$189 per Night in Times Square Novotel Hotel

Novotel... Sounds like a hot chocolate drink or a telecom company. But actually it's one of these snazzy low priced New York hotels which truck in guests by the busload from Europe and Japan and the rest of Asia straight off from JFK, and then cart them around New York in those ditzy red double-decker tourist bus tours.

And the Novotel is perfectly located and structured to deliver the goods to these starry eyed tourists who fall in love eith the urban magnificence of the Big Apple. The Novotel is a Times Square hotel, located in the heart of Midtown New York, right in the theater district on the corner of 52nd Street and Broadway.

The hotel offers 480 guest rooms with rates from $189, a restaurant on the 7th floor and sweeping views of Times Square and the world famous tourist attractions in New York. The decor is modern, the comfort ergonomic and the rooms spacious enough to accomodate a full family of four - 2 adults and 2 children.

Guest rooms come equipped with satellite/cable TV and pay per view movies, wi-fi internet access, in-room safe, minibar, bathtub and hairdryer. And they won't skimp on the free stuff. Massive beds, nice linen, plenty of pillows, free calls and room service and lots of other stuff.

Amenities and services include outdoor paid parking (Welcome to New York...), gift shop, fitness center, ATM and shoe shine, concierge and tourist information desk, dry cleaning and laundry facilities, and multi-lingual staff available for ost all commonly spoken languages.

The Waldorf=Astoria or the Plaza it ain't, but the Novotel is a decent, cheap and convinient hotel. Go down below this and you'll land with a thump on the doorsteps of the New York motels. And I don't think we want to give the poor naive tousists fresh into NYC a taste of the Big Bad Apple, do we?

Info: 226 West 52nd Street New York NY 10019; (212) 315-0100; website

On a Budget inn Virginia?

That's the Budget Inn at 7155 Lee Highway at Falls Church in Virginia. And why would you want to know anything about this Budget Inn? Because it is located within the much maligned Capital Beltway, and it's as cheap as, and much more luxurious, than any of the motels in Washington DC.

It's a nice place - quiet setting, spacious grounds with a garden like setting, massive parking lot, the Metro nearby and Washington National and Dulles International Airports just 20 minutes away. A sighseeing tour bus which takes you around to all the Washington DC attractions has a pickup stop right in front of the Inn. The White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the Pentagon are just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Amenities and services include high speed internet access, cable TV with HBO,
complimentary coffee in the lounge, microwave and refrigerator. Accomodations include rooms with single beds, 2 twin size beds, 2 double beds, a King size bed and jacuzzi suites. The jacuzzi suites include a King size bed, recliner, sound machine, raised platform 2/3 seats, heart-shaped jacuzzi tubs, and romantic recessed lighting.

The heart shaped jacuzzi tubs, red in color, are an especially vivid touch. It looks like something straight out of a movie set, with wall-to-wall mirrors behind and a four-poster King bed in front.

3rd Night Free at Best Western Inn Palm Springs

With rates cheaper than the cheapest of motels in Palm Springs and facilities to rival that offered by the best of hotels, the Best Western Inn at Palm Springs straddles the fine line between budget and luxury accomodations.

Nestled in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains with a sweeping view from the hotel's sundeck, guests can relax and unwind and experience a true getaway without having to pay through the nose. The outdoor swimming pool and spa are open 24 hours.

The hotel's 70 guestrooms are equipped with suite-like luxury, with posturepedic beds, sofabeds for spreading out and relaxing, updated bathrooms, mini-refrigerators, microwave ovens, and high-speed wireless internet.

Guests start the day with a complimentary breakfast served on the poolside patio from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., with a wide variety of juices, hot beverages, pastries, breads, bagels, cereals, fresh fruit, and hot eggs.

Additional amenities and services include a business center, laundry facilities, self-parking, 24 hour front desk with a safe deposit box, and discounted access to a nearby fitness center.

Standard rates from $99. Even better, you get 3rd night free if you book-in for 2 or more days. Now you can spend an extended 3-day weekend enjoying the famed golfing, shopping and other attractions in Palm Springs for around $200. And that includes the complimentary breakfast, parking and internet usage.

Info: 1633 South Palm Canyon Palm Springs CA; 92264; (800) 222-4678; www.bwpalmsprings.com/

Hybrid Hotel 500 West of San Diego

What's a hybrid hotel, and what's it doing 500 West of San Diego? Well, that's the 500 West Hotel in San Diego, which is apparently one of those quasi European style hostel hotels in San Diego. Ok, so what that mean?

Their website says that "In true European tradition, there are as many as sixteen private shared bathrooms and unisex lavatories on every guest floor. Professional housekeepers maintain all bathroom facilities on a 24-hour schedule. Every private bath is well equipped for your comfort, safety and convenience. Bathroom’s feature a roomy tiled shower, moisturizing shampoo and body wash and enclosed toilet with locking door."

So... Is it private or is it shared (as in public)? Confusion is what it is. They have 259 double rooms, single twin rooms, double twin rooms, dorm rooms and hostel lodging. Hostel lodging that's different from dorm rooms and private rooms? More confusion...

Anyway, rates from $49 onwards. For this rate (plus taxes) you get a room that includes 1 twin bed, wardrobe and writing desk. Hair dryers, ironing boards and wake up calls are available upon request. Individual shared bathrooms on all floors.

Amenities and services offered include an onsite restaurant, high-Speed wireless internet access, YMCA fitness center ($5.00 per day), 24-hour front desk, guest laundry facilities, and a gourmet eat-in kitchen. What the heck is a gourmet eat-in kitchen?

Not a bad deal, actually, and if you're a youngish backpacker type come to enjoy the San Diego beaches by day and the forbidden hedonistic pleasures of the Gaslamp Quarter after sundown, then not much point in splurging heavily on a luxury hotel. You're not going to be spending much time in there and a crash pad is just that - a crash pad. You need a cheap, decent and safe place to sleep and freshen up. And that's 500 West of San Diego - hybrid hostel+hotel.

Info: 500 West Broadway, San Diego CA 92101; Reservations: (866) 315-4251; Hotel Inquiries: (619) 234-5252; www.500westhotelsd.com/

Wanna meet a Downtowner inn Hollywood?

Head straight for 5601 Hollywood Blvd. Where you'll find the the Hollywood Downtowner Inn. Looks like a rundown convinience store from the outside, motel sign and all. But from the inside, it's a pretty neat place.

Run by an Indian couple (that's Asian-Indian), the motel has a neat swimming pool in the courtyard. The motel offers 30 rooms overlooking the courtyard and pool. You can get a deluxe King room for $89 and a deluxe double for $95.00.

You get parking, wi-fi, continental breakfast, HBO/Cable TV, microwave, refrigerator, iron w/board, hair dryer and in-room coffee. Summer of 2009, they're also planning to add some family suites.

It's not like you can smell the paint, and it's not the Westin Bonaventure either, but for less than $100, with free parking, a pool and breakfast in Hollywood - It's a difficult deal to match, even for the chain motels in Los Angeles. Place is well maintained and pretty clean. And within a short transit from the major Hollywood attractions (3 stops to Universal Studios). Don't expect to walk it, though.

Info: 5601 Hollywood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028; (888) 323-5601; www.hollywooddowntowner.com/

Weekend Adventurer at the James Chicago

If you believe that Chicago vacations are adventures, then you've landed up at the right place. Because what we have here is one of finest hotels in President Obama's home base offering a weekend adventurer package.

This package from the James Hotel includes 2 Chicago City Pass tickets to 5 major Chicago attractions including The John Hancock Observatory, The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry. Plus you get a map to navigate your expedition and in-room breakfast for two. Rates from $279. Valid only until March 31 2009. More details and online booking here.

The James sits on Ontario Avenue, just off the Magnificent Mile, and minutes away from the shopping, dining and nightlife destinations, as well as major attractions like Navy Pier and The John Hancock Center.

Treatments at The Spa by Asha offer a soothing and calm counterbalance to the magnificent culinary delights of David Burke’s Primehouse and the psychedelic rotating visual installations created by local artists. The James Chicago is as good, if not better, than any and all of the luxury Chicago hotels that dot the downtown landscape.

Info: 55 East Ontario Chicago IL 60611; (312) 337-1000; www.jameshotels.com/