Rantoul's BEST-KEPT Secret? This Super 8 Will SHOCK You!
Rantoul's BEST-KEPT Secret? This Super 8 Will SHOCK You! (Maybe. Probably Not.) - A Brutally Honest Review
Alright, people, buckle up. We’re diving headfirst into the swirling vortex of… a Super 8 in Rantoul, Illinois. The title promised a shock, and I’m here to tell you… well, the biggest shock might be me writing a review this long about a Super 8. But hey, I'm committed. Plus, I need to justify the sheer volume of information I've absorbed after painstakingly navigating this, let's call it a complex of hospitality.
Let's kick off with the essentials:
Accessibility: Okay, accessibility. It's present, which is a start. The website claims “facilities for disabled guests” but I didn't exactly do a deep dive to see how accessible they are. There is an elevator, which is a huge plus. I can't vouch for the specific room accommodations, but let's trust the website here, right?
(… I'm already getting a weird feeling about this review, like I'm expected to be positive about a Super 8. Ugh.)
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Uh… Well, there wasn't one. And that is the first chink in the armor. I'd rate it a solid zilch.
Wheelchair accessible: Listed under "Accessibility". Seems legit. But I can't personally verify. Moving on…
Internet, Oh Glorious Internet:
- Internet access: Present. Phew. This is vital for someone obsessed with writing and streaming (me).
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: HOORAY! Saved by the internet gods. A little less stress.
- Internet [LAN]: I didn't hunt for the LAN jack, I'll be honest. I’m a wireless kind of guy.
- Internet services: Basically, the Wi-Fi. Not much more to report.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Yes, and it worked! Crucial for those moments when you have to escape the confines of your… room.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (and the Questionable "Spa"):
Oh boy, here we go…
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Sauna: LOL. Yeah, no. Don't hold your breath. Remember, we're in Rantoul. We are not in the Ritz.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Okay, there was a gym. I'm pretty sure 'fitness center' is a grandiose term for the tiny room with a treadmill, an elliptical, and the distinct smell of stale sweat. It was… there.
- Pool with view: Nope. Just a standard outdoor pool.
- Swimming pool: Yes! A pool! It was… open. And, honestly, it looked inviting, considering the blazing Illinois sun. Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yep.
- Foot bath: HA! Absolutely not!
Cleanliness and Safety: The New Rules, and the Real Deal
Okay, this is where things get interesting. Post-pandemic, everyone claims to be super clean. But is the Super 8, you know, actually trying?
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Listed.
- Breakfast in room: Not a thing, but let's get to that (below)
- Breakfast takeaway service: Nope.
- Cashless payment service: Yes. This is a win.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Supposedly.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Not to my knowledge, but its's not really a selling point.
- First aid kit: Probably. Didn't need it, thankfully.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere! Which is reassuring.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Hopefully.
- Hygiene certification: Unlikely.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes. (See breakfast disaster below)
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They were.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Unlikely, considering everything else.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Didn't see this.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Highly likely.
- Safe dining setup: See breakfast below.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Again, see breakfast.
- Shared stationery removed: Good.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed reasonable.
- Sterilizing equipment: I did not pry into the housekeeping closet to verify.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Soul-Crushing Breakfast Saga.
This is where things took a turn. Hold on to your hats… or your sad, pre-packaged muffins.
- A la carte in restaurant: HAHAHAHAHA!
- Alternative meal arrangement: Nope.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: Are you kidding me?
- Bar, Bottle of water: You got a bottle of water.
- Breakfast [buffet]: NO ONE WANTS TO EAT OFF A BUFFET DURING COVID, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
- Breakfast service: Okay, here's the grim reality. Breakfast… was… there. It was the kind of breakfast that makes you question all your life choices. I'm talking pre-packaged muffins that tasted like sadness, some sad-looking fruit (if you could call it that), individually wrapped cereals, and pre-made tiny yogurts. It was the epitome of “quantity over quality.” The coffee was weak, the juice was… well, it tasted like sugar-flavored water. I will forever remember this breakfast. It was utterly depressing. I had to leave, and actually eat somewhere else because I was getting a rash of, well, the thought of continuing that breakfast.
- Buffet in restaurant: No.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: See… everything above.
- Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour: No.
- International cuisine in restaurant: No.
- Poolside bar: No.
- Restaurants: NO.
- Room service [24-hour]: Nope.
- Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: None.
My takeaway? Avoid the breakfast. Bring your own food, or be very, very sad.
Services and Conveniences: The Usual Suspects
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes!
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out: Nope.
- Convenience store: Yes. A small one with the essentials (chips, candy, Advil for the inevitable headache).
- Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments: Nope.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Potentially, as mentioned at the top.
- Food delivery: Could be organised.
- Gift/souvenir shop: No.
- Indoor venue for special events: No.
- Invoice provided (and Meetings): Yes.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Laundry service: Yes.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery: Unlikely.
- On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace: No, probably not.
- Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: No.
For the Kids… (and Their Parents' Sanity):
- Babysitting service: NO.
- Family/child friendly: Yes, in the sense that you can bring your family.
- Kids facilities, Kids meal: Not that I saw.
Access, Safety, and Security: The Basics
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property: Yes.
- Check-in/out [express]: Probably.
- Check-in/out [private]: Unlikely.
- Couple's room: Probably not.
- Exterior corridor: Yep. It's a Super 8.
- Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour]: Yes.
- Hotel chain: Super 8.
- Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: Yes.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Free parking - which is definitely a plus in any hotel.
Available in all rooms: (The Real Estate)
- **Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock,
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're about to dive headfirst into a trip to the glittering metropolis… of Rantoul, Illinois. My bank account’s screaming, my back’s already hating me, and my expectations are lower than a worm’s belly button. But hey, at least there's a Super 8! Let’s see what kind of glorious train wreck we can make of this.
Rantoul Ramble: A Super 8 Saga
Day 1: Arrival and the Art of Mild Disappointment
- 1:00 PM: Arrived at the Super 8. Okay, first impression? The parking lot looks like a family reunion for beat-up minivans. And the lobby? Let's just say it has that distinct smell of stale coffee mingled with… ambition? Or maybe just budget air freshener trying REALLY hard. The desk clerk looked vaguely like a startled ferret, but was surprisingly efficient. Got my keycard – prayed it worked.
- 1:30 PM: Room check. Hallelujah, the keycard worked! The room… well, it's a Super 8. You know the drill. Beige walls, a slightly lumpy bed, the faint scent of industrial cleaner trying to conquer years of cigarette smoke. The TV is one of those ancient flatscreens that seems to weigh more than my carry-on. My heart sank a bit, not gonna lie.
- 2:00 PM: First mission: find the local "flavor" of the town. I found a fast-food place. It was a… experience. The cashier looked like he was having a mid-life crisis at the age of 20. The fries were lukewarm, and the soda tasted suspiciously like carbonated sadness. Ate it anyway. I'm a traveler. I embrace the questionable.
- 3:00 PM: I was itching for something to do. I got in my car and drove. Rantoul is a town with a surprisingly high number of churches. I almost went in one, but instead, I just sat in my car and listened to the radio. The radio, by the way, played the same 5 country songs on repeat. I got existential about the meaning of life and the lack of originality of modern music.
- 5:00 PM: Back at the Super 8 with a bag of chips and the weighty decision of what to watch on TV. Will I brave the ancient movie selections? Will I stare at the ceiling and contemplate existence? The possibilities, people, the possibilities!
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. I decided to check out the local pizza joint. I have eaten more pizza in my life then I care to admit, but there is something special about local pizza joints. The vibes were immaculate. The pizza was greasy, cheesy, and delicious. No regrets.
Day 2: Embracing the Mundane and the Unexpected
- 7:00 AM: Free continental breakfast. I'm not expecting haute cuisine, I just want some carbs and perhaps a touch of denial about my life choices. The waffle maker, bless its little heart, was out of order. Okay, fine. A stale donut and some questionable coffee it is. Fuel for adventure!
- 8:00 AM: I decided I would check out a local museum. I was expecting a lot of history. Which turned out to be true, but the exhibits were curated by a very enthusiastic elderly gentleman who kept following me around and telling rambling stories. I could barely keep up. It was a good experience.
- 11:00 AM: Back at the hotel. I decided for a swim in the pool. The water was cold but refreshing. The pool was pretty empty so I just spent the morning relaxing. After months of hard work, I started to feel relaxed.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. I found a local diner. I do love diners. I got the patty-melt with a side of fries. It was good.
- 2:00 PM: I went to the local park. I saw a dad playing catch with his son. I got a slight pang of loneliness. I quickly averted my gaze.
- 4:00 PM: I went to the local grocery store. I just needed to kill some time, so I walked around. I didn't buy anything.
- 6:00 PM: TV, chips, and a slow descent into the vortex of late-night television. Maybe the local channels have something interesting. (Spoiler alert: they do not.)
Day 3: Departure and the Lingering Taste of Rantoul
- 7:00 AM: Another breakfast of champions. Same sad donut, same over-brewed coffee. But hey, I'm alive, I'm on the road, and the waffle maker is still broken. Triumph!
- 8:00 AM: Final room check. Did I leave anything? (Probably. I always do.) Checked out with the ferret-like desk clerk. He seemed relieved to see me go. I understand.
- 8:30 AM: One last look at the Super 8. Yep, it's still there. Solidly beige, smelling faintly of sadness and air freshener.
- 9:00 AM: Hit the road. Rantoul, you were… something. You were slightly underwhelming and unexpectedly charming. You were a place where you could eat lukewarm fries and contemplate the universe and the meaning of local pizza joints. And you gave me a story to tell.
- 9:00 AM: I drove to the next town. I kept Rantoul, IL in my heart.
So, that's it. My Rantoul adventure. It wasn't glamorous. It wasn't perfect. But it was real. And isn't that what travel is all about? Embracing the messy, the imperfect, and the slightly disappointing? (And maybe, just maybe, finding a decent patty-melt along the way?)
Casey, IL's BEST Kept Secret: Days Inn & Suites Awaits!
Rantoul Super 8: The Uncensored FAQ You *Actually* Need
So, is this Super 8 REALLY a "best-kept secret?" Come on, spill.
Okay, okay, deep breaths. "Best-kept secret" implies exclusivity, whispered legends, and maybe... a hidden speakeasy? Nope. Not really. It's more like a secret everyone quietly *knows* about, mostly because it's the only game in town when you're stranded in Rantoul. Let's just say I've seen more action at a Tuesday night bingo game. (No shade to bingo, I love bingo!) But "best-kept"? Nah. It's the best- *available*. Hear me.
Seriously, what *is* it like to stay there? Give me the goods, the bads, and the utterly bizarre.
Alright, here's the unfiltered truth. The "goods"... uh... well, they *have* beds. And indoor corridors, which is a win if a tornado rolls through, I guess. The "bads"... oh, where do I even *begin*? The carpets. The CARPETS, people! They're a textural journey through... I don't even want to *know*. Let's just say, bring extra socks. And the utterly bizarre? One time, I SWEAR, I walked into the breakfast area and there was a lone sausage, just... *staring* at me. No other food. No other guests. Just the sausage. It became a whole *thing* for me, okay? I kept checking back to see if it was still there. It was. Creepy.
The breakfast. Don't even. What's the breakfast situation *really* like?
Oh, the breakfast. The *infamous* breakfast. It's like a time capsule to the early 2000s. Expect the usual suspects: sugary cereal, questionable-looking pastries, and a waffle maker that judges your every move. I'm not kidding. That waffle maker... I feel like it's seen things. And the coffee? Think brown liquid, vaguely resembling coffee. But hey, it's *there*. And sometimes, if you're lucky, they have those little pre-packaged yogurts. Those are the REAL gems.
What kind of people stay at this place? Give me a demographic breakdown.
Okay, this is my *favorite* question. It's a fascinating sociological experiment. You've got your traveling salesmen, bless their weary souls. Truck drivers, often loud and proud about their CB handle. Families on road trips, desperately trying to wrangle their screaming kids. And me. I'm a frequent flyer, because, well, sometimes you just *have* to be in Rantoul. A friend of mine once swore he saw a group of paranormal investigators there. I can’t confirm or deny that.
Okay, spill the tea. What's the *worst* thing you've ever experienced at the Rantoul Super 8?
This is where I have to get real. Okay. The WORST? Let me tell you, one time, I had this room… it had a distinct *odor*. Not a bad smell, not necessarily, but… an *odor*. A lingering, indefinable, almost-but-not-quite-there smell. Like… old pizza? Maybe a hint of mothballs? It was with me the whole time. Each time I entered, it was like a punch. I can still smell it today, and it was over five years ago. And the internet, it barely worked. I couldn’t do my job. I had to go to the local library to get connected. A library! It was horrible. I was completely alone, with the pizza-ish smell, and no internet. I'm getting worked up just thinking about it.
Is it Clean? What's the Room Condition?
Look, let's be honest. Cleanliness isn't exactly the Super 8's strong suit. I mean, it's *generally* cleanish, in a worn, seen-some-things kind of way. You know? The kind of clean where you're secretly judging the dust bunnies under the bed, even though you consciously decide to act as if they aren't there. The rooms can be a bit... tired. Think faded decor, slightly stained upholstery, and the aforementioned carpet that has whispered numerous stories. Check the corners!
So, should I stay there? Be brutally honest.
Ugh. Okay, here's the brutally honest answer. If you have *any* other option, take it. Seriously. ANY. OTHER. OPTION. But if you're absolutely, positively, 100% stranded in Rantoul, and it's your only choice... well, it'll do. It'll house you. It'll provide you with a bed, and maybe a lukewarm cup of coffee. Just... lower your expectations. A LOT. And bring air freshener. Trust me. And good luck. You'll need it.
What about the staff? Are they friendly?
The staff… well, they're there. They're usually… present. Friendly? Sometimes. They're certainly *used* to dealing with people like me, which, frankly, is half the battle. Have a little patience, be polite, and they'll probably be perfectly fine. But don't expect them to be overly enthusiastic. They've seen things, too, I suspect.
Any secret tips for a successful Super 8 stay?
Oh, *yes*. My Super 8 survival guide! First, pack earplugs. The walls are thinner than paper. Second, bring your own pillow. The pillows… let’s just say they are old and flat. Third, don't expect much from the "amenities." And lastly, consider this: if you *must* stay, treat it like a slightly uncomfortable, but ultimately survivable, adventure. And take a deep breath. You'll get through it.
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