I sure have stayed in some dives in the past. It used to be that the JIB (Joint Industry Board) for the electrical industry in the UK set the maximum allowance for accommodation per night, and they fell sadly behind reality.
I used to ask to see the room then openly sniff the pillow and bedding to see if it smelled bad or not. If it did I'd make a polite goodbye and find somewhere more hygienic.
One thing I like about the classic American Motel is the sheer standardisation. You know that you're going to get a room that usually has two single beds, an en-suite shower, toilet, sink cubicle thing, a random wardrobe, a long bench with a TV on it and a wee table at the window where you can sit to do paperwork or have a drink.
Here in Scotland it used to be B&B. Bed and breakfast in what were basically spare rooms in peoples houses. It was extremely variable in the sense that you might get put in an attic room you couldn't stand up in, or you might have shared a family room with up to six of your co-workers, with each being charged the full rate! The cooked breakfast was always something to look forward to though. (Except the place that fried the meals the night before and then re-heated them in a microwave... Including the fried egg.)