Plover's BEST Hotel? Super 8 Review (You WON'T Believe This!)
Plover's BEST Hotel? Super 8 Review (You WON'T Believe This!) - A Hot Take on a Wisconsin Classic
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I just braved a night at the Super 8 in Plover, Wisconsin, and I'm here to spill the beans. Forget pristine, curated travel blogs – you're getting the REAL deal, warts and all. And believe me, there are a few… starting with the fact I'm pretty sure my room used to be a storage closet. But hey, let's dive in, shall we?
Accessibility – A Mixed Bag (Like My Emotions After Coffee)
Alright, let's be real. I'm not in a wheelchair, so I can't give a super thorough assessment. But from what I saw, there's an elevator (praise be!), and the lobby seemed relatively spacious. However, navigating a fully accessible stay is tougher to assess on the ground.
On-site Accessible Restaurants / Lounges – Nope. Nada.
There's a breakfast room, but it's your standard continental affair. More on that later. No fancy restaurants, no lounge areas, no place to "wine and dine" beyond the vending machine and a slightly questionable looking coffee maker in the hallway.
Wheelchair Accessible – See above.
Internet Access – My Lifeline… Mostly.
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yes, please! And… mostly good. It cut out a couple of times while I was uploading photos of a particularly majestic squirrel I saw outside. The internet services themselves aren't bad, just the quality. It's like having a really enthusiastic friend who forgets to follow through sometimes.
Internet [LAN] – Nah.
You're outta luck if you're looking for a wired connection, which is fine by me.
Things to Do – Beyond the Perimeter
This is where Super 8s always let me down a little. There's not exactly a vibrant hub of entertainment within the hotel. You're looking at a map and a car. Plover itself… well, let's just say you'll probably need to drive to find something to do.
Ways to Relax – Let's Explore the Possibilities (and the Realities).
- Fitness center - No.
- Pool with view/Sauna/Spa/Steamroom/Swimming pool/Spa/Steamroom – Nada. Zip. Zilch. My relaxation strategy involved a lot of Netflix and existential pondering.
- Massage/Body scrub/Foot bath/Body wrap - Not happening.
Cleanliness and Safety – The Silver Lining?
This is where Super 8 actually tried.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Probably, I hope to God…
- Breakfast takeaway service: Nice for a quick grab-and-go.
- Cashless payment service: Convenient, in the age of digital.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Good effort!!
- Doctor/nurse on call: I didn't need one, thankfully.
- First aid kit: Always a good idea.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere! Bless them!
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Presumably, standard procedure.
- Hygiene certification: Couldn't find any signage, but the place was clean. I didn't see any obvious signs of…things.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes, because Covid.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Attempted, at least.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Hope so!
- Room sanitization opt-out available: I didn't opt out, didn't notice.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Apparently.
- Safe dining setup: See breakfast comments.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Breakfast-specific, looked clean.
- Shared stationery removed: Good.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed competent.
- Sterilizing equipment: I am not an expert on hotel equipment, but I assume so.
The hotel seemed cleaned to a reasonable standard. My sheets were clean. The bathroom was… acceptable. Let's just say my standards aren't exactly high on road trips, and I have seen worse. I'll take it.
Dining, drinking, and snacking – The Continental Breakfast Saga
Okay, the breakfast situation is where things got… interesting.
- Buffet in restaurant/Buffet/Breakfast [buffet]/Breakfast service: Yes, a very basic buffet.
- Asian breakfast/Asian cuisine in restaurant/International cuisine in restaurant/Western breakfast/Western cuisine in restaurant: Nope. It's continental.
- A la carte in restaurant/Coffee/tea in restaurant/Coffee shop/Desserts in restaurant/Happy hour/Poolside bar/Restaurants/Room service [24-hour]/Salad in restaurant/Snack bar/Soup in restaurant/Vegetarian restaurant: You get a donut. You get a bagel. You get instant oatmeal. It’s the Super 8 trifecta of carbs and processed sugar.
- Bottle of water: Provided
- Alternative meal arrangement/Extra condiments: None of the above, and I had to ask for ketchup.
The Anecdote of the Soggy Bagel:
The highlight? Probably the bagel. The slightly questionable bagel. It tasted like it had endured a humid prison sentence. I tried to toast it. Failed. The toaster, bless its heart, was fighting a losing battle. The coffee? The kind that fuels a thousand gas station bathroom breaks. Let's just say my expectations were appropriately adjusted.
Services and Conveniences – The Essentials (and Not So Essentials)
- Air conditioning in public area: Of course!
- Audio-visual equipment for special events/Indoor venue for special events/Outdoor venue for special events/Meetings: Not happening at a Super 8 in Plover, Wisconsin.
- Business facilities: Basic stuff, I think.
- Cash withdrawal/Currency exchange: Not available.
- Concierge: Nope!
- Contactless check-in/out: Thank goodness, for efficiency!
- Convenience store: A vending machine!
- Daily housekeeping: Present and good.
- Doorman: No. Just the front desk person.
- Dry cleaning/Laundry service/Ironing service: Not offered.
- Elevator: Yes!
- Essential condiments: See the ketchup anecdote.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Seemed so.
- Food delivery: Probably not.
- Gift/souvenir shop: No. Buy something in the town where you go for dinner.
- Invoice provided: Yes.
- Luggage storage: They likely do.
- Meeting/banquet facilities…/Meetings: No.
- Meeting stationery/Projector/LED display/Seminars/Wi-Fi for special events: LOL nope.
- Safety deposit boxes: I think they had them.
- Seminars/Shrine/Smoking area: A designated smoking area.
- Terrace: No.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Doubtful.
For the Kids – Uh… Maybe Not
- Babysitting service/Family/child friendly/Kids facilities/Kids meal: Not a kid-centric environment.
Access – Ins and Outs
- CCTV in common areas/CCTV outside property: Present.
- Check-in/out [express]/Check-in/out [private]: Standard procedure.
- Couple's room: Not advertised, probably can be arranged.
- Exterior corridor: Yes!
- Fire extinguisher/Smoke alarms: Appears to be compliant.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Yes.
- Hotel chain: It's a Super 8!
- Non-smoking rooms: Yes, thankfully!
- Pets allowed unavailable Pets allowed: I didn't see any pets.
- Proposal spot: Unlikely.
- Room decorations: Basic.
- Safety/security feature/Security [24-hour]/Smoke alarms: Standard.
- Soundproof rooms: Probably not.
- Getting around: You probably need a car.
- Airport transfer/Bicycle parking/Car park [free of charge]/Car park [on-site]/Car power charging station/Taxi service/Valet parking: Free parking.
- **Additional toilet/Air conditioning/Alarm clock/Bathrobes/Bathroom phone/Bathtub/Blackout curtains/Carpeting/Closet/Coffee/tea maker/Complimentary tea/Daily housekeeping/Desk/Extra long bed/Free bottled water/Hair dryer/High floor/In-room safe box/Interconnecting room(s) available/Internet access – LAN/Internet access – wireless/Ironing facilities/Laptop workspace/Linens/Mini bar/Mirror/On-demand movies/Private bathroom/Reading light/Refrigerator/Safety/security feature/Satellite/cable channels/Scale/Seating area/Separate shower/bathtub/Shower/Slippers/Smoke detector
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're about to plan a trip to the, ahem, glorious Super 8 by Wyndham in Plover, Wisconsin. This isn't gonna be some sterile, perfectly-timed brochure. This is gonna be… well, my attempt at a travel itinerary, punctuated by my usual brand of glorious, chaotic realism.
Trip Title: Quest for the Perfect Pancake (and maybe a little sanity)
Dates: Let's say… Thursday to Sunday. That gives us wiggle room for unexpected cheese curds emergencies.
Base Camp: Super 8 by Wyndham Plover Stevens Point Area (WI) - Bless its little motel heart.
Day 1: Thursday - Arrival and the Quest Begins (Emphasis: Breakfast Ambitions)
Afternoon (Around 3 PM): Arrive in Plover. The drive? Well, let's just say my GPS and I have a complicated relationship. Always. Probably got lost at least once, swore at a deer, and had a mental debate about whether to stop at that giant roadside cheese shop. (Spoiler alert: I didn't. Yet.) Check into the Super 8. Expect the usual: vaguely stained carpet, a welcome waft of chlorine and… anticipation.
Late Afternoon/Early Evening (Around 5 PM): Settle in, unpack the essentials (snacks, phone charger, emergency chocolate – you know, survival gear). Briefly debate the merits of actually doing anything, versus just collapsing on the bed and mainlining Netflix. Netflix wins, at least for the first hour.
Evening (Around 7 PM): Dinner. This is where it starts to go off the rails slightly. I'm picturing a charming local diner… or, let's be honest, likely some chain restaurant that’s convenient and relatively grease free. Maybe find a place with a decent beer selection. Gotta pace myself.
Night (Before 10PM): Nightcap at the hotel bar, if they have one, or possibly just a late-night convenience store run for more snacks. The "do not disturb" sign gets a workout.
Day 2: Friday - The Pancake Predicament and Stevens Point Stroll (Emphasis: Food and Frustration)
Morning (Let's aim for 8 AM, but aim is the operative word here): THE MOST IMPORTANT PART: Breakfast. Specifically, the pancake. Have to find the perfect pancake. Fluffy, golden brown, syrup-soaking… a work of art. This is my white whale. Researching local breakfast spots. I'm thinking somewhere with a genuine, "we still make it from scratch" kind of vibe. Fingers crossed.
Late Morning (10 AM -ish): Assuming the pancake quest doesn't completely break me, we'll explore Stevens Point. Walk the downtown area. Maybe visit a brewery because, Wisconsin. If the pancakes were a disaster… well, beer is always a good comfort.
Lunch (Around Noon): A light lunch, nothing too heavy. Gotta conserve space for the epic dinner I'm already planning in my head. A simple deli sandwich, some soup maybe.
Afternoon (2 PM - 4 PM): Maybe a visit to the Riverfront Arts Center or some other local attraction. Might get rained out. If so, back to the glorious Super 8 for a nap, or more Netflix.
Evening (6 PM -ish): Dinner. I'm dreaming of the local burger joint. The one with the ridiculously long queue, and the promise of a burger so juicy it'll run down your arm. We’re going to go. Then, we're going to eat until it hurts. I'm embracing it!
Night (10PM-ish): Probably some sort of weirdly competitive board game with myself.
Day 3: Saturday - Cheese, Culture, and Existential Dread (Emphasis: Cheese and Self-Reflection)
- Morning (8 AM): Another shot at breakfast. Maybe attempt pancakes again. I AM committed, dang it! If that fails… well, there's a grocery store nearby, right? Gotta have back-up granola bars and Pop-Tarts.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon (11 AM-ish): CHEESE! Gotta find me some amazing Wisconsin cheese. Gotta sample. Gotta buy. Gotta smuggle it home (kidding… mostly). Cheese curds will be a priority. I may have a problem. But what’s a Wisconsin trip without a cheese curd-induced food coma?
- Afternoon (2 PM): Stroll around the hotel. Realize I've been neglecting the view. Take in the view, even if it’s just the Walmart parking lot. Find a quiet corner. Maybe journal. Actually, no. Probably scroll through Facebook.
- Evening (7 PM): Dinner. Maybe a pizza place. The kind with questionable lighting and an endless supply of toppings. I deserve it.
- Night (Before 11 PM): This will depend on the cheese-induced food coma.
Day 4: Sunday - Departure and the Pancake Post-Mortem (Emphasis: Acceptance)
- Morning (9 AM or whenever I finally drag myself out of bed): Check out of the Super 8. Sigh. Resist the urge to steal a pillow.
- Late Morning (10 AM): Another attempt at a pancake. One last try. Or maybe just give up, and grab a donut. Acceptance.
- Afternoon (12 PM): Head home. The drive back will be a blur of reflection, cheese-dust, and the lingering ghost of pancake failure, coupled with the knowledge that I survived it all.
- Evening (Home): Unpack, and immediately start planning the next trip. This time, with more cheese curds.
Key Imperfections and Ramblings:
- The Pancake Predicament: This is a real issue. The perfect pancake is my Everest. I'm not ashamed.
- The Food Coma: It's inevitable. Embrace the bloat. It's part of the authentic Wisconsin experience.
- The Unplanned: Expect spontaneous detours, forgotten items, and moments of sheer, glorious stupidity. Don't judge.
- Emotional Rollercoaster: Be prepared for moments of pure joy, profound existential dread, and everything in between. This is life, folks.
- The Super 8 Itself: Let's be honest, it's likely not a culinary palace. We're here for the experience, not the luxury. Free coffee is the goal.
- Might need emergency snacks to get me through the day.
This, my friends, is the plan. Or, at least, a suggestion of a plan. Reality, of course, will probably be a beautiful, chaotic mess. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Seattle's BEST Kept Secret: Bothell's Luxurious Residence Inn!
Alright, spill the beans. Is THIS Super 8 "Plover's BEST" actually GOOD?
Good? Okay, hold on. Let's define "good." Did it offer a warm bed? Yes. Clean sheets? Seemed so, unless THAT stain was a rogue coffee spill from the last guest (more on cleanliness issues later). Did it have functioning air conditioning on a 90-degree day? Blessedly, YES. So... technically, "good" in the sense of "functional" is a yes. But "good" in the sense of, "Would I write home about the sheer *luxury*?" Absolutely freaking NOT. It's Super 8. Temper your expectations – please. And honestly, “best” is a HUGE exaggeration. I’d say it’s the...the least offensive of the options. Maybe.
Okay, so the room...what was that REALLY like? Give me DETAILS!
Oh, the ROOM. Where do I even BEGIN? Imagine… a time capsule. A time capsule from, like, 1998. The decor? Think: beige EVERYTHING. Beige walls, beige carpet (which, let's be honest, probably holds secrets best left UNKNOWN), beige curtains, beige… well, you get the picture. There were some questionable "art" pieces hanging on the walls – think generic landscapes that looked like they were purchased at a flea market. The TV? An ancient, boxy behemoth. And the remote? Well, I swear it was older than I am. I'm pretty sure it didn't even have a "mute" button. And that bathroom... the water pressure...it was a suggestion, not a command. Oh! And I can't forget the glorious (sarcasm) tiny bar of soap. My hands were basically begging for mercy, it was so small.
Let's talk about breakfast... Was that included (and was it edible)?
Breakfast? Oh, YES, there was breakfast. The Super 8 breakfast is a rite of passage, isn't it? It's that place where you learn to appreciate the simple things, like, say, a bagel that *doesn't* require a chainsaw to consume. It was your standard continental fare. Think: pre-packaged muffins that tasted suspiciously like they'd been sitting there since, well, the last ice age. Cereal (the generic kind, naturally). Coffee that could probably strip paint. And… the waffle maker. The holy grail of Super 8 breakfasts. It was an exercise in pure, unadulterated anticipation…. until you had your first bite of the cardboard-adjacent product it produced. I’m still traumatized, to be honest. I went back for another one though. What is wrong with me?
The staff... were they at least friendly? (Because that can make or break a stay!)
Okay, alright, the staff? That's where things got… interesting. There was Wanda, a woman with a smile that could melt glaciers… or at least thaw that frozen waffle. She seemed to genuinely care, which, you know, is a HUGE plus. There was also a younger guy, seemed like he was training. He seemed really nice AND appeared slightly terrified of Wanda. I'm not judging, I get it. The service overall? Pretty good. They were efficient, helpful, and, importantly, they didn't make me feel like a complete nuisance for asking for extra towels (which I totally needed, because… well, let’s just say the water pressure situation in the shower was… inefficient).
Okay, let's get down to brass tacks: the cleanliness of the place?
Ugh, the cleanliness. Okay, this is where things get a little… dicey. I’m not going to lie. While the sheets *appeared* clean (see: beige), and the bathroom *seemed* scrubbed (mostly), there were a few things that made me raise a skeptical eyebrow or two. Let me put it this way: I found a stray… uh… "crumb" on the nightstand. And I'm not entirely convinced it was a cracker. Let's just say I've seen cleaner gas station bathrooms. Overall, it wasn't *horrific*, but it definitely wasn't sparkling. I'd bring my own bleach next time. Or maybe just stay somewhere else.
Did anything REALLY memorable happen during your stay? Give me a story!
Oh, YES. There was the Great Elevator Saga. Picture this: I'm lugging my suitcase down the hall. It's sweltering, I'm tired of the beige, all I want is a cold drink. And then... the elevator. It gets stuck. I was trapped for what felt like an eternity (probably 15 minutes, in reality) between floors with three other people. The conversation? Awkward. The air? Stifling. One woman started humming the Jeopardy theme song. I’m pretty sure I cracked a bead of sweat the size of a golf ball. When it finally opened, people spilled out like a clown car, and I just about kissed the floor. It was pure, unadulterated Super 8 drama, and I'll remember it for the rest of my days.
Okay, the Wi-Fi – was it at least reliable?
Reliable? HA! Let's just say the Wi-Fi was… a suggestion. It existed. Sometimes! When it *did* work, it crawled along at a pace that would make a snail blush. I ended up using my phone's hotspot for any actual work, which cost me a small fortune in data charges. So, no. Not reliable. Bring a book. Or embrace the digital detox. You know, that might be a good thing actually. Silver linings!
Would you recommend this Super 8 in Plover? Be honest!
Okay, the million-dollar question. Would I recommend this Super 8 in Plover? Look, here's the deal. If you’re on a super tight budget, you absolutely NEED a cheap bed, and you're not overly picky about… you know… *everything*, then yeah, I guess. But if you have ANY other options, I'd say explore them. Spend the extra $20 for a place with slightly less beige, slightly better water pressure, and Wi-Fi that doesn't make you want to throw your laptop out the window. However, It wasn't the WORST. And Wanda? She was a gem. So… Maybe. Possibly. Ask me again tomorrow. I might have blocked out some of the more… vivid memories by then.
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