Lincoln's BEST Kept Secret: Comfort Inn I-80 Review!

Lincoln's BEST Kept Secret: The Comfort Inn I-80… or is it? – A Rambling Review!

Okay, so let's be real. "BEST kept secret" is a bold claim. But after spending a couple of nights at the Comfort Inn I-80 in Lincoln, Nebraska… well, let's just say I have THOUGHTS. Buckle up, buttercups, because this review is gonna be less "polished travel blog" and more "me, unfiltered, after a long drive and one too many free continental breakfast pastries."

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Title: Comfort Inn I-80 Review: A Surprisingly Honest Take (Plus Wi-Fi Woes!)
Description: A brutally honest, and sometimes messy, review of the Comfort Inn I-80 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Find out about accessibility, amenities, dining, and if it lives up to the "secret" hype!
Keywords: (See above)
Author: A Very Tired Traveler (Me!)

(Okay, back to the chaos!)

First Impressions (and a Slight Panic Attack about Accessibility)

Driving up, it looks like a Comfort Inn. You know the drill. Beige brick, maybe a vaguely inviting sign. BUT, and this is a BIG but for me, they claim to be accessible. And for me, that's a make-or-break situation. My partner uses a wheelchair, so I went into it with fingers crossed and a little prayer.

Accessibility: Did Someone Actually Think About This?

Here’s where things get interesting. The entrance was… reasonably accessible. Not perfect, but no major curbs to navigate. The lobby, thankfully, had a decent amount of open space. The REAL test? The room. We requested an accessible room specifically. I'm not going to lie, I held my breath while the front desk worker (who was actually really nice, and a real trooper) made the little key cards.

A Quick Aside About the Front Desk: They were on the ball. The staff were friendly. This is a huge plus in my book. Smiling faces and genuine helpfulness? Yes, please!

Room Reality Check:

And… drumroll please… The accessible room was actually pretty good! The bathroom had grab bars, the shower chair was sturdy, and the space to maneuver was decent. However, I have to be real: the shower head was a bit low. This is a common gripe but, you know… I'm picky.

Important Bits from this Section: Wheelchair accessible rooms are available, and mostly well-equipped. Front desk staff were very accommodating, and generally cheerful.

Wheelchair accessible: Yes! (mostly!)
Facilities for disabled guests: Check!
Elevator: Yup! (Thank goodness!)

Internet Access - The Wi-Fi Saga (aka, My Actual Nightmare)

So, you know how they advertise "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!"? Well, let's just say my experience was… tragic. I tried connecting in the room, and well, it was just awful. The signal kept dropping, the speed barely registered, and every time I tried to load anything, I just wanted to throw my laptop out the window. I needed to write, to upload pictures… it was like being back in the dark ages! I went to the lobby, figuring it might be better there. Nope. This was a slow-motion catastrophe!

My Emotional Response: I was livid. This is 2024, people! Good Wi-Fi is practically a human right! It's essential for work, staying connected, and, let's be honest, streaming some guilty pleasure reality TV. I basically became the crazy lady in the lobby muttering about "bandwidth and the internet gods."

Internet: Ugh, needed improvement.
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Technically true, but it was like a really bad tease.
Internet [LAN]: I'm doubtful even an Ethernet cable would help.
Internet services: Nonexistent.

Beyond the Wi-Fi Abyss: The Amenities

Things to Do/Ways to Relax (lol)

Okay, so let's be honest, this isn't the Ritz. But I felt compelled to check out the options.

Fitness Center: There was a fitness center. I peeked in. It looked functional, but I'm not a gym rat. So, I'll give it a generic "meh" rating.
Swimming Pool [outdoor]: I did not use the outdoor pool. It looked fairly clean.
Spa/sauna: Absolutely not, this isn't a spa resort.

Cleanliness and Safety: Did They Actually Clean?

Ok, let's get serious here. Post-pandemic… cleanliness is paramount. I was pleased to see a lot of signs indicating that they had a clear policy in place.

Anti-viral cleaning products: Yeah, they probably used them.
Daily disinfection in common areas: Yes, I observed this, and the place seemed clean. Staff in masks all around.
Rooms sanitized between stays: I'm assuming so. It felt clean.
Hand sanitizer: Everywhere!

Things to do:

Smoking area: There was a smoking area.
Non-smoking rooms: Yes.
Fire extinguisher: Yes, thank goodness, everywhere.
Smoke alarms: Yes, thank goodness!

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Breakfast Buffet Tango

The phrase in the breakfast area was "Standard Comfort Inn breakfast." I’ve had worse, but… I've also had significantly better.

Breakfast [buffet]: Your usual suspects: scrambled eggs (slightly questionable), pre-packaged pastries (the best part), cereal. The coffee was, honestly, the best part, and a small miracle.
Breakfast service: Adequate.
Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes!
Coffee shop: Nope.
Snack bar: Nope.
Restaurants: No. There was a restaurant, but not in the hotel.

Let's talk food for a second:

Individually-wrapped food options: Yes. I appreciated this.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Seems so.
Safe dining setup: Appears to be.
Alternative meal arrangement: No.

Services and Conveniences

Air conditioning in public area: Yes!
Business facilities: Nothing crazy.
Cash withdrawal: Inconvenient, didn’t see it.
Concierge: Nope.
Convenience store: Nah.
Daily housekeeping: Great.
Elevator: Yes, thank you!
Ironing service: Unsure.
Laundry service: Unsure.
Luggage storage: Unsure.
Parking: Free and ample.
Taxi service: Yes!

The Room Itself – Not Bad, Actually!

So, once you overlook the Wi-Fi abyss, the room was pretty comfortable.

Air conditioning: Worked like a charm.
Alarm clock: Check.
Blackout curtains: Essential for daytime sleeping.
Coffee/tea maker: Present.
Free bottled water: Nice touch.
Hair dryer: Yep.
Refrigerator: Yes! Crucial for leftovers.
Satellite/cable channels: Lots of options.
Seating area: Had a comfy chair.
Shower: Adequate.
Wake-up service: Available.
Wi-Fi [free]: (See above. Sigh.)
Non-smoking: Absolutely.
Soundproofing: Pretty good, for the price point.
Towels: Clean.

For the Kids

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Family/child friendly: Sure, it’s very kid-friendly!

Getting Around

Airport transfer: Unsure!
Car park [free of charge]: A very big yes!
Taxi service: Availability?

The Verdict - So, Is It a "Secret?"

Well, "best kept secret"… maybe not. But for the price, the accessibility, and the overall experience, it's not a bad option.

Pros:

Good value for money
Mostly accessible rooms (hallelujah!)
Friendly staff
Cleanliness is a priority.
Free parking

Cons:

The Wi-Fi. Oh, the Wi-Fi.
No real amenities to speak of.
The breakfast is very basic.

Ultimately:

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Comfort Inn Lincoln I-80 Lincoln (NE) United States

Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your boring, perfectly-planned travel guide. This is a dive into the ACTUAL reality of a stay at the Comfort Inn by I-80 in Lincoln, Nebraska, written by someone who’s definitely seen a questionable gas station bathroom or two.

The Comfort Inn Lincoln: Operation "Get Some Sleep (Maybe)"

Day 1: Arrival & Immediate Regret (Just Kidding… Mostly)

3:00 PM: Arrive at Comfort Inn Lincoln, I-80. Okay, first impression? "Functional." It's not the Ritz, folks. It's technically inside the city, but let's be honest, it feels more like its own little highway oasis. I was hoping for a lobby with a roaring fireplace and maybe a complimentary puppy to pet. Instead, I get… a slightly tired-looking front desk attendant and a vaguely unsettling scent of air freshener trying way too hard.
3:15 PM: Check in. The usual bureaucratic dance. Passport (check). Credit card (pray it works). Smile (attempted). Okay, room's on the second floor. Sigh. Elevators and I, we're not particularly close.
3:30 PM: Room inspection. Bingo! The room itself is… fine. Two double beds (score!), questionable art on the walls (a painting of a… something. I'm not entirely sure what that is), and a TV that's probably older than me. The carpet feels like it's seen some things. Things I'd rather not know about. But hey, it's clean-ish. Deep breath. This is manageable.
3:45 PM: The Great Pillow Debate. Seriously, why are hotel pillows always either: a) flatter than a pancake, or b) rock-solid and intent on giving you a crick in your neck? This hotel offers a mix of both. I spend a solid ten minutes wrestling with the pillows, ultimately settling on two that are acceptable.
4:00 PM: Explore the hotel's "amenities." There's a pool (no, I haven't been in it. It suspiciously smells like chlorine and despair), a (very) small gym (did not go near it), and a free breakfast area (eyes are on you, breakfast).
6:00 PM: Dinner situation. Had a craving for some good old-fashioned Nebraskan grub. Yelp led me to a local diner (not saying which one in case they read this - awkward). The food, let's just say, was… hearty. Hearty to the point where I'm currently questioning all my life choices. Also, encountered a group of locals who were VERY interested in my out-of-state license plate. Small-town charm, right?
8:00 PM: Back at the hotel. The allure of the giant, questionable pillows is calling. Watch an episode of a show online, fall asleep before the end of the opening credits.

Day 2: Breakfast, Adventures (Maybe), & Existential Dread

7:00 AM: The Dreaded Breakfast. Okay. Free breakfast. Let's break this down. The selection: waffles (possibly the only saving grace), some sad-looking cereal, lukewarm scrambled eggs (that may or may not be made of actual eggs), and coffee that tastes like watered-down disappointment. I go for the waffle. Load it up with way too much syrup and tell myself it's a balanced breakfast.
8:00 AM: Attempt at a "plan." I had envisioned myself as a culture vulture, hitting the Nebraska State Capitol Building, maybe a museum.
8:30 AM: Decide that actually, the idea of relaxing in the hotel room is the most fun and relaxing. (Sorry, culture. Maybe next time.)
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: The Ultimate Pillow Fort. Okay, maybe not an actual fort. But a solid hour of reading, followed by a brief nap during which I dreamed I was trapped in a labyrinth of hotel hallways… it was… intense.
12:00 PM: Lunch. Managed to find a decent sandwich at a place near the hotel. Relief.
2:00 PM: Actually left the hotel! Drove around town. It's Lincoln, you know?
4:00 PM: Back to the hotel. I'm feeling lazy. The room is looking even more inviting, the couch has swallowed me whole. I probably should have done something more… enriching. But darn it, it's my vacation, and I'll do what I want!
7:00 PM: Decided eating dinner in the room while watching some mindless TV is a great idea. Maybe I ordered too much food. Maybe I'm judging myself for doing so. Who knows.

Day 3: Departure & Sudden Urges to Stay

7:00 AM: Breakfast, the sequel. Waffle once more. But this time, I take two!
8:00 AM: Check out. The front desk attendant is a different person today. Friendlier, maybe. I'm feeling strangely sad to leave. It's not the most luxurious place, but it's been home for a couple of days. Maybe it's the low expectations. Maybe it's the sheer, unfiltered mediocrity of it all. Whatever it is, some part of me is genuinely going to miss this place. The room, the weird art, definitely missed the pool.
8:15 AM: Head out. The Comfort Inn is a distant memory. As I drive down I-80, I glance back in my rearview mirror. The motel is gone. It's a new beginning.
8:30 AM: Arrive home.
9:00 AM: Already planning a return trip.

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Comfort Inn Lincoln I-80 Lincoln (NE) United States```html

Okay, Spill! Is the Comfort Inn I-80 in Lincoln Really a "Best Kept Secret"? Like, Seriously?

Alright, alright, settle down, you curious cats. "Best Kept Secret"? That's what the internet told me, and honestly? I'm still not entirely convinced it's a *secret*. The parking lot's usually got a healthy dose of cars, especially when there's a Husker game (GO BIG RED!). But... *some* of the reviews, when they're not gushing (and, let's be honest, some of them *are* gushing, way more than a leaky faucet), talk about a certain...chill. Like, a low-key vibe that makes you think, "Yeah, I could actually *relax* here." So, the jury's still out, I guess. My personal take? It's a solid choice. Not earth-shattering, but definitely *not* a hidden hell pit.

The Breakfast Bar. Tell Me Everything. I need specifics. I need the truth... Did you see the dreaded "waffle maker of doom"?

THE BREAKFAST BAR. Ah, the crucible of the weary traveler. Okay, so, here's the deal. The waffle maker... is a *thing*. It's not actually doom, but it *can* be a bit of a battleground. You know the type - it churns out waffles that are either burnt to a crisp or practically raw dough. I, personally, battled it for a good 10 minutes one morning, and let me tell you, the victory (a waffle that was *just* edible) tasted sweeter than any maple syrup. Beyond the waffle wars? The usual suspects. Eggs, sausage (sometimes rubbery, but hey, it's free!), cereal, the occasional sad fruit salad that looks like it's seen better days. Coffee's decent; essential for a road trip, right? It's not Michelin-star breakfast, but it fuels the journey. And honestly? After a long drive, it's a welcome sight. Though, a little more protein wouldn't hurt.

Let's talk Rooms. Clean? Smelly? Did you see a… thing? (Anything is fair game)

Okay, rooms. The rooms are... well, they're a Comfort Inn. Expectations set accordingly. Cleanliness is, thankfully, generally up to snuff. I'm a *bit* of a germaphobe (don't judge!), so I always do the "bedspread sniff test" (you know what I mean). Passed. Most of the time. One time, though... look, I'm going to be brutally honest here. There was this *one* room. It had a faint whiff of...something. Not terrible, but... almost like a wet dog crossed with a hint of stale cigarettes. I think it was the carpet. Mentioned it to the front desk, they were super apologetic, and switched me rooms immediately (kudos to the staff, by the way. They're generally pretty good). So, your mileage may vary. The beds are comfy, the TV works, and the air conditioning will blast you back to the ice age - which, let's face it, is sometimes a welcome escape from the sweltering Nebraska sun. The bathrooms are fine, good water pressure.

Seriously though, what's the vibe like? Are we talking "business trip" or "family on a budget" or "desperate people on the run"?

The vibe? A glorious, chaotic blend of all of the above! You'll see families lugging in suitcases and kids, weary business travelers glued to their phones, and the occasional (and I mean *occasional*) group of people who look like they've been on the road for approximately 72 hours straight. It's a practical, no-frills kind of place. Not exactly a romantic getaway destination, but it's functional. It's that "get the job done" kind of hotel you can find yourself in. The thing is, I like that, I like the straightforward of it all, the fact that it's just trying to be a decent place to sleep, somewhere to unwind, and somewhere to launch from for the next leg of your trip. The lack of pretense is refreshing. Plus, the pool…

Speaking of which... the Pool? A sparkling oasis? Or a murky swamp of questionable bacteria?

Okay, the pool. Here's where things get…interesting. I've seen the pool at this Comfort Inn at *its* best and worst. Okay, it's not the biggest swimming pool, at all. I think it's pretty small, honestly. At its best? Cleanish. Well-maintained (ish). Kids splashing, families having fun, a generally pleasant scene. At its worst? I will not, at all, lie. It can be a bit… cloudy. And sometimes, a few rogue leaves venture in. So, check it out *before* you commit. I'd say, if the water's crystal clear, jump in. If it looks the slightest bit murky, maybe skip it and go for a walk. Trust me on this.

Is there anything amazing about this place? Anything I should be really excited about?

Well, "amazing" might be a stretch, but look, here's what I *will* say: there's this one thing. It's not on the website, it’s not mentioned in any brochures, but if you're lucky, you can get a room on the north side and see the sunset, depending on tree, or whatever. Really. And it’s surprisingly good. It hits different when you're tired from the road, when the sun's setting, and you haven't had actual good food in about a day and a half, or heck, even longer. I'm talking about the little things. I guess what I'm saying is: Manage your expectations. It's a Comfort Inn. But sometimes, the little things can *make* a stay.

Okay. And what about the noise? Is this place a haven of peace or a cacophony of slamming doors and crying babies?

Noise levels… Okay, this is where things get random. During busy times, yeah, you'll hear stuff. Slamming doors are definitely a thing. The thumping bass of the car stereo outside can be obnoxious. But I've also had surprisingly quiet stays. It's a gamble. You *might* get a room next to a family with a toddler who's discovered the joys of screaming at 3 a.m. You might get a room that overlooks the parking lot where a truck is idling for an hour (true story!). Then again, you might get lucky. Bring earplugs. Consider them a mandatory accessory.

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Comfort Inn Lincoln I-80 Lincoln (NE) United States

Lincoln's BEST Kept Secret: Comfort Inn I-80 Review!