Motel for Surf-er Dudes in Carlsbad, CA

Surf's up, Dude! Why are you still asleep in your motel? Open the door, and you'll step right out on to the golden sands and brilliant weather of one of the best San Diego beaches. Because you're at the Surf Motel in Carlsbad, CA.

The Surf Motel, located right across the street from Carlsbad State Beach, is one of the few remaining classic San Diego motels where you can actually enjoy an extended stay. It's not like your usual motel with seedy transients and peeling walls and stuff. This motel was built to cater to the surf-crazy Californians of yesteryear whose sole ambition in life was to perfect the art of surfing.

If you're looking to spend all your time right on the beach, and not let anything get between you and the water, then this is the right place to be at. It's plenty cheap, has a range of accomodations to suit all kinds of preferences - 28 newly-renovated guest rooms and suites ranging from King, King with kitchenette suite, Queen, 2 Queens and 2 Queens with kitchenette suite.

Each room/suite is equipped with a coffee maker, hairdryer and cable TV, refrigerator and microwave. The Surf Motel also offers amenities like a heated outdoor pool and guest laundry facilities. You get complimentary contiental breakfast each morning. The in-house Armenian Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The Surf Motel also offers package specials including a Legoland package, one for romantic getways, another one for a beach getaway, and one for shopping. More details here.

Info: 3136 Carlsbad Blvd Carlsbad CA 92008; (760) 729-7961; www.surfmotelcarlsbad.com/

Palm Springs hotel? 7 Springs to mind

Given that Palm Springs motels are virtually redundant given the low rates offered their hotels & resorts, I wasn't really surprised to see the 7 Springs Inn & Suites offering rates as low as $58. In fact, the 7 Springs is actually a 1960s motel which has been renovated and upgraded into a decent modern hotel.

The 7 Springs offers rooms, suites and 2 bedroom town homes. With the San Jacinto Mountains in the backdrop and the hotel's two courtyards in the foreground, and with their pool, spa tubs, sauna and BBQ grills waiting for you, the 7 Springs is ideally suited (and situated) to help you enjoy all the pleasures and wonders of Palm Springs vacations.

The $58 air-conditioned room offers a queen bed with 500 thread count sheets, down comforter (bedspread), feather pillows, and pillowtop mattress. You get complimentary high-speed internet access, DVD/CD player, television, microwave, refrigerator, marble bathroom with pedestal sink, and shower/tub combination. There's also an in-room safe.

The hotel is pet-friendly, with a $20 charge per pet per day. The pool is 30x12, one of the two spa tubs can accomodate 6 people and the other one 12. The BBQ facilities comprise of charcoal grills and umbreall tables set for picnics.

The 7 Springs is within 1 mile of the Spa Casino and other downtown Palm Springs attractions. Additional facilities and amenities include free parking, concierge and business services, and dry cleaning. The hotel's lobby offers free coffee and complimentary wireless internet, so it's a good place to set up base with your laptop, if you're in need of extended internet usage.

Info: 950 N. Indian Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA 92262; (760) 320-9110

Re-LAX at the Travelodge Airport Hotel in Los Angeles

You can spend the entire time you're in Los Angeles hunting for cheap Los Angeles motels offering rooms at $64.95 per night, which are somewhere in the vicinity of LAX (that's Los Angeles International Airport), with a 24 hr airport shuttle, heated pool, free breakfast, in-room brewed coffee, free incoming faxes, access to a gym, morning newspaper, a 24 hr restaurnat and lounge (Denny's), rooms designed for kids, weekly discount rates, package deals for 'park & fly', pet friendly, and so on and so forth.

Think you can find accomodations in Los Angeles for $65 which offers all this? Only place you're going to it is at Travelodge Hotel at LAX. It's minutes from LAX, and close to southern California beaches and within driving distance of all the major Los Angeles attractions including Beverly Hills, Disneyland, Hermosa Beach, Hollywood, Magic Mountain, Santa Monica, UCLA, Universal Studios and Venice Beach.

The free breakfast offering includes fresh fruit, sweet rolls, bagels, cream cheese, muffins, breads, cereals, hard boiled eggs, milk, juices, coffee & tea.

Amenities, in addition to those listed above, include meeting rooms, a gift shop, guest laundry and same day valet service. Additional in-room amenities include cable TV with HBO, ESPN, CNN and otehr channels, pay per view movies, nintendo player, hair dryer, and iron & board.

They'll also help you out with plans for your Los Angeles vacations, including car rentals and a sight-seeing tour bus which leaves from right outside the hotel. Oh, and they have half-day discount rates. Like I said, the Travelodge LAX is the best thing since sliced bread was invented. Well, maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but...

Info: 5547 W. Century Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90045; (310) 649-4000; www.travelodgelax.com/

Enjoy Luxury & Comfort inn Central Park West

New York's Upper West Side holds some of the best tourist attractions in New York, including including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Central Park, American Museum of Natural History, the Broadway Theater district, world-class shopping on Fifth Avenue and Radio City Music Hall entertainment venue.

And the Comfort Inn Central Park West is located in the heart of this vibrant nook in the Big Apple. It's also convinient if you want to go further afield, in terms of access to the subway and buses. And it's going to be way better than any New York hotels you'll find for the same price, if at all.

Amenities offered include free deluxe continental breakfast, free high-speed internet, free weekday newspaper, coffee maker and free coffee, an exercise room and concierge desk. You also get copy & fax services, guest laundry, refrigirator, cable/satellite TV, in-room safe, hair dryer, and iron & board. Rates from $289.99.

Info: 31 West 71st St. New York NY 10023; (212) 721-4770; website

Finding Liberty inn Atlantic City

I just read an article which says that people outside Vegas find it hard to believe that Vegas residents are not interested in the incredible pleasures that Sin City offers - The implication being that the casinos and hotels in Las Vegas are enjoyed only by visitors. The situation in Atlantic City is somewhat similar.

Only people who stay in Atlantic City are those who hit the jackpot, or those who are stinking rich. For the commoners, the affordable facilities of Atlantic City motels would be less a vacation than like some punishment.

But there's a way to get around this. You can have fun in the casinos, check out the attractions and the boardwalk and the rest of the routine, and then enjoy a nice drive out alongside the New Jersey beaches. There's plenty of cheap and decent lodging within a 10 mile radius of AC. Take for example, the Liberty Inn at Galloway Township, near Absecon, 5 miles from Atlantic City.

Liberty Inn offers Jacuzzi Suites with DVD players and DVD movies along with Playstation, HBO, cable, high speed internet with computer rentals, unlimited local and long distance phone calls, personal Microwave/fridge, hair dryers, and iron & ironing board.

Services and amenities include free parking, guest laundry, free Ice, tea & coffee with newspapers. They also have vending machines for cigarettes, soda, chips & fast food.

Best part is that you get all this for rates starting from $39. In short, you have everything you need to wrap up Atlantic City vacations on the cheap, without suffering the indiginities that AC heaps on those whose pockets are empty.

Info: 252 E. White Horse PikeRoute 30 - GSP Exit 40 Galloway NJ 08205; (609) 748-8700; www.atlanticcitylibertyinn.com/

River Park Motel suites budget Chicago travelers

Most visitors give this part of Chicago a wide berth, but if you're willing to accept a 15 minute drive down Lake Shore to Michigan Ave and all the world famous attractions of Chicago downtown, then the River Park Motel on Lincoln Ave in Chicago's Northside is pretty much a good deal.

There are no other Chicago motels which will offer you, for $60, an airconditioned guest room with a king bed, cable television, shower and bath, and free wifi internet. It's not exactly cutting edge state-of-the-art luxury, but if you're looking to 'do' Chicago on a budget, then you'll find the River Park Motel suites you just fine.

Rooms are clean and relatively spacious, but not much in the form of decor. Plain wite walls, with a faded poster on the cream wall behind and above the bed. Dinky wooden shelf with some drawers and the television set on top. Lampshade on top of the TV, and a mirror on the wall next to it. Bathroom with a basin and a curtained shower is garishly lit in bright yellow light, but again - the facilities are quite adequate, if not pleasing to the eye.

The bed is just about the biggest thing you'll see in a motel, and nearly stretches out from wall to wall. You could easily accomodate an entire girl scout camp on that bed. You can get a 5% discount if you use a coupon which you can print off their website.

Info: 6060 North Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60659; (773) 539-4800; www.riverparkmotel.com/

North by Northgate to the El Cajon Motel San Diego

Tired of getting ripped off by the expensive beach-front San Diego motels and hotels? Head north to the El Cajon Motel, located on Interstate 8 by Northgate in El Cajon.

It's a good 15 miles to the San Diego Zoo, 19 miles to Sea World San Diego. But the drive down to the attractions in San Diego is more than made up for by the El Cajon Motel, in terms of amenities and price. Complimentary amenities include a continental breakfast, guest parking, daily newspapers, and local calls.

Hotel amenities include wireless internet, safe deposit box at the 24-hour front desk, and a business center with fax and photocopy services. Public areas are air conditioned.

In-room amenities include direct access from exterior to each of the motel's 18 air conditioned rooms, blackout drapes/curtains, cable/satellite TV, climate control, coffee/tea maker, cribs available at desk, direct-dial phone, electronic/magnetic keys, extra towels and bedding, fax machine and free local calls, hair dryer (on request), in-room safe, complimentary internet access, and wireless internet, iron/ironing board (on request), private bathroom and shower/tub combination, refrigerator and rollaway beds.

Best part is, you get to use all this for $50 (plus tax) per night. Go to San Diego downtown, and you'll end up paying anywhere between $100 to $300, depending on your preferences and needs. Saving at last 100% per night on lodging, and possibly more, allows you to spend that much more on enjoying your vacations in San Diego.

Info: 461 N Magnolia Ave El Cajon CA 92020; (619) 579-6110; www.northgatesd.com/

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/