My family and I visited Omaha recently and had the best time, spending two days at the large Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, seeing the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian bridge which connects two states, and exploring downtown and unique stops throughout the city. 

When planning our long weekend in Omaha, I knew I wanted a hotel that was clean, comfortable, affordable, and close to the Henry Doorly Zoo, the main attraction we’d be visiting. Since we planned to spend most of our days out exploring, we didn’t need anything fancy — just a place to relax, recharge, and sleep well.

I researched quite a few places, particularly hotel chains I’m a rewards member of. I narrowed my search to Wyndham hotels as I’m a Wyndham rewards member and actually had enough points for some free nights. I discovered two Microtel hotels in the area with good reviews, and decided to choose one in Bellevue, Nebraska.

The Microtel Hotel in Bellevue, a suburb just about 10 minutes from the zoo, ended up being a great fit for our needs.

What Is a Microtel Hotel?

I did some research and found that Microtel hotels are designed with efficiency and value in mind, which is what helps keep prices lower than many traditional hotels. Rooms are typically smaller and more streamlined, but the space is used very intentionally — with built-in furniture, smart layouts, and fewer unused areas. Instead of paying for extra square footage you don’t really need, you’re paying for the things that matter most: a clean room, a comfortable bed, reliable Wi-Fi, and a good night’s sleep. (Kind of reminds me of everything you find at IKEA, actually.)

For travelers who plan to spend their days out exploring and only need a comfortable place to relax and recharge at night, like us, Microtel hotels are designed as a practical, budget-friendly option.

So, we decided to try it out!

Microtel Bellevue Review – First Impressions

We left late morning and arrived in Omaha around 5:00pm, checking into the Microtel shortly after. From the start, everything felt easy and straightforward — smooth check-in, a clean lobby, and a modern, simple design that felt welcoming without being overdone.

This was our first stay at a Microtel, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Micro-hotels are designed to be slightly smaller than traditional hotels, which helps keep costs down — and honestly, I found the concept refreshing.

The Room: Small but Smart

Our room was compact, but very thoughtfully laid out. Even with three of us (me and my two teens), it never felt cramped. Since we were really only using the room to relax in the evenings and sleep at night, it was the right amount of space for our needs. The mirrors behind the beds gave the room a bigger feel too.

The room included a fridge and microwave as well.

Each of us had our own favorite feature:

• My daughter loved the comfy window seat, which quickly became her cozy reading and scrolling spot.

• My son appreciated all the places to plug in devices — a huge win when traveling with teens. (Seriously, outlets matter.)

• And I loved the comfortable beds. After long days of walking the zoo, getting a good night’s sleep was everything.

• The bathroom was efficiently designed as well. We had issues with the toilet flushing at first but the staff were quick to help.

Regarding space, I do feel that if we had a fourth person with us, it may have felt crowded (my husband wasn’t able to join us for this trip). If you do have four in a room, my only tip would be to be sure to limit what you bring to the necessities.

Overall, the whole room felt clean, modern, and well-maintained, which is always my top priority when booking a hotel.

Amenities That Made a Difference

One of the biggest perks of staying at the Microtel was the free hot breakfast included with our stay. It made mornings easy and saved us both time and money before heading out for full days of sightseeing.

The breakfast was mostly the same each day but had enough variety that we didn’t eat the same meal twice. Though my pictures don’t show it all, there were scrambled eggs, sausages, biscuits and gravy, a waffle maker, oatmeal, yogurt, cereals, and fruit.

There was also a small and simple fitness room which I used a couple of times. 

There was no pool here, but we were ok with that because we wouldn’t have had time to use it anyway.

Overall, the hotel offered amenities we needed — no unnecessary extras, but nothing missing either. For a budget-friendly stay, it checked all the right boxes.

Location Matters

Another big advantage was the location in Bellevue. Being just a short drive from the Henry Doorly Zoo made our mornings stress-free, and it was still convenient for downtown Omaha, restaurants, and other attractions we visited in the evenings.

If you’re visiting Omaha and plan to spend a lot of time at the zoo, staying nearby makes a noticeable difference — especially after long days on your feet!

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Final Thoughts

Overall, our stay at the Microtel Hotel in Bellevue exceeded my expectations. It was clean, comfortable, affordable, and thoughtfully designed — everything we wanted for a quick family getaway. And the staff were friendly and helpful.

Prices are definitely lower than other hotels, averaging a third cheaper according to Consumer Reports.

If you’re looking for a frugal-friendly hotel option in the Omaha area, especially one close to the zoo, I’d absolutely recommend giving Microtel a look. Sometimes simple really is best — and this stay proved it.

Book a stay here!

Read more about our trip to Omaha here:

(Disclosure: I paid for our stay using my Wyndham rewards points, so this is not a sponsored post. However, this post does contain affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)