Days Inn by Wyndham Black Bear

This is a no-frills roadside motel that still remembers how to be useful. The atrium hides an indoor pool with a small kids' fountain that brightens otherwise tired corridors; the hot tub is often covered and out of commission. Rooms are spacious in a faded, 1990s way — sometimes clean and quiet, sometimes smelling of chlorine or stale smoke — so inspect before you unpack. The front desk can make or break the stay; when staff like Stefanie are on duty the property feels hospitable and well-connected to local tips. Located beside a Fred Meyer and Denny's, it functions as Salem’s budget hub: a base for road-trippers, families chasing a cheap swim, and visiting contractors. Management leans on advertised free continental breakfast, but mornings have become grab-and-go affairs with granola bars and juice rather than a full buffet. For anyone who values convenience and a working pool over polish, this is a practical, low-cost option off the highway.