Holiday Inn Express

Is this place even open? It seems like a place you rent on the hour. Only see sketch characters entering and leaving at odd times of the night.

Terrible. I didn’t end up staying the night, but this is how everything went down —
Arrived in the evening, asked for a single room. Price quoted was $ 55, but it rang up as $ 65. They claimed it was tax. Tax is $ 10? «$ 5 of that is a room key deposit, you’ll get it back when you return the key.» Sounded reasonable. Took out the card to pay — «Oh, you only get the deposit back if you pay in cash. Doesn’t work with a card.» Annoying, but okay.
Got the key, went to the room. Opened up the door only to be hit with the strongest cigarette odor I’ve ever smelled — my mother (who was with me) is a former chain smoker, and even she was coughing. Went back to the front desk to ask about a nonsmoking room (in hindsight, we probably should have asked for this in the first place, but it’s never been a problem at any other motel; we’ve always at least been asked about our preference). Their reply: «Oh, we don’t have nonsmoking rooms.» After a few minutes of questioning, this changed to «we have a few, but it’s so rare that anyone wants them.» We say that we do, and we want to switch: «If you wanted a nonsmoking room you should have booked online.» ???
We ask if we can go out to the car and book a nonsmoking room online from our phones. «Sure.» Okay, and it’ll be for the price we already paid? «No, you’d have to pay again because it’s a different room.» Um… okay, can we get a refund so that we can pay for the new room? «The sign says No Refunds, so no, you can’t.» We’re not paying for two rooms to stay in one. «I don’t know what to tell you.» Can we speak to a manager? «No, he’s not on duty and he’s not going to pick up if I call.» Can you try? «Nope.»
We finally had to claim I had asthma to try to get the money back, to which he replied that it didn’t matter and he wouldn’t do anything (he offered air freshener, and didn’t understand why that wouldn’t help). He was INCREDIBLY rude. After a lot of arguing, he finally called the owner, who told him to give us our money back — which he did, but very grudgingly.
We took our business elsewhere (EconoLodge down the road in Belton — much better for the price).
DO NOT go to Royale Inn! Not worth it!