As so often, the unnecessarily thin-skinned have taken my observations as anti-Americanism, which they aren't.
I started with the assumption this was a real 'road' trip on small roads, never knowing where you are going to end up, rather than a procession from one business hotel to the next -- where indeed there is far less need to inspect the room, though I'd still prefer one on the quiet side of the hotel, with shutters rather than curtains. Inspecting the room is a rational precaution in any hotel in any country, not just the United States, and if you are really out in the boonies, again in any country, it is foolish not to inspect it.
'American Owned and Run', as applied to motels, is a classic example of patriotism as the last refuge of a scoundrel. If that's the only claim they think it's worth making, they are all too often (as I said) xenophobic rednecks. After all, what difference does it make? Would you say that (for example) 'Albanian Owned and Run' was more or less of a recommendation? It's the very pointlessness of the claim that is the problem.
As for the food, well, as I say, I have driven across the country some 8 times (how many of my critics have done this?) and I have all too frequently come across towns where Pizza Hut is the best on offer, or where they look shocked if you ask if they serve wine with their meals, or (especially in the South) where they fry everything in salty batter. Nor are my observations on opening hours malevolent: just sheer observation. Just as I would say, if you are doing the same in Spain, that you'll be lucky to find a restaurant that opens before 21:00 or even 21:30, and that Spanish tapas are in my experience grossly overrated and rather limited: the best tapas I've has have been in London and Arles.
Yes, there are restaurants in France where the food is indifferent, and quite a few where it is overpriced, but generally you can get a fair-to-good meal at a reasonable price. England is another matter: often, there will be nowhere to eat at all, and what is on offer will normally be grossly overpriced. I carry a few basic picnic supplies on ALL road trips in ALL countries (including France), except when I am on a motorcycle and have no room.
In other words, my responses were based on experience, and referred to America because that's what the question was about. From the information above, a Spaniard might equally accuse me of being anti-Spanish and the fellow whose name I can never remember -- the one with the silly mask -- would undoubtedly accuse me of meing anti-English. Tough.
Read what I actually wrote, and you will see (for example) that I do not say that all accommodation in the US is filthy and unfit for human habitation -- just that some of it is not the sort of place you would want to stay. This is equally true of any other country in the world.
As someone else observed, why would I have driven across the country 8 times if I had that low an opinion of it? It can be fascinating -- if you take a few sensible precautions such as inspecting the room. If you don't want to take those precautions, or if you want to stay at the big, faceless business chains, the very best of luck to you, but don't attack someone who is trying to give useful advice, based on experience.
Cheers,
R.
