European breakfast at Lincoln Park inn Chicago

The Lincoln Park Inn, located in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood and a short distance from Wrigley Field, is steeped in history, having been in existence in Chicago since the 1920s. And the stiff upper lip, conservative style and the European touch is still in evidence in the decor, with the chandeliers and the dark brown furnishings.

And the European style breakfast room, where you get served with complimentary hot breakfast with eggs and sausage and waffles and piping hot coffee, instead of the usual American muffins and juice. You might find a few upscale hotels on the lake shores offering this stuff with room service and charging you heaven and earth for it. But you can bet your boots you won't find a complimentary breakfast like this at one of the Chicago motels - even if you're willing to pay for it.

You also get a few other things you won't find at a motel - like concierge and business services, 24 hour front desk, dry cleaning service, and complimentary internet. In room amenities in the 74 air-conditioned guestrooms include wireless internet, cable and satellite TV, refrigerator, iron & board and hair dryer (on request), housekeeping, and shower/tub combo bathrooms with complimentary toileteries.

If you need them, the hotel also has cribs and rollaway beds. Rates from $100 onwards. The Lincoln Park Inn is pet friendly, subject to fees charged per pet. All in all, if you want to save a couple of hundred bucks in hotel bills on a weekend trip, and/or spend the same on shopping and dining and checking out the Chicago attractions, then this is the place for you.

Info: 601 W Diversey Pkwy Chicago IL 60614; (773) 348-2810; www.innlp.com/

Get a taste of Americana at Crystal City Hotel

You won't believe how hard it is to find a cheap but decent place to stay in Washington DC. Either you're staying at a posh hotel on Pennsylvania Ave with a view of the White House, or you're thrown into one of the few remaining Washington DC motels.

Which is why I was pleasantly surprised to find the Americana Hotel in the Crystal City neighbourhood in Arlington, VA. It's just a short hop to all the important attractions in Washington DC (less than a mile), and more importantly, the hotel offers rates from $79 onwards.

The Americana is a family-owned business which opened it's doors in 1963, and offers free shuttle service and free parking, along with complimentary wireless internet. And to top it off, you get a free continental breakfast with coffee, tea, milk & orange juice, 3 different types of cereal, donuts, pastries & muffins, croissants & bagels with cream cheese, and fresh fruits including apples, oranges & bananas.

In-room amenities include cable TV, iron & board, hairdryer, and a mini-refrigerator and work desk. Guest room options include a standard room with 1 bed, a standard double, standard King and standard Queen, and a Deluxe King. Rates vary from $79 for the standard with 1 bed to $99 for the King Deluxe and $119 for the standard double.

No doubt you'll be able to find better digs within walking distance of the White House, but the question is - Do you want to enjoy the luxuries and pleasures offered by Washington DC vacations, or by a Washington DC hotel room?

Info: 1400 Jefferson Davis Highway Arlington VA 22202; (703) 979-3772; www.americanahotel.com/

Malibu has the nicest Motel in Los Angeles

When you look at the gated palatial mansions of the studio producers and Hollywood bigwigs lining the private Malibu beaches, you'd think it would be hard to find a place to stay in this area for around $119. You'd be wrong, because The Malibu Motel does.

The Malibu Motel, in it's own words, is "the coolest motel in one of the most beautiful places on earth." Think that's a whopper? Maybe... But you have to admit that Malibu is indeed one of the most beautiful places on earth - That's why the Hollywood billionares live here.

As for the motel itself, well, it's not the Roosevelt or the Beverly Hills Hotel, and you'd be hard pressed to find a star in any of the 18 rooms on offer, but still, it is one of coolest Los Angeles motels, which is not such a bad deal.

Especially when you consider the location, within walking distance to Malibu's excellent restaurants and shops, steps to the finest beaches and trails in the world.

The Malibu Motel offers 9 rooms with king beds and 9 more rooms with 2 queen beds. Each room has a private ocean view deck. Amenities offered include a pool, cable TV and HBO, internet access, refrigerators, comfortable beds with 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and duvet covers. Room rates starting from $119.

Info: 22541 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu CA 90265; (310) 456 6169; www.themalibumotel.com/

Check out Ruby Montana's collection at the Coral Sands inn Palm Springs

Ruby Montana's quaint Coral Sands Inn is a throwback to the days when Palm Springs was known as the 'playland of the stars', and the homes of Liberace, Elvis, Peter Lawford, and the Kennedys were all part of the attractions of Palm Springs.

The Coral Sands Inn was built in 1952, and the shocking pink, the kidney-shaped pool and the distinct themed rooms with swaying palms and sweeping views of the mountains were all meant to reinforce this impression of 'Hollywood in the Desert.'

Doesn't mean that all the Palm Springs motels are as kitschy as the Coral Sands Inn. It was just a passing phase - garish, expensive and in-your-face, lead by the over-the-top antics of the King, and like it or not, that's the way it was, and the Coral Sands Inn seems to be stuck in the same time wrap even now.

And if you don't believe me, just consider the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Suite, the Liberace Room, the Yiddish Cowgirl Room, the infamous Poodle Room, and three more, each containing museum-quality vintage decorations from Montana’s private collection of western furniture, collectibles, folk art, and contemporary work by world-famous artists. Oh, and let's not forget Ruby Montana herself. And her Chihuahuas.

And this slightly odd, but unique, decor and furnishings only help the Coral Sands Inn stand apart as a go-to venue for getaways. It also helps that the hotel is located slam-bang in the middle of the best Palm Springs has to offer, including the local golf courses, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mt. San Jacinto, many fine restaurants, great shopping, and antiquing to die for.

Rates from $110 to $189, depending on when and which suite you book. the Coral Sands Inn offers a choice fo 7 different suites. The $110 are the Queen bed suites without kitchens. For $189, you get a King suite with a fully equipped kitchen. And if you stay for 2 nights, you get the 3rd night free.

There's a lotta different ways to enjoy Palm Springs vacations, and if you want a taste of the way that Elvis used to enjoy his desert getaways, then no better person to show you than Ruby Montana.

Info: 210 West Stevens Palm Springs CA 922621; (866) 820-8302 or (760) 325-4900; www.coralsandspalmsprings.com/;

What's a Flatotel? It's a New York City Hotel

The Flatotel is just one of the many midtown Manhattan hotels. Only difference is that this one offers apartment sized rooms. Hence the name Flatotel. And you have more choice, to boot. Choose from amongst 11 guestrooms, 47 suites, 9 one and two bedroom suites and 5 tower suites featuring full size kitchens.

It's got a high-class New Yorkish feel to it, with upscale custom designed furniture, branded bath amenities, specialized dietary menus, state-of-the-art Sky gym, in room massage and spa services, both indoor and outdoor dining as well as private lounging and entertainment areas, valet parking, 24-hour concierge and room service, an in-house restaurant (Moda) which offers fancy Mediterranian cuisine and a lounge, and high-tech and very plush business and meeting facilities. Oh, and limo servioces to and from the airports.

And the in-room amenities at the Flatotel are stunning enough to shame the self-respecting owners of most New York motels into committing hara-kiri. The hotel offers oversized rooms with views of the Manhattan Skyline, with original, customized King, Queen, and Double beds with luxurious duvets and pillows and 320 thread count Egyptian linen.

Large flat screen TVs with full cable access, video on-demand with entertainment center with DVD players, mahogany wood blinds, in room safe and refrigerator, full turn down service and newspaper delivery to the room.

When you have all this within walking distance to Times Square and all the other famed New York attractions in the vicinity, it makes for a very luxurious experience. And of course, luxury and convinience don't come cheap. Especially not in the Big Apple. Rates at the Flatotel start from around $321.

But they do have a few nice package deals, including a 4th night free if you book in for 3 days.

Info: 135 W 52nd Street New York NY 10019; (212) 887-9400; www.flatotel.com/

Name the Motel on the beach in Del Mar

What's so special about the Del Mar Motel? Nothing much, except maybe that it's the only motel right on the beach in Del Mar, so you can step out of your room and on to the white sandiness of one of the most beautiful San Diego beaches, with the surf and the crashing waves of the Pacific awaiting you.

Oh, and around the corner from the hotel there's a few attractions, like say, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Race Track and Fairgrounds, and the village of Del Mar, with it's specialty boutiques, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Venture a few miles further, and you have the famed San Diego attractions like Sea World and the San Diego Zoo and the Gaslamp Quarter with the Ballpark and the Convention Center surrounded by all the swanky clubs and posh restaurants. Speaking of food, if you're staying at the Del Mar Motel, the oceanfront Poseidon Restaurant is right next door, where you can grab a quick bite or enjoy some gourmet delicacies.

They (the hotel) also offer you an oceanview sundeck, and a picnic and bbq area. And boogie boards, beach chairs and sand toys are available at the front desk. The 44 air-conditioned guestrooms are kitted out with refrigerators, coffee makers, hair dryers, irons & ironing boards, and cable TV with HBO.

You get on-site parking, and cribs and rollaway beds are available on request. Guest room options include King bed with partial ocean views, 2 doubles with partial views, and full ocean view rooms.

Even though it's called the Del Mar Motel, the rates aren't really comparable to other San Diego motels. Rates here vary from $139 to $309, depending on season and choice of room. A King bed room with partial view in the winter costs $139, while an ocean view room in the summer costs $309.

Summer rates start on May 23th. Two night minimum stay required on weekends. Oh, and they have a few specials and packages going. If you stay 3 nights, you get the 4th night free (midweek).

Info: 1702 Coast Blvd Del Mar CA 92014; (800) 223-8449 or (858) 755-1534; www.delmarmotelonthebeach.com/