Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham Knoxville

Signs say La Quinta and Hawthorn Extended Stay, both names exist separately on Tripadvisor. I saw the La Quinta sign on the highway and headed in that direction. Had I known how things would have gone, I would have checked in at the Red Roof Inn next door. I admit to being over tired and ready to crash so the mention of $179 plus charges didn't really phase me much. I have stayed in a number of La Quintas and found them safe, comfortable and worth the extra money. Check-in was relatively easy, and the people friendly. My first impression of the room was wonderful, clean and finding a full size fridge and freezer was a pleasant surprise. The bathtub looked like the perfect place to wash off the road and relax, except the grit in the bottom for slip protection I assume, was quite uncomfortable. The shower had two settings that worked. No cups next to the sink and no trash bin, it was found in the kitchen alongside a larger one. Towels and washcloths were plentiful. Note stuck to the toilet made me wonder a bit, especially after finding the rubber band still attached. Large microwave in the kitchenette had an odor, didn't use. The fridge and freezer were clean and cold. The cooking surface which I believe was an induction top, it would have been nice to use but apparently you must bring your own pans/dishes/silverware/dish soap/paper towels. The long counter with two chairs was nice to work on. There was no information packet, that I could find, that shared what amenities were available, layout of the hotel, what restaurants were close by, etc. There was a list of channels for the tv but that wasn't up to date. The remote had a button for closed captioning that didn't work. The white sheets, pillows and cover on the bed made it look so inviting and clean. It was very lumpy, not at all what I have come to expect in previous La Quinta stays. There was also something like a ridge in the middle of the king size bed that made sure I had to stay on one side or the other. I considered removing the mattress pad thinking it was what was causing the lumpiness, but the mattress underneath didn't look great either. No relaxing bath and no restful sleep. Definitely not worth the extra money. I had hopes for a great breakfast. There were lots of options; scrambled eggs, sausage patties, biscuits, gravy, toast, bagels, fruit, etc. Both options of the coffee, while hot, were not appealing. I stopped at Pilot for a large cup for the drive home. I wish I had stopped at the La Quinta in Lexington, half the price and so much better in every way.