly), places where they had tried to do their own work but didn't do it 'neatly', pulled out smoke detector in #219, etc.
Customer Service: 3.5 out of 5
Had it not been for one curt encounter with who I assume to be the GM, I would rate this much higher. On both evenings, I checked in with a young man, perhaps the son of the manager. He was friendly, courteous, and professional each time. When I called the front office about the leftover food in my room on the second stay, the woman who answered was gracious and apologetic. It was easy enough to fix - I just put the leftover food outside the door, and she came and retrieved it quickly. However, the general manager was a bit mercurial. Upon checking out during the first stay, he was completely silent. Didn't say a word to me, which I found a bit off putting. Checking out the second time, he was friendly and conversational. What gives? I'm not sure.
Overall: 2.5 or 3 out of 5
A generous 3, I would say. Objectively, closer to a 2.5. If I had stayed in a room like #115 both times with no left over food in the fridge, I could easily see this review being bumped up to a 3.5 or 4. And if the general manager had been friendly both times, this review would easily be a 4, even with the nominal stains in #115. However, given the below average condition of #219 in conjunction with leftover food in #115, I cannot be certain that you will have a fully enjoyable stay here. Nonetheless, because of the close proximity to I-90, it was perfectly adequate for a stop over to and from the Black Hills area in SD. read more