Travelodge by Wyndham Mt. Rushmore/Keystone

Felt Like a National Park Nightmare

I'm not one to usually write scathing reviews, but our stay at the Travelodge by Wyndham Mt. Rushmore/Keystone was an utter disaster. First of all, the 'scenic views' they advertised were basically just a parking lot and a highway. We asked for a room with a view of Mt. Rushmore, but what we got was a glimpse of the monument if we craned our necks out the window at just the right angle. The room itself was cramped, with a weird smell that I can only describe as a mix of old carpet and stale air. The bed creaked every time you moved, and the pillows were so flat I had to use an extra blanket just to get some support. But the real kicker was the 'warm hospitality' of the staff - our check-in took over 20 minutes because the front desk clerk seemed completely overwhelmed, and when we asked for extra towels, we were told they were 'currently out' and that we should just 'use the ones we had.' The continental breakfast was a sad affair, with stale pastries and lukewarm coffee. And don't even get me started on the 'robust account security measures' - I tried to log in to the Wi-Fi and was asked for my mother's maiden name, my first pet's name, and the name of my favorite childhood book. Um, what? Overall, our experience at the Travelodge was a letdown, and I'd definitely not recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway near Mt. Rushmore. Unless you enjoy feeling like you're stuck in some kind of bizarre, low-budget time capsule.