“All hotel rooms look the same with the lights off” (also “all hotel rooms look the same in the dark” or “all hotel rooms look the same with your eyes closed”) means that if one needs a hotel room just to sleep, then the cheapest one is probably the best choice. “We stayed at the Motel 6, our normal wayside stomping ground—you can make fun of them but as Tom Bodet says, when your eyes are closed, all hotels look the same, and Motel 6 is clean, quiet and cheap consistently” was cited in print in 1990.
 
   
Wikipedia: Tom Bodett
Thomas Edward “Tom” Bodett (/boʊˈdɛt/ boh-det; born February 23, 1955) is an American author, voice actor, and radio host. Since 1986, he has been the spokesman for the hotel chain Motel 6, whose commercials end with the phrase, “I’m Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we’ll leave the light on for you.”
 
Google Groups: rec.mag.otherrealms
OtherRealms #28 (Fall, 1990) [2 of 18]
The Wandering Phew
9/25/90
(...)
We stayed at the Motel 6, our normal wayside stomping ground—you can make fun of them but as Tom Bodet says, when your eyes are closed, all hotels look the same, and Motel 6 is clean, quiet and cheap consistently.
 
Google Groups: alt.sex.prostitution
(ASP) Accomodations for “Sessions”
JoJo
11/12/97
(...)
As Tom Boyette says, all those hotel rooms look the same with your eyes closed!
 
However, Motel 6’s have the highest crime rate of any chain of hotels.  My experience with them is that they are often dirty, and the other motel guests scare me.  They are often loud and stay up late partying.
     
Google Groups: rec.autos.sport.indy
Indy Motels not booked!
Joe Berkemeier
5/20/98
(...)
joe
(who’s noticed that all hotel rooms look the same when you’re asleep)
     
Airline Forums
Rusty BulletHole
Posted 06 May 2004 - 10:43 AM
(...)
At the end of the day all hotels look the same when you have your eyes closed in bed getting your much needed rest, so what the hell does it matter where you are staying? Why should you waste time on a bus travelling into a city centre (at the company’s expense).....That extra 1 to 2 hours round trip, could be used for rest.
 
Google Books
Around the World at 75:
Alone Dammit!
By John Guy LaPlante
West Conshohocken, PA: Infinity
2005
Pg. 300:
And remember that all hotel rooms look the same after the light goes out.
 
Twitter
Steve Cokkinias
‏@SteveCokkinias
At night with the lights out, in the dark, all #hotel rooms look the same. The people & the #service is what makes the difference.
10:23 AM - 24 Apr 2012
 
Google Books
Stick it to the Man:
How to Skirt the Law, Scam Your Enemies , and Screw Big, Fat, Stupid, Lazy Corporations…For Fun and Profit!
By Ronald Lewis
New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing
2013
Pg. ?:
“All hotel rooms look the same in the dark,” says Tom Bodett, the Motel 6 spokesman.
 
Maybe so, but still, given a choice, I will take a Westin or a Radisson or a RitzCarlton over a Motel 6 any day.
   
Twitter
Libby
‏@libbydoodle
Meeting OH “All hotel rooms look the same when the light goes off.”
1:25 PM - 13 Jun 2014
   
The Herald-News (Joliet, IL)
Reeder: Care needs to be taken when spending someone else’s dime
By Scott Reeder — Illinois News Network
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 11:55 p.m. CST • Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 11:56 p.m. CST
SPRINGFIELD – I’ve never quite understood the mindset of people who live it up on someone else’s dime.
(...)
When I became an editor, employees used to roll their eyes when I’d book rooms at Red Roof Inns and Motel 6s.
 
What’s the old saying? All hotel rooms look the same with the lights off.