The Valley Motel (St. Croix Falls, USA)

Rooms are clean and comfortably warm. The bed is comfy too, with a firm mattress. There are none of the usual hot water problems; there's hot water aplenty for showers.

Everyone is really very friendly here and it is this factor which figures prominently in the list of positives.

The motel is on the highway, so easy to find. There is, though, no noticeable road noise.

First impressions do count and much as the owners obviously love their German Shepherd dog, his growling presence, as you check in, does little to make you feel welcome ... for nothing other than, possibly, ‘dinner'! The owners need to sort this out. Cleaning too, needs attention. Towels and bedding remain unchanged for up to five days, unless you are brave enough to visit reception earlier, take on the dog and insist that new bed linen is supplied.

There is a constant noise created by arriving and leaving vehicles and the slamming of doors, in the outside parking area. ‘They' say that guests use the room towels to clean their cars. Unfortunately, the motel puts these towels back in the room for incoming guests.

In essence, this is a rundown establishment that is in need of drastic upgrading. Via the out of date, rose coloured, publicity - you could be forgiven for thinking, prior to booking in, that this had already taken place. No! The publicity is very misleading and full of lots of positive pictures which quickly evaporate on arrival.