A Super 8 Promotion Is Offering Rooms for $8.88 on One Day Only

Photo: Super 8

The first Super 8 opened in 1974, so the brand is turning 50 years old in 2024. And in honor of the occasion, Super 8 is slashing prices back to 1974 rates. But you’ll need to be quick to book it.

The Super 8 promotion is available online starting on August 8 at 8 AM E.T., and probably will end no more than a few hours after it starts. That’s because only 888 “rooms” are available at the 1974 rate of $8.88 per room. Buyers don’t need to select dates or a hotel, though. Instead, $8.88 will actually get you 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points deposited in your Wyndham Rewards account. You’ll want to already have a free Wyndham Rewards account before you buy, since you’ll need a membership number to complete the purchase.

The Super 8 promotional release reads that the stays can be used in “nearly 2,700 locations worldwide,” but it may not cover a full night at every property. Super 8 motels in popular towns or during certain busy seasons may charge 30,000 or more points to cover one night of lodging. On the flip side, some less expensive hotels charge only 7,500 points, meaning you can get two nights for under $9.

Other limits to the Super 8 promotion include a maximum of one per person, and the points expire 18 months after purchase. So make sure you redeem them before February of 2026.

The history of America’s roadside motels

A vintage Googie motel in California. Photo: Kristof Bellens/Shutterstock

The motel is a quintessentially American lodging concept that emerged following the rise of automobile culture in the early 20th century, responding to the idea that the average American could drive far away from home. As roads improved and car ownership surged, the demand for convenient, easy, and affordable places to sleep near major highways emerged, especially in the American West. Before this, hotels were mostly in cities, as there weren’t a lot of people traveling by car between major destinations. The word “motel” was coined in the 1920s as a blend of “motor” and “hotel,” articulating the concept of a roadside lodging focused on drivers.

Most motels were (and still are) fairly basic, prioritizing low costs and convenience, since most customers are using them as rest stops rather than destinations unto themselves. But after WWII, motels started to become more common, and some motel owners tried to stand out with neon-lit signs and eye-catching architecture. Motels from the 1950s and 1960s that meet that specific design aesthetic are called “Googie-style.” Googie architecture is named after a now-demolished building called the “Googie’s Coffee Shop” in Hollywood, designed by famous architect John Lautner.

But by the 1970s, individually owned and custom-designed motels became less popular, replaced consistent well-known chains like Super 8. Today, most motels are owned by corporations rather than individuals, though some vintage motels are being revamped into trendy, more expensive stays.

The Super 8 brand is owned by Wyndham Hotel Group, which owns more hotel properties than any other hotel group — more than 8,000 worldwide.