Capitol Hill Holding Court in Washington DC

If you're planning to get something done on Capitol Hill, you'll need to find a cheap place to stay. Booking in at a posh luxury hotel is fine, but when the says stretch into weeks, even a corporate expense account can start looking insufficient.

Granted, it's not advisable to check into Motel 6 or one of the other cheapo Washington DC motels (in case you need to entertain), but you can split the difference and end up at a medium-scale hotel, like the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill.

And in fact, they have a 'Spring Fling' promotion, valid until May 31, under which you get a 20% discount off the standard rates. So a deluxe double 'double' room with an executive desk and Italian marble bath, whcih normally costs $248, you get for $198.40.

And believe me, when you're dining at Bistro 525 and you have a room with a marble bath and a view of the US Capitol, $198.40 is very, very reasonable. Plus, it's all very new, because they just completed a massive remodel of the lobby, guest rooms and meeting space. Each guest room now features a new chic, contemporary design, from the carpet, drapes and furniture, to the new LCD TVs and ergonomic work desks.

Additional in-room amenties offered include iron & board, hairdryer, bathrobe, two-line phone, and turndown service upon request. Hotel amenities include a gift shop, dining at Bistro 525, Federal City bar & billiards room, business center, fitness center, concierge desk, 24-hour bell staff services, valet parking, complimentary newspaper, video on demand, in room wireless high speed internet, and express check-out.

It's a convinient location and affordable accomodations, for both business and leisure travelers, looking to make some to check out the world famous Washington DC attractions.

Info: 525 New Jersey Avenue NW Washington DC 20001; (202) 628-2100; http://washingtoncourthotel.com/

Brooklyn Hotel lets you Motor inn to the Atlantic

The Atlantic Motor Inn is 1.5 miles from downtown Brooklyn, 3 miles from Manhattan, 5 miles to JFK, and 8 miles to La Guardia Airport. And it offers hotel rooms for little more than a hundred dollars.

The location & price alone should be more than enough to keep it packed to the rafters with visitors to the Big Apple looking for cheap New York hotels. But the Atlantic Motor Inn has a lot more to offer.

Things like a wall mounted flat panel LCD TV with all major channels plus HBO, pillow top mattress, spa rooms, hair dryer, writing desk and chair, and high speed wireless internet. The bed is solid and big, the mattress much more luxurious than you're likely to find at most other comparable Brooklyn hotels, and the two ornate lampshades on either side of the bed give it a rather artsy look.

A standard room with 1 King/Queen bed clocks in at $102.76 (plus tax), and a spa room goes for $146.63 (plus tax).

If you're a tourist in New York looking for a budget crash pad, you could do a lot worse than the Atlantic Motor Inn. It's just 15 minutes to Wall Street and Chinatown, 20 minutes to the Empire State Building and a short hop from there to Times Square and the other fantabuloustic (it's a word, or should be...) New York attractions.

Info: 1768 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn NY 11213; (718) 771-7171; www.atlanticinnbrooklyn.com/

Hollywood Motel has Coral Sands but no Reef-ers

I wouldn't exactly call the Coral Sands Motel on 1730 N. Western Ave in Hollywood, CA a family friendly motel, but I wouldn't label it as a dump either. Los Angeles is a strange place, and plenty of stuff happens there which would be shocking in other cities, but it's fairly run-of-mill when the same things happen in Los Angeles motels.

If you land up there, you'll get a good education about cruising and alternative lifestyles, but if you're in Hollywood and looking for a cheap place to crash for the night, you could do worse than the Coral Sands Motel.

All 60 rooms are air-conditioned, there's a pool and jacuzzi, free wireless internet, off street parking and 24 hour front desk. The motel provides daily maid service, direct dial telephones and cable TV.

For a motel room in Hollywood 40 minutes from LAX which charges $80, it's not so bad. If you want a room with 2 double beds, that's $10 more, with another $10 for each additional guest. They also have suites and weekly rates, if your stay needs 'extending'.

They offer complimentary coffee and doughnuts in the morning, and the other guests won't bother you, if you don't want to be bothered. If you're willing to consider it all as part of the LA expereince, and think of a stay in the Coral Sands Motel as a part of your tour of the Los Angeles attractions, then it might even be interesting. But if you're looking for a safe and homey place for the wife and kids, then you might want to try elsewhere.

Info: 1730 N. Western Ave. Hollywood CA 90027; (323) 467-5141; www.coralsands-la.com/

Best Motel in the high desert in Joshua Tree National Park

There's certainly no shortage of Palm Springs motels which are convinient not only for enjoying the many and wondorous pleasures of Palm Springs, but also for a foray into the harsh desert and the natural wonder that is Joshua Tree National Park.

But if you wish to extend your stay in Joshua Tree, the High-Desert Motel offers a cheap and decent place to stay, with fully equipped vacation rentals conviniently located right at the gateway into Joshua Tree National Park.

Along with free parking, the motel offers cable television, HBO, in-rrom coffee, a swimming pool, air conditioning, microwave, refrigerator, in-room phones, and bbq areas, along with other picnic needs. Rollaway beds available on request. Motel also offers laundry facilites and high speed and wireless internet. They'll also hook you up with local climbing schools and make horseback riding available.

The motel also offers 10-20% discount coupons for a few local restaurants in Joshua Tree. Coupons are made available when you check-in. A standard room with a King bed at the High Desert Motel costs $65, and you can get a 10% discount if you book via telephone.

A lot of people take vacations in Palm Springs for it's healing powers - the spas, the natural mineral water springs, the golfing and shopping and stuff like that. If you're looking for some physical and mental rejenuvation, you might want to pencil in a week or two for a getaway in Joshua Tree, and do some rock climbing, hiking, horse riding, camping and nature explorations.

Info: 61310 Twenty-nine Palms Highway Joshua Tree CA 92252; Reservations: 760-366-1978 or 888-367-3898; website

Beach front San Diego Motel with a View of the Pacific

How'd you like a motel room with a view of one of the most sought San Diego beaches? That would be the Pacific View Motel in Pacific Beach, located on Emerald Street, right on the beach. That's literally true - You step out of your room and you're on the beach.

The motel offers single rooms, twin rooms, oceanview rooms and also a family suite suitable if you have kids, or if you're in a group of 5-6 kids. Many of the rooms have attached kitchenettes equipped with refrigirator, freezer, microwave, stove and oven.

The rooms are nothing to rave over, but pretty decent and eminently 'livable', compared to some of the other San Diego motels I've seen before. The rooms with two double beds are pretty neat. Floor to ceiling womdpws offer great views of the beach and the Pacific, the beds are nice enough - not hard but firm enough to allow a full night's sleep. Lamps above the headboard and smooth color scheme make for good reading beore bedtime. The poster on the wall above the bed is not exactly a masterpiece, but it's better than an empty wall.

The Pacific View Motel is one of the best places to enjoy extended San Diego vacations on limited budgets - They offer cheap weekly rates, the Pacific Beach location on the beach is just about perfect for wasting your entire day without feeling bored - which is what vacations are all about.

It's also just a short drive to downtown San Diego, where you can enjoy the guilty pleasures of the Gaslamp, as also the family and kid friendly attractions in San Diego including Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Balboa Park and Coronado Island, among others. And you can take day trips to Legoland in Carlsbad, La Jolla and even Tijuana in Mexico.

Motel at Journey's End in Atlantic City

There's precious few indie Atlantic City motels to write about, but if you cast your net a bit wider, you'll bump into nice little gems like the Journey's End Motel in Galloway, NJ.

It's just a short drive from there to the casinos, the Atlantic City beaches and boardwalk, Atlantic City Convention center and all the dining and nightlife and the urban wonders of Vegas-by-the-sea.

Accomodation options include guest rooms with King beds, Jacuzzi King beds, Double beds and Jacuzzi double beds. All guest rooms are equipped with cable TV, hair dryers, refrigirator and microwave. You also get complimentary high speed wireless, coffee, tea and newspaper. There's also an on-site guest laundromat and business services like fax and photo-copy.

Delaratoes Bar & Lounge is right across the street, and there's all kinds of fast food joints, Italian, Asian-Indian and Chinese restaurants in the vicinity.

End game here is that while it may not be the Ritz, it's also light years better than the cheap dumps in Atlantic city proper, which are almost all infested with all kinds of shady losers. However, their online reservation system is on the blink, so you might have to call them up and check the rates, availability, etc.

Info: 250 E White Horse Pike Galloway NJ 08205; (609) 748-1900

Writers Block Special at the Algonquin NYC

You want a 25% discount off of the best available rate at the celebrated and famed Algonquin Hotel in New York City? Start writing. Doesn't matter if it's total crap. You just need to show them some proof of your bottomless well of talent in the form of a literary masterpiece, complete or not.

The Algonquin is rightly a legend amongst New York hotels, but it's also pretty well known in literary circles, thanks to the Round Table established in 1919 by Dorothy Parker and other scribblers. The hotel has never been shy of touting it's part in literary heritage, but now they're officially milking it.

The Algonquin has now come out with a package deal specifically for writers. It's appropriately called 'Writers Block'. "The Algonquin is offering an economically-friendly package to all writers suffering from “block,” whether creative or financial. Literary guests who are seeking inspiration and creative vibes will find solace with the cozy, oak-paneled lobby and the hallways showered with classic New Yorker cartoons. From poet to playwright, novice to novelist, literary beings need only show proof of their written work in-progress or published form to take advantage of this special rate of 25% off the best available rate. Two-night minimum required."

Available throughout 2009. To book this package call (866) 406-5341.

Info: 59 West 44th Street (between 5th & 6th) New York NY 10036; (212) 840-6800; www.algonquinhotel.com/

$76 rooms at the Villa Brasil Motel in Los Angeles

If you're fond of the tango, then now might be a good time to start tangoing. Because I found you the only true Brazilian digs in Los Angeles. That's right. Out of all the hundreds of Los Angeles motels, the Villa Brasil Motel on 11740 Washington Blvd is the only one which offers an authentic Brazilian lodging experience in the City.

That's because you get 2 for the price of 1. In addition to the 18 airconditioned guest rooms, there's also the Cafe Brasil restaurant right next door, which dishes out totally authentic Brazilian cuisine.

As for the motel itself, in addition to free wireless acess, you also get free satellite digital flat screen TV which provides the Rede Globo (Brazilian channel) in addition to the usual HBO, CNN, TNT, ESPN, Discovery, National Geographic, adult and local channels, and so on.

Amenities offered include free parking, maid service, kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, breakfast bar and a complimentary fruit basket. Every room has a Queen size bed and full bathroom. Double bed rooms are also available. The manager is on site 24 hrs.

And in spite of all this, and in spite of having a location ideally suited as a base for vacations in Los Angeles, the motel is still surprisingly cheap, and offers rooms for $76.

Info: 11740 Washington Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90066; (310) 636-0141; www.villabrasilmotel.com/

Lodging meets Art at the Gershwin Hotel in New York

There's very few New York hotels which can match the Chelsea for sheer Bohemian panache and a long history of putting art over commerce. One of them happens to be the Gershwin Hotel on East 27th St, which is now a 100 years old, and still has a 'artist in residence' program.

The artists for 2009 are Mark Webber, painters Elma Alkema & Tina Oelker, with special selections being Siren Deluxe and Yandell Walton.

And the rates offered by the Gershwin start even lower than those charged by the New York motels and hostels. Fabuloso bunk beds for $45-$55, the 'Essential' with a double size bed and basic essentials for $109-$185, Le Standard which has a bit more in the form of amenities than the Essential type (such as a slightly larger room with wireless internet, etc.) for $179-$275.

For those upwardly mobile artists who preer a little more luxurious quarters, the Gershwin offers 'Superior' rooms with a comfortable reading area, designer chairs and artsy lighting for betweem $199-$355.

If you're in a group or have a family, then the Gershwin offers 'Family & Friends' accomodations from $329-$455 with seperate sleeping areas for added privacy and comfort. If you're entertaining a special someone and want to show your taste and class, then the Gershwin's suites are available for $299-$405, equipped with refrigirators and all the things you need to enjoy an extended stay in a hotel suite with a very individualistic touch and decor.

Common services and ameniteis offered to guests, regradless of chocie of guest room, include wireless internet, airconditioning, hair dryers, iron & board, safe deposit boxes, discount parking and baby-sitting and laundry services. The last two have add-on charges applicable.

The Gershwin might be a good place to set up base and get to know the landscape, so to speak, if you're a European artist coming for the first time to New York. Especially so if you're French. The Gershwin has a real spot spot pour Le Francais...

Info: 7 East 27th Street New York NY 10016; (212) 545-8000; www.gershwinhotel.com/

Hotel room with a view in Ocean Beach

What's so special about a hotel room with a view of the ocean? Well, for starters, if you can see the ocean from your room, then it's likely to be a beachfront hotel, and those carry a lot of advantages. Like, it's easy to walk over to the beach...

So anyway, the subject at hand is to discuss the merits of the rather cheap Ocean Beach Hotel, which offers a full unblocked view of the ocean, is located on the beach in Ocean Beach, which is one of the more popular beach communities. So you can enjoy the full pleasure of the San Diego beaches at the Ocean Beach Hotel without having to fork over your entire 401(k).

FYI, far as I know, the beach on Ocean Beach is the only one which offers a 'Dog Beach'. The section to the north end of the beach is open for dog owners to allow their pets to run leash-free. So imagine you're a city-slicker and your dog is totally frustrated with being cooped up in the high-rise condo all day long. Wouldn't it be fun to enjoy your San Diego vacations at the Ocean Beach Hotel, where any time your dog gets antsy, you just hop over to the north end of the beach and let him run wild, with the wind and spray in his face, and paws digging into the soft wet sand. I betcha your dog will never want to leave.

Oh, and if you're a tackler, you can enjoy fishing on the Ocean Beach Pier, where it's legal for anyone to fish even without a valid California fishing license. The view of the ocean from the 1 mile long pier, is, to say the least, magnificent.

As for the Ocean Beach Hotel itself, well, you get complimentary wi-fi, free parking, guest laundry services, microwave, iron and board, refrigerator, hair dryer, and morning coffee in the lobby. It is, of course, pet friendly.

Not that there ain't other hotels and motels in San Diego which offer all this. Sure there's plenty of hotels, cheap motels and vacation rentals lining the beachfront in Ocean Beach. But most of them will take your shirt, and then send you a bill for the rest. And those that are affordable are usually places where you wouldn't stay even if they paid you to do so.

Which is why the Ocean Beach Hotel stands out as a decent ands cheap alternative, with rates from $119.95 onwards. For this rate, you get a room steps away from the beach with a Queen bed and French Provincial furnishings. Complimentary parking, free wi-fi and all the other stuff mentioned above comes with the room.

Info: 5080 Newport Avenue San Diego CA 92107; (619) 223-7191; www.obhotel.com/

Rise and Dine at the 71 Hotel in Chicago

Looking for old world hospitality and charm in a stylishly different hotel? Try the Hotel 71 in Chicago. It is located on the Chicago River at Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile), which means that a middle-of-the-road Hotel 71 has to fight for it's survival. There's luxury chain hotels beating down from one side, and the budget offerings of the Chicago motels and hostels stealing customers from the other side.

So what does the 71 offer that makes it stand out from the pack? Well, for starters, Chicago is very much more conservative in it's hospitality offerings than say, New york or Los Angeles. So the fact that the 71 is a boutique hotel makes it different, as in not so conservative.

Secondly, they're priced well below what the big brand hotels charge. A 2 day getaway weekend package starts at $169. A Rise & Dine package, which includes an in-room daily full American breakfast,costs only $152. A Shop Til You Drop package, which facilitates Magnificent Mile shopping, clocks in at $159.

Amenities offered include concierge, complimentary 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour business center with high-speed internet access, valet parking, same day laundry and dry cleaning, and 10,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and event spaces.

In-room amenities in the 307 guest rooms with river and city views include work desk and leather ergo chair, sesigner bath products, luxurious bed linens, oversized bath sheets, bathroom phone, complimentary in room coffee, individually controlled cooling and heating, complimentary morning newspaper, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and Non-allergenic pillows (on request).

Combine the rates with the amenities and facilities the 71 offers, and it's as good a bet as any that you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal in Chicago. The hundreds of dollars saved, which otherwise would have ended up in the bank accounts of deep pocketed Hilton or Marriott employees and shareholders, can now be used for your personal spending, in order to enrich and make your Chicago vacations an expereince worth remembering.
Info: 71 East Wacker Drive Chicago IL 60601; (312) 346-7100; www.hotel71.com/

Bear Bites Travelodge in Washington DC for Breakfast

If you're having visions of a grizzly snucking into Washington DC motels and stealing bites out of travelers' brownie bags, you can put the overactive imagination to rest. All we're talking about here is the free Bear Bites breakfast amd other amenities offered by Travelodge motels in and around Washington DC.

Take, for example, the Travelodge on 700 North Washington St in Alexandria, VA. Amenities offered, in addition to the free Bear Bites breakfast, include free parking, free wireless high speed internet, refrigerator, cable TV, 24 hour front desk, and coffee maker.

The location offers convinience and easy transit access if you're visiting the Smithsonian, the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and the other major tourist attractions in Washington DC.

Rates from $109.99 for a standard room with 1 King Bed. The Travelodge is pet friendly, and sits in a leafy and tree lined residential setting, with a red-brick exterior and neat square windows which makes it look like a friendly neighbourhood pharmacy store with residential partments above.

All said and done, a pretty nice place to spend a night in Washington DC. And even more so when you consider that you can quickly end up blowing hundreds of dollars in 1 night, where luxury hotels in Washington DC are the norm, rather than the exception.

Info: 700 North Washington St, Washington St & Wythe St, Alexandria VA 22314; (703) 836-5100; website

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/