Alexander The Great inn Palm Springs

No, Emperor Alexander's ghost hasn't come down to enjoy spa vacations in Palm Springs. We're talking about The Alexander Inn, Palm Springs, located on 1425 South via Soledad. It's a great place.

Imagine an outdoor heated pool, set in the middle of a courtyard with a flowery garden and tall palms, which looks like one of those old haciendas, with the mountains rising up in the background beyond the walled grounds. Poolside deck chairs, tables and umbrellas, with a pillor lined corridor leading into the building all lending a touch of lazy grandeur. That's the Alexander Inn.

It really looks like a place fit for Kings and Emperors. You can almost imagine Alexander the Great lounging about in the pool, sipping a martini and making plans to conquer Wall Street by sending forth an army equipped with new-flanged derivative financial products. Well, that's what they use nowadays, instead of swords and spears...

So anyway, in addition to the heated pool, you also get complimentary off-street parking and daily maid service. The 1200 sq ft poolside villa suites contain separate bedrooms and a living area, along with fully equipped kitchens. You also get free internet, a flat-screen LCD TV and movie channels, centralized airconditioning and heating, a washer/dryer, fine linen, cal-king beds with down comforter and pillow-top mattresses, branded toileteries and Spa towels, Starbucks coffee, hairdryer and iron & ironing board.

Current specials at the Alexander Inn include spa packages and discounted spa rates for guests. If you're staying there, you can get a 50 minute massage or a Botanical facial for $79. If you want the full works, you can go in for a $129 spa pedicure+manicure+hydrating facial or massage.

And accomodation rates at the Alexander Inn vary from $130 to $235, depending on when you visit (summer rates April onwards are much lower), and depending on your preference of suite (master suite, 1-bedroom villa, 2-bedroom villa, etc.).

$130 per night, along with discounted spa treatments, aren't so bad, considering the kind of amenities and the setup they have waiting for you. Course, Palm Springs is so cheap that you could easily shave off a 100 bucks off that amount at one of the Palm Springs motels, but that depends - On whether you want to be treated like Alexander the Great, or one of his foot soldiers.

Info: 1425 South via Soledad Palm Springs CA 92264; (760) 327-4970; www.alexander-inn.com/

Finding Comfort inn the Gaslamp in San Diego

Finding comfort and luxury is no big deal in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. It's packed to the gills with the most outrageously luxurious and opulent hotels in San Diego, and the less said about the hedonistic goings-on at the nightclubs and the other watering holes the better.

Point is, it's difficult to find the other end of the price range in the Gaslamp. If you don't have bags of money stashed away in your mattress, it's best not to wander anywhere near PETCO Park and the San Diego Convention Center. Most of the cheap San Diego motels and budget lodging options are located way further off, where there is no view of the Bay and the San Diego beaches.

One exception is the Comfort Inn, which, inspite of being a budget Inn, is just 1 mile off the San Diego Convention Center, with the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld and Mexico all inside of 30 minutes. Not that you want to go to Mexico right now, what with the drug wars and all, but just so you know...

The 103 guest rooms are all equipped with a microwave, mini-fridge, wet bar, free local calls and free high-speed wireless internet. That's in addition to the in-room coffee maker, safe, iron and board, hair dryer, cable TV and pay per view movies. You get a complimentary American breakfast with homemade Belgian waffles, eggs and sausages. If you're a health freak, there's free admission available to the local BodyWorks Life Enhancement Center.

Hotel amenities include dry cleaning and laundry service, guest coin laundry, a business center with fax services, free shuttle from San Diego Airport, and off street parking. The nearest place to eat is the Buca di Beppo Restaurant next door to the hotel. Rates from $129.

Info: 660 G Street San Diego CA 92101; (800) 598-1810; www.comfortinngaslamp.com/

Spring Madness at Hotel 31 in New York City

Spring is the air, and there's always madness aplenty going around in New York. And the Hotel 31 on 31st Street between Lexington & Park Avenue puts the two together to come up with a 'Spring Madness' special. Simply put, you get $10 off any reservation you make. More details here.

The hotel says it offers buget accomodations for the discerning traveler. Loose NYC translation means that it's way cheaper than the $300 that most well known New York hotels charge, and it's suitable for tourist groups and other travelers looking to wrap up their New York vacations without going broke.

The 60 guest rooms at the Hotel 31 offer cable TV, telephone, air conditioning, daily maid service, hairdryers, iron board (on request), toiletries and a safe. That's pretty utilitarian, even by skinflint NYC standards, but when you're paying $100 per night (taxes extra) for a hotel room in New York City where average rates exceed $280 even in the middle of a recession, well... You take what you get.

For this $100, you get a double room with a Queen bed, striped walls, a painting above and behind the headboard and all the amenities mentioned above. It's not exactly the Waldorf=Astoria, but it is much better than what a motel will offer you, inspite of costing about the same as most New York motels. And they do have a 24-hour concierge, who will probably be a lot more helpful and friendly than the Waldorf's concierge...

Info: 120 East 31st Street, New York, NY 10016; (212) 685-3060; www.hotel31.com/

Super 8 Motel in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Seen one, seen em all. True, but sometimes it's better to depend on a known evil than an unknown one. Especially if you're in Fort Wayne. Even more so if you're looking for a room in Fort Wayne motels.

The Super 8 motels across the nation are basically like a chain of fast-food joints. They all offer the same thing, you don't need a menu and you just tell them to bring a burger or pizza or whatever your specific fix happens to be. But it's much better than eating off a street vendor where you have no idea how it's going to be. This doesn't apply to the priviliged folks who can still afford to dine out at fancy restaurants with snooty waiters.

So, for everyone who cannot afford the luxury of the posh hotels in Fort Wayne, but don't want to end up in a rat-trap motel, there's always the safe and steady Super 8 Motel on 5710 Challenger Pkwy. It's close to the Glenbrook Mall, Allen County Public Library and Spiece Field House, with easy access to I-69.

Offers 24 hour front desk, free wireless hi-speed internet, free local calls, free continental SuperStart breakfast, a seasonal heated outdoor pool, and it's close to shopping and dining facilities. Motel has a huge parking lot and you can park your truck/bus too.

It's also pet friendly ($10 fee), family friendly (ice and vending machine, maid service, rollaway bed and crib -$10 fee) and convinient for business travelers (work desk, safety deposit box, international calls, free newspaper, business center with copy and fax facilities, etc.).

All rooms are air conditioned, with card access, coffee maker, hairdryers, iron & ironing board, satellite/cable TV, pap per view, refrigirator and microwave. Rates from $46.74

Info: 5710 Challenger Pkwy Ft Wayne, IN 46818; (260) 489-0050; website

Vagabond Found inn Downtown Los Angeles

Is true. There's this Vagabond inn downtown Los Angeles (btw, why can't I just write LA instead of Los Angeles? If I do, the LA culture cops will throw hissy fits, that's why...). Anyway, this Vagabond Inn is apparently squatting on some prime property in the heart of Los Angeles, just a stone's throw the USC campus and the Shrine Auditorium.

This particular Vagabond doesn't seem to understand that vagabonds are supposed to be broke and unkempt and rude. Instead, this Vagabond Inn is surprisingly nice and offers all the amenities and facilities which would make all fairly decent Los Angeles motels go crimson with envy. There's flowery gardens in the forefront and tall palms swaying in the backround, with a large hated outdoor swimming pool in the center of the courtyard, inviting you to take a dip in the brilliant SoCal weather.

To top it off, there's a business center in the lobby and the Grinder restaurant is on the premises for your dining convenience, and plenty more restaurants in the vicinity, if you need more choice. You also get free continental breakfast and parking (even if you turn up in a bus or a semi-truck), cable TV with 99 channels, in-room coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, free high-speed internet access, iron / board, microwave oven, refrigerator and free local phone calls.

If you're a business traveler, the Vagabond cleverly entices you with outgoing fax services, free incoming faxes and business friendly rooms. If you have family and kids with runny noses and sreaming babies, the Vagabond morphs into a quasi-nanny and offers you baby cots, rollaway beds and free lodging for all kids below 18 years of age, provide they're accompanied by paying adults. They're pet friendly, and so your child will not need to leave his or her best 4-legged friend at home.

In summary, the Vagabond Inn offers everything from a cheap $79 Queen Bed for single travelers, to a $129 family suite, where you can stuff your entire family, the dog, get free parking and breakfast, and you're nicely situated for a quick drive down to the famed tourist attractions in Los Angeles.

Info: 3101 S. Figueroa Los Angeles, CA 90007; Tel: (213) 746-1531; Reservations: (800) 522-1555; website

Mayflower Motel pioneers Cheap Chicago lodging

There's not so many Chicago motels still in business who can offer this kind of sub-50 rate. The Mayflower Motel still does - they have rooms from $46.62. Are there any downsides to these low rates? Of course, you can't expect the Ritz for fifty bucks, but you can expect a certain amount of basic decency, safety and cleanliness.

The motel is conviniently located in Clarendon Hills, near the Brookfield Zoo, Drury Lane Theatre and Oak Brook shopping center. No shortage of dining options in the vicinity, and you can easily make your own to the downtown Chicago attractions.

What you get for your $46.62 is rooms with free wireless high speed internet, table and chairs,
balcony/patio (most rooms), refrigerator and microwave, satellite TV with remote, phone Facilities, coffee maker, bathtub and shower, iron & Hairdryer (available on request), fax and copy services, and free parking.

But it's not all sweet as apple pie. For starters, their online reservation system is broken. So, basically, what you have to do is land up there and see if everything is on the level. I mean, you could call and make a reservation, but if you're going to be doing that, you should probably have a backup accomodation plan ready, just in case...

Info: 407 Ogden Ave Cleandon Hills Chicago IL 60514; (630) 325-2500; www.mayflowermotelchicago.com/

Atlantic City's Best Envoy inn the Western World

If you a representative sample of what Atlantic City motels and hotels need to be like, then the best candidate is likely the Best Western Envoy Inn, located on 1416 Pacific Avenue, within walking distance of the boardwalk, shopping, clubs and the casinos including Trump Plaza, Caesar's and the Trump Taj Mahal.

The other Atlantic City attractions, including Atlantic City Beach, Ripley's Believe It or Not®, the Convention Center, Noyes Museum, the Cape May Zoo, Historic Cape May and the Historic Gardener's Basin are all within easy access from the Envoy Inn. Famed clubs like Deja Vu, Club Tru, Studio Six and Cashbah are just a quarter mile away.

Plus, there's several golf courses within minutes of the Inn, including the Blue Heron Pines Golf Club, Harbor Pines Golf Club and Mays Lading Golf Club. To top it off, if you lucky, you might be able to witness one of the shows that the Inn hosts regularly, like the Miss America Pageant, antique Shows, and air Shows.

As for the accomodations, the 76 air-conditioned guest rooms spread across 4 floors offer cable satellite TV and high-speed internet access. Jacuzzi suites are available for those in the mood for some luxury. You get free parking, complimentary breakfast, free local calls, coffee/tea maker, hair dryer, iron & ironing board.

The Best Western Envoy Inn employes multilingual staff for your convinience, and there's a gift stand, fax and photocopy services. And complimentary newspapers.

Rates from $225 onwards. Children aged 12 and under can stay free with an accompanying paying adult in the same room.

Info: 1416 Pacific Avenue Atlantic City NJ 08401; (609) 344-7116; www.bestwesternnewjersey.com/

Park at Motel Mediteran San Diego for wild animal pleasure

No - Not the kind of wild animal pleasure which one can occasionally find in San Diego motels. What we're talking about here is the pleasure of roaming the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, which is just a lion's roar away from the Motel Mediteran, where you can park your vehicle.

So, if you're interested despite the disappointment over the lack of carnal pleasures, read on for all the great facilities and services offered up by the Motel Mediteran.

The Motel is convinient not just for those visiting the Wild Animal Park, but is also a central location right off the I-15 in Escondido, convinient for taking a multi-day tour of all the attractions in San Diego. Plus, you get a nice family atmosphere, swimming pool, guest laundry facilities, a business center, free wi-fi, HBO and cable TV, kitchenettes, jacuzzi suites, and free continental breakfast. Rolloaway beds available upon request.

It's clean and decent, and most importantly, it's very cheap by San Diego standards. Rates from $49.99. Oceanside is just 25 minutes away, and you have easy access to all the San Diego beaches in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Torrey Pines, Delmar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Lucadia, Cardiff on the beach, Carlsbad, and Oceanside.

If you're an outdoorsy type, there's plenty of hiking and biking trails in the vicinity. The Daley Ranch is 20 minutes away, and offers up mixed trail use for hiking and mountain biking with multiple loops throughout the park from beginner to expert. The many challenges of Lake Hidges are just 10 minutes off.

Info: 2336 S. Escondido Blvd Escondido CA 92025; (760) 743-2300; www.motelmed.com/

$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/

$100 Dining Credit at Kimberly Hotel NYC

New York is a funny old city. While hotels in most cities are slashing rates to meet falling travel budgets, the good old New York hotels are competing to see who can offer the most outlandish and luxurious hotel experience.


In tune with this New York 'shock and awe' spirit, the Kimberly Hotel in midtown Manhattan has come up with a package which includes $100 worth of dining credit at their fine Italian restaurant - Ferro's. Offer valid only until March 31, 2009. More details here.


Obviously, the first question that comes to mind is - What kind of rates do they charge, if they can afford to give you $100 worth of dining credit? Well, rates start from $379 for a 1-bedroom suite and $389 for a luxury guestroom. Yes, the guestroom costs $10 more than the 1-bedroom suite. Welcome to New York City...


Here's the thing - The Kimberly is not for penny pinchers. It's all part of the whole New York experience. You check into a luxury hotel located close to the Broadway theaters and fifth avenue shopping and all the other upscale attractions in New York. You stay in a swanky suite well above the 20th floor with a great view of the Manhattan skyline. You enjoy exclusive access to clubs like the New York Health & Racquet Club. Pre-theater dinner at Ferro's, and then the show. Post-show, you unwind and enjoy relaxing cocktails and tapas at a chic club like Nikki's Beach Midtown, located next to the Kimberly.


The point is, this is the kind of life that the deep-pocketed crowd with private penthouses and condos in Manhattan enjoy. The Kimberly is offering it's guests teh same New York experience. Obviously it's going to cost more than your run-of-the-mill budget lodging for tourists in Times Square. But it'swell worth every penny.


Info: 145 East 50th Street New York NY 10022; (212) 702-1600; www.kimberlyhotel.com/

Go San Diego Special at Surfer Beach Hotel

The difference between other cities and San Diego, as a tourist destination, is that the San Diego beaches actually complement and prop up the attractions on offer. What I mean is, in most cities, the beach is an attraction all by itself, and then there's other attractions. But in San Diego, it's all one big beach-front party.

The most important tourist magnets with resorts, hotels, restaurants, parks, etc. are all beach-front communities - Pacific Beach, Mission Bay, Ocean Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Coronado Island and so on.

So, naturally, you want to spend your San Diego vacations on the waterfront. The Surfer Beach Hotel is just 10 minutes from downtown San Diego and located on one of the pristine Pacific coast beaches. All the major attractions in San Diego, including SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, the Gaslamp Quarter, LegoLand, and Historic Old Town are easily accesible.

And if you're worried about the level of service and the facilities, well, don't be. The hotel is offering a Go San Diego package deal, which includes lodging in a King or Double guest room, two adult 2-day Go San Diego cards, and complimentary hotel parking. The Go San Diego card includes free admission to over 45 San Diego attractions and discounts on shopping, dining, and much more around the city. Rates from $229.00 per night. More details here.

The retro-chic standard guest rooms with contemporary furnishings offer ocean view balconies,
double pillow top beds, refrigerator, bathrobes, blackout drapes, flat screen television with cable TV, complimentary toileteries, hair dryers and iron and ironing board. Suites additionally offer wet bar with microwave and coffee pot. And seating area with queen sofa bed. The Sunset suites offer fully equipped kitchenettes. For an extra charge, you can avail of wireless internet and rollaway beds.

Amenities offered include complimentary hot coffee, tea, cocoa and cappuchinos in the lobby - any time you want. There's also a heated outdoor swimming pool, bar and lounge area, onsite restaurant, guest laundry facilities, 24-hour front desk, and onsite parking ($12 per day).

Info: 711 Pacific Beach Dr. San Diego CA 92109; (866) 251-2764; www.surferbeachhotel.com

Stay and Play at Don Hall's Guesthouse in Fort Wayne IN

Don Hall's Guesthouse in Fort Wayne, IN is not just some hicktown B&B. It's a mini-resort, offering golf vacations, an in-house Convention Center for meetings, weddings, conferences and other events, and also a historic restaurant from the 1940s.

And the best part is that as cheap as the ordinary motels in Fort Wayne. Don Hall's Guesthouse offers rooms starting from $89 - Which includes room for 2, along with free breakfast and dinner for 2. And if you're a golfing fan, you might want to check out their 'stay and play' package - $120 for lodging & 18 holes of golf with a cart.

Don Hall's Guesthouse offers 121 spacious guest rooms and suites. The standard rooms are all air conditioned, smoking and non smoking, and equipped with clock radio, coffee makers, free high speed internet access, hair dryers, and cable tv.

Amenities include free local calls, an exercise room, 2 swimming pools and a whirlpool. They also have jacuzzi, executive and hospitality suites, if you feel the need to splurge. The golfing vacations include access to the golf courses at the members only private Coyote Creek Golf Club.

Not ot say that it's better than a Hilton or any of the other posh hotels in Fort Wayne, but for this price,to be able to pack in so much, and still not compromise on quality, is indeed a good deal.

Info: 1313 W. Washington Center Road Fort Wayne IN 46825; (260) 489-2524; www.donhallsguesthouse.com/

Flamingo Motel, Atlantic City

Now you can doubletime Atlantic City by dancing with the high rollers at the Hilton Casino but going home to sleep with the Flamingo next door. That's the Flamingo Motel we're talking about, which sits straddling the space between the Hilton and Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City.

With 70 rooms half a block from the boardwalk and beach, with a casino within shouting distance and a police station 1 block away, the Flamingo offers an option to enjoy the attractions in Atlantic City without going broke. If you don't lose it all in the casinos first.

Amenities offered include cable/satelite TV, air conditioning, shower/tub combination, refrigerator, and jacuzzis. Hair dryers and microwaves available upon request. Free parking, 24 hour front desk and express check-out.

Rooms offer the option of 1 King bed or two double beds. Floor to ceiling windows through the balcony provide a good view of the city. Not that it's comparable to the luxurious casinos / hotels in Atlantic City, but for the price ($50-$75), and considering the location, it's a fair enough place to crash for the night.

They don't offer online booking, which is a bit odd. And prices are not listed on their website, which is even more surprising. But they do offer quotes individually, so you might be able to 'negotiate' your way into a better price.

The only comparable offers you'll get will be from the Super 8, Motel 6 and other chain motels in Atlantic City. It's not much either way, but then, if you've just lost a fortune to the casinos, the old lady back home will probably not take kindly to you adding to the hole by splurging on a costly suite at a luxury hotel. In that case, the Flamingo is ready to take you in, broke or not.

Info: 3101 Pacific Ave Atlantic City NJ 08401; (609) 344-3061; www.flamingomotelonline.com/

By the Oceanside inn Daytona Beach

What with the State Dept.'s dire Mexico travel advisories, travel to Cancun for Spring Break this year is a big no-can-do. So that leaves the field pretty much to Florida, and especially Daytona Beach. I mean, c'mon, there's tons of good beaches and spring break hot-spots, but still, none of them can hold a candle to Cancun and Daytona, in terms of sheer exuberance and the party atmosphere.

All of which means that Daytona is especially sizzling this year. Which also means that it'll be even harder to get hold of suitable accomodations. So you need to move out of your comfort zone, and check out some decent Daytona Beach motels, Inns and B&B's.

Which brings us to the Oceanside Inn, which offers 178 clean deluxe studios and 1-bedroom suites, with 23 miles of spectacular beach at your doorstep. Hang around their oversized freshwater pool, and leave the kids to enjoy the kiddie pool, or you could check out the 6,500 sq ft terrace garden with the sea breeze blowing away all your worries and allowing you to just take in the wonderfulness of the Daytona shores.

Start your mornings with the Inn's Continental breakfast buffet, check your mail with the free wireless internet, and then laze around with a drink at the poolside Tiki Bar & Grille. If you're looking for a serious drinking session to drown your sorrow or celebrate life, the Mariner Lounge is waiting for you.

The stardard rooms have either one king bed or two double beds, with sweeping ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows. In-room amenities include cable TV, an in-room safe, hair dryer, iron/ironing board, and air conditioning.

Amenities offered include a continental breakfast with fresh-baked Danish, muffins, bagels, toast, fresh fruit, cereals, juices and hot beverages. In addition to all the above mentioned pools, free wireless, terrace garden, lounge and bar, there's also a fitness center and a conference center. And you get free parking.

Daytona Beach attractions in the vicinity of the Oceanside Inn include the Ocean Walk Shoppes with a 10-screen cinema, a range of restaurants, specialty and gift shops. There's also the Ocean Center, Daytona Beach Kennel Club, LGPA HQ, and the Peabody Auditorium. The Daytona Beach International Airport is easily accesible from the Oceanside Inn.

Info: 1909 South Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach Shores FL 32118; (386) 255-4492; www.oceansidedaytona.com

3rd Night Free at Sidney James Mountain Lodge in Gatlinburg TN

If you're looking for a peaceful mountain getaway, and you want to spend the weekend sitting back enjoying the early morning freshness, sipping a hot cup of coffee, watching a meandering stream bubbling past you and the undulating hills and valleys of the Great Smoky Mountains flourishing in the backdrop with the first signs of an early spring, well... look no further.

You get all this and more at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge in Gatlinburg TN. Even better, it's no less than a luxury resort, but the rates are comparable to the ordinary budget motels in Gatlinburg. In fact, it's a bit exotic. There's three swimming pools - an outdoor one for the summer, and a small pool for the children which looks like a giant toilet seat.

But the interesting one is the heated indoor swimming pool, which looks more like an atrium, with plenty of green , a waterfall and rocks and all. It's the kind of thing you see in the movies or in an eccentric billionare's mansion in Los Angeles, or in zoos and aquariums, but seldom at a motel in real life. Especially not in a place like Gatlinburg.

In addition to the three pools, the Sidney James also offers free wi-fi internet, guest laundry, jacuzzis, fireplaces, sauna room, free parking, and a poolside cafe. The trolley stop right in front of the building, so you hop abroad and check out all the downtown attractions in Gatlinburg.

It's located adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so the Sidney James Mountain Lodge offers visitors easy access to a variety of Parkway shops, award winning restaurants, and all the outdoor recreation that is possible in the Mountains.

The rates are seasonal, but for stays in between now and March 13, you can find accomodations here in between $49 to $139, based on your choice of room/suite/cabin/condo and whether it's a weekend or not. The jacuzzi suites offer panoramic views of the Smokies and Gatlinburg, mirrored ceilings, private balconies, and seasonal fireplaces.

Whatever you choose, you'll have in-room coffee and refrigirators. Great spot for romantic getaways. Oh, and they're offering the third night free if you book two or more nights. Offer valid until March 13 2009, and only if you book directly with them.

Info: 610 Historic Nature Trail Gatlinburg TN 37738; (800) 876-6888; www.sidneyjames.com/