Motel 6 Fort Wayne

The thing I hate most about motel chains is that you just seem to catch a lucky break. You know, like get a great motel with lots of amenities and freebies at a cheap price. Of course, you could also end up in a dump. But with chain motels, you know what you're getting, and it ain't much.

Still, you're on a budget and you want a nice, clean place to sleep and rest and shower, well, nothing better than a Motel 6. While their Fort Wayne motels look much like the ones in Tulsa or Scranton or any other God-forsaken waste, the least that can be said is that you're getting a non-smoking room with a queen bed and roll-in shower for $31.99.

You also get an outdoor pool, a coin laundry, and free morning coffee. Throw in the free local calls, parking, and easy access to nearby public transportation, restaurants, the airport (11.7 miles from Fort Wayne International Airport), and you can see why it's not such a bad deal.

Basically, you come in from the airport, the motel isn't that far. You can use public transport to get to the motel. You pay $31.99 for a room with 2 beds (so you can sleep four). Kids under 18 stay for free.

Again, if you're a family wanting to visit the tourist attractions in Fort Wayne, Motel 6 is located centrally enough for you to be able to go see all of them without having to go long distances. The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is 2.3 miles off, Glenbrook Square Mall is 2.6 miles, Allen County Memorial Coliseum is 3.2 miles, the Lincoln Museum is 3.9 miles and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is 4.0 miles off.

If you're an environmentally aware family, you could all rent bikes and check out all the attractions on a bicycle tour of Fort Wayne. It's cheap and good for the planet and for your health. Factor in food and other expenses, and you could wrap up weekend family vacations in Fort Wayne for as little as $200.

Info: 3003 West Coliseum Boulevard I-69 at Coliseum Boulevard, Exit #109-A Ft Wayne, IN, 46808; Phone: (260) 482-3972; website