There was an expose about hotels not changing sheets between occupants recently. That thought had not occurred to me - I just assumed it was standard practice to give each guest new sheets. Apparently not. (And this was after COVID came around).

I would have dismissed it as fake news. Even in normal times, I would have thought it inconceivable that hotels would re-use sheets between guests.

I used to stay in motels back when I was the kind of person you didn't want to have stayed in the room right before you.

I've stayed at a about a half-dozen semi-nice to really nice hotels since then (think golf resort, all on the bosses' nickel), but I don't think I could ever stay at a motel again. Maybe there's no difference. I don't know. But I know in a nice hotel, people like my old self didn't have the room right before me...lol.

Don’t try it at home

It is the people I don't live with (whose germs I'm not exposed to regularly) that I worry about.

(And the UV light won't necessarily tell you whether the sheet was changed from the prior guest.)

I stayed in a hotel a couple night last month. Seemed pretty standard. The staff was masked up and did a thorough cleaning.

Do any hotels still identify themselves as motels?

So at least one does!
I get you though. Seems like motel ends up often on some Route 66 or Lincoln Highway night stop that was a nice place for travelers post WW2.
We have several around here, because I live right by the old 66, and only about 10 miles from US 30
I think a lot of them are long term residences now (worker from out of town, living there for 4 months). They actually look very nice, and they fit what people think of when they hear motel.

Homeless I stayed at motel 6. They do clean rooms every day while you are there ,change sheets,no bedbugs. At least the one in Edgewood Maryland. The cleaning staff were good people,very kind. They were from India.

...I consented to go to a few customers to provide technical support.
But, after all those years of air travel, I would go if I could drive there in a day. (Meaning 8 or 9 hours tops)
A few of those trips, I stayed at M6.
I could guarantee a first floor room, they're "no questions asked" pet friendly, and were near the highway.
So, I'd put puppy in the car, drive there one day, stay a day and a half.
Other cool part was, they're so cheap that when I turned in the bill, it looked like a moderate 2 night stay, but I had it the 3rd day so doggie had somewhere to hang out until I came back, got him, and drove back.
I found them acceptable.
I knew going in it was no frills.
But, WiFi was free, and I'd use my laptop to stream my xfinity line up.
Pretty much like home! Me & doggie watching TV!

The hotels where I stayed had taken a lot of precautions, and it seemed like I was the only person staying on the floor both times. The other times I stayed with family and friends.

On the way back home from Yellowstone NP. I chose one that each individual unit had its own AC unit and brought my own pillow.

The only difference I noticed was that the continental breakfast was curtailed, but a bag’o’breakfast consisting of packaged pastries and an apple was available.

One incident was concerning. My wife were in the elevator, wearing our masks, and a guy caught the door just before it closed. Of course, he felt compelled to talk to us, and I was about 2 seconds from telling him to STFU when we reached our floor.

But I’m a worrier.

Motel with its own in-room AC? Maybe.

Are a problem. Check the bed seams and the wall behind the bed and keep your stuff off the floor or they might hitch a ride to your home.

(If you don't hear from me, and a few weeks go by, come collect the body....) I'm bequeathing my Barry Manilow records to whomever has to zip me into the bag.....

from an essential trip. Took our own pillows, sheets and blanket. Before bringing in luggage, I wiped down the entire room, bathroom and room essentials with sanitary wipes. Felt better after I did. Good luck!

Went into the room gloved and masked and sprayed the entire room down with disinfectant. Also brought our own pillows.

The room we were in had its own heating/air conditioning unit.

We opted for no housekeeping while we were there.

Motel 6, Red Roof Inn, Comfort Inn, et all.
They have the stand-alone units that heat, cool, and handle the air for just one room.
The big hotels (Marriott, Hyatt, Sheraton, etc.) usually have central heating & cooling.
I'd rather be in an RRI right now, than a Hyatt.
(I traveled a LOT when working. Spent over 600 weeks in hotels over the years)

That is what I do... don't have to worry about the sheets and bring your own pillow...

I’ve slept in more motel and hotel beds in the last 6 months than I have in my own.

If you’re worried about cleanliness, just stay at a higher end chain, ie: Holiday Inns, Marriotts, Hilton branded properties.

You’ll be fine.

For essential travel. Very clean, everyone in masks, etc.

The guests were idiots but the staff was good.

Des Moines,Iowa

I always felt more secure when they did that. Of course, the REAL hallmark of class is when they fold the end of the toilet paper into a little triangle.

It's been a little over a year since I last stayed in a motel (yes, it was a Motel 6, which ain't nowhere NEAR $6 anymore!). It was okay. At least nothing tried to crawl up my nose while I was sleeping.

bag breakfast instead of buffet. No room service nor change of linen. If you wanted fresh towels, you took your used ones to front desk for exchange. No maid service. I took big can of Lysol and sprayed room when we got in.

First, see what Yelp or other reviews and the hotel say about C19 precautions and compliance.

All things being equal I would think the bigger the brand name, the better the compliance but that is not a guarantee.

Rooms on first floor if you want to avoid elevators.

On arrival, be masked and we will:

Have cleaning wipes or spray for the key card and entry door handle.

Get in the room and open up any windows that open and turn AC and bathroom exhaust fan on high-- want max air flow

Toss the sheets, pillows, blankets and towels in a large garbage bag(s) and put it in the closet.

Spray down all hard surfaces you may touch and allow the cleaning agent to just sit-- don't forget the TV remote--leave the room for 30 to 60 minutes.

Come back and respray and wipe down everything and wipe off with paper towels you bring.

Have brought our own towels, pillows and sleeping bags

Bring in the least amount of suitcases and personal items as possible

Keep air fans, open windows and exhaust fan on as long as you can-- the more air movement the higher dilution of anything bad and airborne

A hassle but probably safe enough. Good luck!