Heading for Havana on a spontaneous visit to see Dickson Mounds, I turned to my trusty Expedia phone ap. Found a 4 star hotel called the Antler Creek Lodge, with a glowing description and blurry photo of lodging behind trees. Given the reviews and the price, I was excited to spend the night there. In actuality, this is a no "lodge", but a house that was so run down on the outside that we drove by 3 times, and checked with the owner as to the address (no address outside house). Our "free parking" was a barely visible gravel pad. We climbed up railroad tie steps to the front door. So glad we came while it was still light, or we might easily have stumbled carrying luggage on the loose gravel and with no railings. Noticed hanging wiring exposed outside the house. Seriously debated whether to eat the night's bill and drive elsewhere, but there aren't many option in Havana after dinner hour.
Inside was better, although musty smelling, with newer paint and pottery barn furnishings, but the light switches didn't work, there were shelves and drawers missing, and the mattress was old and squeaky. The refrigerator was filled with someone else's leftovers.
The owner is an absentee landlord in California, who did make sure a cleaning service came before we arrived.
I have had good luck with Expedia in the past, but now will be more careful to look for more than 4 reviews. My guess is that they were posted by friends, because our experiences were so extremely different.
