Santa Monica Motel brings Pacific Sands to your doorstep

It's true. You won't find any other Los Angeles motels so close to the Santa Monica Pier. The Pacific Sands Motel is located right across the street from the Santa Monica Beach and Pier.

The motel offers an outdoor pool and complimentary wireless. I'm sure there must be plenty of cheaper digs in Venice Beach, but as far as the City of Santa Monica is concerned, I don't think you'll find anything less than $100, so close to the beach and pier.

Not only are you getting a room right on one of the most beautiful Los Angeles beaches, but you also get the Pier, Pacific Park, Muscle Beach, the Carousel, the Ferris Wheel and all the other famed Santa Monica attractions at your doorstep. It's one of the premier tourist hot-spots on the West Coast.

Amenities offered by the motel, in addition to those listed above, include cable TV, hair dryer, iron & board (on request), work desks, housekeeping and 24-hour front desk. The guest rooms are furnished retro-style, with direct exterior access and private bathrooms. The heated outdoor pool is a nice touch - walled to offer you some privacy from the exterior, with a nice hedge and palms swaying in the background.

It's not exactly the Ritz, and the double beds are kinda squeezed into the rooms, or maybe it's because the beds are huge. Plus, they charge you $7 for over-night parking. But still, considering the rates and the location, it's probably a fair enough deal. Especially if you're with family. Children below 14 stay free, and they even have some rooms, with extra beds, especially built for large family groups. Rollaway beds and cribs available upon request.

Info: 1515 Ocean Ave Santa Monica CA 90401; (310) 395-6133; www.pacificsandshotel.com/

Sea Breeze Blows Thru New Atlantic City Motel

Actually, the New Sea Breeze is a motel in Pleasantville, NJ, which is a couple of miles from the AJ casinos and another mile more to the beaches, Boardwalk and other well-known attractions in Atlantic City.

But 2 miles shouldn't be too much of a bother to somebody who wants to hit the casinos. I mean, other than this, your options are to either pay through the nose to stay at a luxury hotel/casino complex, or stay at one of the miserable dumps which call themselves Atlantic City motels.

Better to spread your wings a bit and enjoy the comforts of a nice small-town NJ motel, set in a picturesque location in Pleasantville, where the Expressway and Black Horse Pike form a gateway linking Atlantic City to mainland New Jersey. It also means that this is the last place (or the first, depending on whether you're coming or going) where you'll see the famed New Jersey beaches along the NJ shores, before you enter the urban mess of Atlantic City.

To make it even more worthwhile, the Sea Breeze actually does blow through the New Sea Breeze Motel. They offer air-conditioned rooms with direct access from the exterior, and balconies overlooking the ocean.

Complimentary parking, a 24-hour front desk, laundry facilities, housekeeping, iron & board, hairdryers, refrigerators, microwaves, and a television make up the offering even more attractive. Rollaway beds and cribs available upon request.

While the motel does not have it's own dining facilities, there's plenty of restaurants nearby, including all kinds of fast-food joints.

Info: 7080 Black Horse Pike West Atlantic City NJ 08232; (609) 484-0025; website

Apache found in Chicago Motel

It's no wigwam, but it's as good a place as any for an Apache Chief to feel at home. We're talking about the Apache Motel on 5535 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago. In their own words, the Apache Motel offers all the comforts of franchise Chicago motels and hotels, but not the price. Rates at the Apache start from $59.

For which rate you get a King room with a mini-refrigerator, tables and chairs, a ncie desk with a round mirror (which makes it look kind of like a movie set), a dinky TV, nice big windows and a big bed with headboard and all, easy colors and bright lighting. They also have suites and doubles, in case you need bigger digs.

You'll need a drive to get to the downtown Chicago attractions about 9-10 miles away, and about the same to O'Hare airport, but it's well worth it, considering the price. If it's any consolation, Wrigley Field is only 4 miles off, and there's no shortage of restaurants in the vicinity.

Info: 5535 N Lincoln Ave Chicago IL 60625; (773) 728-9400; www.apachemotelchicago.com/

Motel fit for a Highlander in Arlington VA

Do you know why it's so difficult to find Washington DC motels? Because there's so many of them minutes away in Arlington, VA. Given the choice, even people who work in DC opt for an Arlington residence. So when you're in DC, do as DCites do - Stay in Arlington.

And a good choice, if you're on a mean budget, is the Highlander Motel on 3336 Wilson Blvd. The equation is pretty simple - 5 minute walk from Virginia Square Station, free parking, free HBO and free continental breakfast.

Factor in the cheap rates (standard rates from $70), the upwardly mobile neighourhood with condos and apartment blocks coming up around the motel, easy accessibility to public transport and proximity to the Washington DC attractions.

You could say that you're getting the best of both worlds - accomodations in the orbit of the ultra commercialized and hyper-inflated DC proper lodging market, but with the convinience, homey touch and cheapness of Arlington.

There's a busy road out front, but some of the rooms are quiet enough to get a good night's sleep The rooms are quite spacious, relative to the rates and by DC standards, and brightly lit, with floor-to-celing windows and drapes.

And you have a splendid array of dining options, including Mario's Pizza and the aptly named Murky Coffee where you can hang out for free wi-fi internet and murky cups of coffee. What? The Motel itself does not have internet access, and besides, if you're looking for Zagat rated restaurants, DC ain't that far away...

Info: 3336 Wilson Blvd Arlington VA 22201; (703) 524-4300; www.highlandermotel.com/

Visit-ing NYC? Motor inn-to the Plaza

If you motor into the famed Plaza Hotel in New York City, they'll take your motor away, then take away everything else you have and own including your shirt, and then hand you with a bill for the rest. Granted they treat you like royalty, but if you can't afford it, then you might want to consider The Plaza Motor Inn in Secaucus, New Jersey.

It's just a 10 minute drive down to all the wonderful New York attractions, and it'll save you in excess of $200 per night, because rates at The Plaza Motor Inn start from $79. Plus you get free parking - which you won't find at any New York motels.

The Plaza Motor Inn is located directly in the heart of the Secaucus Outlet Center, 20 minutes from Newark International Airport. The Meadowlands Sports Complex - home of the New Jersey Devils, New Jersey Nets, and the New York Giants and Jets football teams, is just 5 minutes away, and there's plenty of facilities nearby, including shopping and restaurants. Best part is that you can park your car for free, and take public transport into Manhattan.

The air-conditioned guest rooms and jacuzzi suites are capable of accomodating between 2-4 guests, and offer wall to wall carpeting, wi-fi internet and cable TV.

Info: 155 Route 3 East Secaucus New Jersey 070941; (888) 421-8382; www.plazamotel.cc/

Study of Cambridge inn Palm Springs

People generally take Palm Springs vacations in order to get away from it all, and enjoy the mix of urban and natural pleasures of the desert. And a study of comfort and a perfect sense of getaway within Palm Springs can be found at the Cambridge Inn.

The Cambridge Inn is located 2 miles from the Palm Springs Convention Center, and 3 miles from the airport, and within walking distance of the downtown Palm Springs attractions. It's a small place, with 66 air-conditioned guest rooms with private patios overlooking the pool and spa. In their own words - 'It's a Home Away from Home.'

Amenities offered include complimentary continental breakfast, coffee/tea maker, refrigerator,
hair dryer, cable TV, private bathrooms with showers and bathtubs, work desks, free wi-fi. You also get free parking, safe deposit boxes, guest laundry services, an outdoor heated pool, outdoor spa tub and whirlpool, and business services.

The guest rooms have direct exterior-access, and are spacious enough for 1 King or 2 double beds, with room left over to throw in a couple more beds in between. The floor-to-ceiling windows with both heavy and light drapes for your preference make it seem like a big luxury hotel room. Actually, the Cambridge Inn is one of the best Palm Springs motels you'll ever see, and offers standard rates from $70.

Info: 1277 South Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA; (877) 325-5574; www.cambridgeinnpalmsprings.com/

Check-in to the Marina inn San Diego

What is the best way to enjoy the golden San Diego beaches and other attractions if you're on a budget? You check-in to the Marina Inn Hotel & Suites, 2 blocks from the Cruise Ship Terminal, with the Gaslamp Quarter less than a mile off, and both Sea World and the San Diego Zoo less than 3 miles away. Rates from $59 to $154, depending on your preference of accomodations and date of stay.

If you're looking for San Diego motels, you don't really need to know more than that, but allow me to hammer in a few more nails anyway. The good people at the Marina Inn offer their guests free self-parking, a complimentary breakfast with waffles and coffee, free newspapers, complimentary wireless internet, cable TV with HBO, hairdryers, iron & board, microwaves and refrigerators (last 4 on request).

They have a 24 hr front desk, and you can ask for rollaway beds and cribs, if you need them. The 27 air conditioned guest rooms at the Marina Inn offer views of the Marina with plush pillow-top beds and cherry wood, modern décor. Safes are provided in-room, and so is a coffee maker and free coffee.

After a hard day of checking out all the San Diego attractions, you can relax by walking over to the harbor and enjoying a beautiful sunset over the bay. Best part of it is that the Marina Inn is family and kid-friendly. They even a special kids' suite. Pets are allowed (fee per pet), and they also offer special packages which include discounted attraction tickets. More details here.

There's plenty of good restaurants and 24 hour dining facilities available in the vicinity, including a Denny's and a Steakhouse.

Info: 1943 Pacific Highway San Diego CA 92101; (619) 232-7551; www.marinainnsd.com/