The room was very big, nice and clean. We had a table with two chairs. The swimming pool was very nice. The breakfast was very nice. When we arrived there was coffee, cookies and apples in the breakfast area that we could eat. We wanted to get an early start in the morning so they opened up the pool early so we could have a swim. Small but adequate fitness center.

I guess I don't get it. Why are hotels in Southern Illinois so skanky? I attended SIU-Carbondale many years ago, and consider Southern Illinois my American home. I have family that live in the area, so we try to make it over to the Carbondale/Anna area as often as we can. However, the biggest issue is always trying to find some place to stay.

Through the years, I've tried all the hotels in Carbondale. The only one worth going back to is the Holiday Inn outside of town. The others are less than satisfactory. I don't mind a cheap hotel - I'm really not picky. But, I do want a hotel that appears to be clean, that is really smoke-free when it says it is, and one that I'd want to return to.

We had a family member become very ill, so my mother and I drove to Anna and stayed at the Super 8. My expectations weren't very high - I've spent a lot of time in Anna and don't expect fancy. The woman at the front desk was very accommodating when we dropped in and asked for a room.

It wasn't until we walked into the hallway that things took a turn for the skanky. By the main entrance to the hotel, there is a big sign that states it is a smoke-free hotel. And, there's another sign that states that absolutely no pets were allowed. Hmmm... When we walked into the hallway from the back parking lot, the smell of smoke that hit us was pretty powerful. Our room was 103...right beside room 101, which had a sign on it, "smoking" above "101". Thought that was interesting in a non-smoking hotel.

Our room reaked of smoke. And cleanser. I guess someone tried really hard to clean the smell out, but failed miserably. After we left the hospital that night (visiting our relative), we went by WalMart and bought Febreeze, which we proceeded to cover the room with. I slept with my shirt over the pillow because the smell was so strong...I preferred to smell my dirty shirt than that pillow. The air freshener didn't do much but we were too tired to care.

When we came back in to the hotel after our WalMart visit, we encountered the woman staying in room 101 who was walking her dog in the back parking lot. She informed us she'd been there about a week and the dog was getting used to being there finally.

Hmmm...no dogs and no smoking.

I was so glad to check out the next morning - the room made me feel so dirty. Turning on the shower that morning had created a large amount of suds in the tub. I guess the maid had simply sprayed the cleanser in the tub but didn't rinse it out. Did I mention the toilet was crooked? Not that big a deal...just felt like the room was a bit off when sitting on the john. Everything about the room and the hallway felt old, worn, and dirty. And, it's a fairly new hotel.

What a shame. Southern Illinois really needs a nice, clean hotel for visitors. It's a stunningly beautiful part of the state - the rolling hills and lakes and Garden of the Gods...there's so much there. But, I wouldn't suggest staying overnight...unless you drove to Carbondale to the Holiday Inn outside of town.

With only a few hotels in the Anna-Jonesboro area, I decided to try the Super 8 after a couple terrible experiences at other locally owned places. The hotel seemed fine when I checked in, but parking was somewhat interesting, considering people were blocking the one way drive they have in the front. The rooms were clean, but dated. In our room, the ceiling looked like it was going to fall down in places, and the heater was pretty noisy. Like I said, nothing special, but one of the other local motels costs almost as much, and is WAY worse... trust me! It's a good enough place to get some sleep and a hot shower.

Once I walked into the hotel the desk clerk said hello to me and asked how I was doing that night. I had had a horrible night before i got there. This young lady had a smile on her face the whole time even though it was about 2:30 am. I enjoyed the nice conversation that sparked up. She told me her name was Amber and i told her mine. We talked for about 10 minutes. This conversation took alot off my mind. I believe she made my stay worth it. I will be staying there again in the very near future, I hope she is working.