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SD - OACOMA ? - AL'S OASIS - POSTED
I was not impressed
… with the first billboard I saw coming from
the east on I-90. I have not driven this highway much and just knew that in
that area is where I would have to take a break. Was wondering how bad it could
be … then I saw newer billboards and they made it look better, and it was.
I was expecting a little 70 year old building against the prairie.
Actually a very nice place. Dedicated big rig parking. I was on a ½ hour
break so I needed something light. Did not care for their soup of the day so
went with a salad. Fresh, what else can you say about a salad?
Did have to
ask for my bill, but when I am done eating I am ready to leave … NOW.
If I make it out this way, I will plan on stopping here again, and hopefully
have time to eat a whole meal.
SD - RAPID CITY - SLEEP INN -
POSTED
Price is out of my range
But with a co-worker and I
splitting a room and both staying for breakfast it seemed well worth the money.
Great motel, meets or exceeds all the Sleep Inn standards, IMO.
We
were able to park two 60 foot rigs at the parking lot next door, no one there
when we parked them and less than a dozen cars when we left at 8 AM.
Breakfast was worth stay for, I do not normally eat breakfast. Besides the
usual they have both scrambled and hard boiled eggs, sausage, biscuits and
gravy, waffles.
WY - EVANSTON - MOTEL 6 - POSTED
Overpriced, like everything in town.
I couldn't find a lower rate (at
the chains) so I stayed here at the recommendation of a co-worker. Price should
go down for the winter months.
The place was not built as a Motel 6 (I
don't think) based on the layout, so the rooms are bigger than most '6's. Place
was clean and quiet, should meet all the '6 standards.
Plenty of dedicated
big rig parking on-site.
Food is Jody's across the street (if you get in
before 9 PM) or Subway at the truckstop.
WY - EVANSTON -
JODY'S DINER - POSTED
Best reason to stay at the Motel 6
… is you can walk to Judy's.
I had a Philly (or was it the 'No So
Philly?) it was good, really good.
Soup of the day was … Spaghetti
and meatball?? (I didn't know it was a soup), It too was good but … well,
they only have one soup per day so I guess I hope I'm there on a different day
of the week.
Places closes at 9 PM, at least in September. I was there
last customer in and the last one out, Help was pleasant, place has about 20
tables with the biggest group while I was there was about 15 at one set of
tables pushed together
BELOW NOT POSTED
Not sure where you would park
a big rig other than at the Motel 6 across the street or the Pilot a block
away.
NV - WELLS - FOUR WAY BAR CAFÉ - POSTED
I was on my ½ hour break and was looking for something light and quick.
I checked out the salad bar, which looked fresh and well kept, but I didn't
care for either soup so I ordered breakfast.
Meat something, came with
bacon, sausage and ham, chopped and fried with 'home fries' and covered with
cheese and two scrambled eggs. Way more than I needed, I should have only eaten
½ of it, but it was good so I kept eating.
I must have gotten there
right at the right time as I was seated right away, order was taken right away
and food delivered right away. My co-worker came in a few minutes later, was
given a menu right away and then after 10 plus minutes finally saw someone to
flag down to take his order (He was timing it, we were on our 30 minute break),
he ordered an omelette without onions, but with mushrooms (it's listed with
onions, without mushrooms). It came as it was listed, not as it was ordered,
luckily he just doesn't like onions, it is not that he is allergic to them. He
had to rush to be done eating in 45 minutes.
It does have the big rig
parking and is not fast food so I will likely be back, but will get the salad
bar if I am really up against the clock.
NV - RENO - RAMADA
INN - POSTED
Best deal of the week, maybe the month.
$39 with
a coupon which can be picked up at most rest areas, fast food places or travel
centers.
And plenty of parking, I looked online to make sure. This trip I
am in a 60 foot rig and needed to make sure ahead of time so I checked the
aerial photos. So coworkers had stayed elsewhere in this town and had to park a
few blocks from their motel.
This Ramada would meet the old Ramada
standards, IMO. It is definitely on the high end of the chain. I have stayed in
enough dumpy Ramada's that I tend to stay away from them unless I have a chance
to check them out/read the reviews.
Biggest downside tonight was that the
restaurant was closed, so the only food was from the '24 hour diner.' (I can't
find it on TripAdvisor). The food there was good but the menu limited, as is
the seating, only three tables.
Food was good, I had a pattymelt with
fries … I tend to stay away from fries for diet reasons but these were the
best fries I have had in a long, long time.
Room was great, no issues,
quiet, clean … can't imagine I am going to find a better deal anywhere
else.
CA - SAN FRANCISCO - motel
Miss Communication
& Poor Planning
… all contributed to my staying at this
motel. I did not make reservations for tonight's stay but I had checked coupon
and my corp pricing and 'knew' I could get something for a little over $50.
Reality was that most motels were sold out and those that were not were
not honoring their coupons or corp pricing so now instead of the $50 range I am
looking at the $150 range. (That includes the Travelodge that TripAdvisor
reviews are giving one out of five stars.)
After calling a dozen motels
and looking at availability of the major chains online, I finally called the
'Comfort Inn.' Over the course of the afternoon I talked to them a ½
dozen times and not once did I pick up on the fact that it was no longer the
'Comfort Inn.' So that meant not only was I paying way more than I expected,
but I would not be getting any perks points for tonight's stay.
As for the
motel itself … the staff was pleasant (but firm when telling me where to
meet the shuttle) during my many calls. I used their airport shuttle both to
and from the airport (it is avail 24/7) … a prior post says they do not
have a shuttle … the name is on the van and looks like it has been for
years.
Check in fine, but again firm on the pricing. About the only
downside was the small area where the elevator is, the temperature was about
100 on a day/night when it was 60-70 outside.
Room was great, WiFi worked,
room was clean, quiet … it did take a while to get it cooled down, it was
not pre-cooled. Everything you would expect from a 'Comfort Inn' … In most
cases, except those dropping the Best Western name, I 'assume' that a motel has
lost it's name due to no longer being able to meet the chains standards. Not
the case here … Nothing about this place or my stay would not meet the
Comfort Inn standards, IMO.
A prior post also mentioned 'no food,'
actually there is a motel next door at the Holiday Inn when signs pointing the
way and a 10% discount coupon given when you check in. As far as 'tours' being
available … my guess is that in this town you would need to stay at a $400
a night motel …
CA - SAN FRANCISCO - Bistro 330 Bar &
Grill - POSTED
Interesting
Another 'Holiday Inn restaurant'
with a very limited menu, I counted a dozen choices for the meal plus a few
appetizers and desserts. But all I need is one … and with this being the
only food, my only other choice was to have the motel haul me back to the
airport where there is one restaurant in the International terminal.
But
their menu did include my 'usual,' a Philly. And it was … interesting. The
bun was fresh, the meet was tender and big chunks, not thinly slices, the
onions were good, the peppers were … HOT. Either that or they fry some
part of the sandwich in hot sauce. When I'm on the road I usually have 1 or 2
Philly's a week and I have never had one before that made my eyes water.
Sandwich was good, but I'd have to have them put a hold on whatever had the
extra kick. I am a midwesterner with a Scandinavian heritage … ketchup is
my idea of hot sauce.
The sandwich comes with fries or onion rings. The
rings were good and somehow different than the ones you get from Denny's or
most eat places |
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