Gold-diggers seeking ElDorado Motor inn to Atlantic City

Really. The casinos of Vegas and AC are the modern equivalent of goldmines. It's where all the money, and the boom towns and the glamor and hot chicks are, and piss-poor gold-diggers come in from all over the map, and blow their life-savings, desperate to strike gold.

And of course, there's the Japanese tourist groups, who come in by the bus load from New York for weekend trips, wanting to soak in the whole 'experience' of Atlantic City vacations.

And the ElDorado Motor Inn is right there, waiting to house these sad-sacks, right next to the goldmines. The ElDorado sits adjacent to the Tropicana Casino, just a block away from the beach and the Atlantic City Boardwalk, and a short stroll down to the pier. Truth is, the motel isn't half-bad. It's pretty decent, actually, if you compare it to some of the other Atlantic City motels that peek out in between the big casinos.

The air-conditioned guestrooms with balconies and direct exterior access are equipped with refrigerators, cable TV and HBO, complimentary internet and free local calls, and private bathrooms with complimentary toileteries and a shower/tub combo. Iron & board and rollaway beds are available on request.

The ElDorado offers free parking, a 24-hour front desk and a microwave in the lobby. Standard rates from $51.99 onwards, for which you get all of the above plus 1 King bed in a room with a view of the casino and a partial view of the Atlantic ocean.

It's not that bad a deal, and if you get wiped out in the casinos, and want to go back to your little Jersey towns with the nice picture-postcard New Jersey beaches, then at least you won't regret blowing a big wad on an expensive hotel room.

Info: 2741 Pacific Ave Atlantic City NJ 08401; (609) 345-5956

Chill out on the Rooftop of the Essex inn Chicago

Unlike Los Angeles and New York, where every other hotel has a nifty rooftop pool, Chicago didn't really have many fab rooftop hang-outs. Well, maybe a few...Like the Essex Inn, which has a rooftop garden, swimming pool and a fitness center.

The massive pool looks more like an atrium or an Olympic competition tank, with the enclosure and the deck chairs and flags and all. The 1350 square foot fitness center, fully equipped with cardio machines, weight-training equipment, CrossTrainers, Lifecycles, treadmills and free-weights, is even more swanky with 6 TV sets. Like I said, the rooftop of the Essex Inn is a nice place to hangout in Chicago. View isn't bad either.

To make it even more of an attraction, the onsite restaurant - Savoy Bar & Grill - is a great place to just sit back and watch the activity in Grant Park across the street. Dining options include Greek, Mexican, and Italian specialties, as well as ribs, roast sirloin, and fried shrimp.

And considering all these facilities, the upscale guest rooms and suites and the perfect location on Michigan Avenue with a bunch of major tourist attractions in Chicago bunched around it, the rates, starting from $199, are pretty darn reasonable.

Of course, you could shave more than 100 dollars off that tab if you looked for some cheap Chicago motels to stay in, and then popped in to the Essex Inn to enjoy the other amenities.

But if this is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, then the best way to enjoy your Chicago vacations would be to book in at the Essex Inn and let the luxury wash over you.

Info: 800 South Michigan Avenue Chicago IL 60605; (312) 939-2800; www.essexinn.com/

Deluxe Extended Stay Lodging in Washington DC

Sometimes, things in the Betway don't get done so quickly, and in such cases, you might find yourself stuck on extended Washington DC vacations. But you can't just waltz into the few remaining Washington DC motels - you're going to need to maintain a certain standard. This is where the deluxe all-suite digs of Extended America come in real handy.

Take, for instance, the Extended Stay Deluxe Washington, D.C. - Fairfax. There's two of them in Fairfax, actually - we're talking about the one on 3997 Fair Ridge Drive. Offers studios with rates from $64.99 onwards. You get fully-equipped kitchens and plenty of work and leisure space, with separate sleeping, living and working areas.

The kitchen comes equipped with a full size refrigerator/freezer, microwave, stovetop, coffee/tea maker, dishwasher, and dining and cooking utensils. And if that's not enough, you get housekeeping and they also serve compliementary coffee and a continental breakfast.

The 93 suites also offer wireless internet (one time fee of $4.99 per stay), cable TV, iron & board, hair dryer, sofa bed, on-site guest laundry, 24-hour front desk, air-conditioned public areas, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness facility.

And the location offers easy access to public transport, with all the major tourist attractions in Washington DC in between 15-20 miles off. Dulles International Airport is about 20 minutes away.

Info: 3997 Fair Ridge Dr Fairfax VA 22033; (703) 359-5000; website

American Idols found in Bevonshire Lodge Motel in LA

Well, actually, it's wannabe American Idols that are to found in the Bevonshire Lodge Motel on Beverly Blvd., because it's cheap. Course, there's no shortage of cheap Los Angeles motels, but this one is close to CBS Television City where the show is taped.

It's not exactly a hip location to hang out at, but if you're visiting CBS Studios, then you could do a lot worse. Believe me. There's n number of places in the Fairfax District, and especially around the Groove and CBS Studios which are filled with transients and wannabe Hollywood stars who actually do all kinds of weird stuff.

But the Bevonshire Lodge isn't like that, and besides, it has a neat pool in the courtyard, surrounded by the rooms and stairwells. If you're a bit athletic, you could easily jump off the first floor balcony straight into the pool.

The air conditioned guest rooms start at $60 per night for a standard room with a King bed, and $65 for a double, and $85 for a family room which sleeps 5 people. In addition to the heated outdoor pool, you also get free external parking, safe deposit boxes, cable TV and complimentary coffee in the lobby.

If you're a tourist looking to enjoy your Los Angeles vacations, they'll help you out with your tour arrangements and offer car rental discounts. Which you're going to need, because when you're in Los Angeles, you're going to need either a tour bus or a car - trust me.

It's 10 miles to the wonderful Los Angeles beaches and the Santa Monica Pier, and if you don't have some form of hop-in hop-out transport to see all the tourist attractions in Los Angeles, you're going to need a new pair of legs in a couple of days.

Info: 7575 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles CA 90036; (323) 936-6154; www.bevonshire.com/

Take the Metro to the Motel in New York

Actually it's called the Subway in New York, but that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about the Metro Motel in Queens, New York. It's an ideal and effective cost-saver if you're a visitor enjoying New York vacations - the motel is just 10-15 minutes off Manhattan, and the advantages of relatively cheap facilities in Queens.

The Metro Motel offers 120 rooms ideal for both families and business travelers. You don't have a view of the famed New York attractions like the Empire State Building like you do with other New York motels that are actually located in Manhattan. But you do get close proximity to New York landmarks like the Queens Shopping Center, Flushing Meadows (where the U.S. Open Tennis tournament is played) and Shea Stadium.

You also get to enjoy the delightful ethnic and cultural smells and sounds and sights of Queens, which is a melting pot for the latest wave of immigrants. You'll find Bollywood songs being played on street-front stores and the exotic smell of spices mixing with the sights of jewlry stores and saree mannequins in display windows. Chinatown is nearby and cheap Asian food is available a-plenty. It's all part of the New York experience.

You get free parking (10 minutes from Manhattan and La Guardia - that's got to be worth a fortune...) and a choice of a standard room or a Jacuzzi suite. Large beds, lots of glass, which makes the place look bigger than it actually is. The color schemes are a bit heavy, but overall, it's a decent enough place. You have free parking, proximity to the airport and Manhattan and easy accesibility to public transport, a nice bed and private shower. You could do a lot worse for $88 per night in the Big Apple.

Info: 7300 Queens Blvd and 73rd St Flushing NY 11377; (718) 457-5000; www.metromotel.com/

Villa Rosa spawns intimacy inn Palm Springs

The Villa Rosa Inn, located just off East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, CA, has intimacy stamped all over it. For starters, unlike any Palm Springs motels or hotels in the same price range ($79-$149), this secluded property offers just 6 guest rooms and suites.

The limited rooms, the idyllic setting, the sweeping views of the mountains towering above tall swaying palms and the heavy shrubbery which ring the grounds, the heated outdoor pool with deck chairs and poolside dining, the brilliant weather - it all adds up to very, very intimate getaway Palm Springs vacations.

To top it off, they offer you a complimentary breakfast poolside. You can spend the day relaxing, taking dips, enjoying a good book and watching the birds hum and twitter in the shrubs. You can set out on excursions to check out the Palm Springs attractions, play some golf, and do some shopping. Evenings are made even more romantic by the fine restaurants of the Coachella Valley.

All the guest rooms and suites have poolside views, and are equipped with King or queen sized beds, remote control color TV, refrigerators, phones, quality linens, bath & pool towels, and morning paper. Fully appointed kitchens are also available.

You have a choice between a guest room with King bed, another one with the King bed and a private patio, a studio with a King bed and full kitchen, a Junior Suite with a Queen bed and full kitchen, and two 1-Bedroom Suites with King bed, full kitchen and a private patio. The rates vary based on season and preference of guest room/suite.

A 2-night minimum stay (3-nights for holidays) is required.

Info: 1577 South Indian Trail Palm Springs CA 92264; (760) 327-5915; Reservations: (800) 457-7605; www.villarosainn.com/

Mission possible at Bay Motel

The Mission Bay Motel in the heart of Pacific Beach makes it possible to enjoy San Diego vacations without spending a lot. The motel is located just steps from the Pacific Ocean, with one of the most popular San Diego beaches and the boardwalk stretching for 2 miles right in front of the motel.

You can just pretend to be a beach bum, and spend all your time lazing on the beach, or you cna take a walk or bike ride along the board walk. Evenings you can spend in the nearby bars or go to the Gaslamp Quarter, take in a ball game, get drunk and raise cain.

Also near the motel is the Mission Bay Park, in case you're the outdoorsy type who enjoys wtaer sports. Of course, you also have Sea World and Belmont Park in Mission Bay.

The Mission Bay Motel offers 50 guest rooms, with a choice of single, double and triple beds, or a pseudo-suite with double beds and a kitchenette. The kitchenette has a 2 burner electric stove, sink and small refrigerator, along with dishes, utensils and pots & pans.

Spring rates vary from $89 to $119, depending on your prefernce of rooms. You get free parking (1 vehicle per room) and all rooms come with showers, phones, and Cable TV. $5 extra for teens, and children below age 12 stay free, as long as they accompanied by a paying adult.

All said and done, the Mission Bay Motel can be said to be a fine specimen, amongst San Diego motels. Sure, you don't get room service at 2 am, but it's well maintained, has no 'bad elements', and if you're getting a room for the entire family at around $100 with the Pacific Ocean and the beach in front of your eyes, I guess I'd be willing to forego the room service, the uniformed staff and the shiny brass doorknobs.

Info: 4221 Mission Blvd San Diego CA 92109; (619) 231-5701; Reservations: 1-866-649-5828; www.missionbaymotel.com/