Every day, I learn something useful on FT. It's only mid-morning, and now I have today's nugget!

I do about 5 roadside motel stays a year. I typically try to do Hampton Inn first, Fairfield Inn second, and if I'm dog-tired and neither of those is around, I just pick the one that looks the newest. (I've stayed in some passable Sleep Inns, Holiday Inn Expresses, and even a decent Motel 6 or two.)

I can kind of figure out from the lighting in the parking lot and the condition of the building whether it's going to be a place where I can sleep or a place where I will be awakened at 2AM by the keg party in the room next door. I'm sure you, with your NE Iowa travel, have become an expert at this as well!