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

El Greco Motel in Atlantic City

I've come to view most everything on offer in Atlantic City with a jaundiced eye. There's more hustlers per sq. ft. in AC nowadays than you'll find even in Vegas or Miami. Which is why when I come across something that sounds too good to be true in Atlantic City, I just keep moving. And that includes most, if not all, independent motels in Atlantic City.


See, the only thing you can trust in AC is a company which has a national reputation to look after, or at least a regional one. Meaning that a motel chain like Super 8 or Motel 6 or Days Inn won't throw it all away by hustling for a few tourist dollars in Atlantic City. To limit yourself to these chains is probably your only safe route to enjoying Atlantic City vacations, especially if you're on a budget.


Even so, when I bumped into the El Greco motel, it did look like a good deal. Located 1/2 block from the Boardwalk and the beach, sandwiched between the Hilton and Tropicana Casinos, free parking, sun deck, lounge area, daily maid service, ice, and coffee in the morning. 58 guest rooms with refrigerators, color cable TV, phones, one or two beds, air conditioning and electronic key access. Rollaway beds, game room, shower & tub, 24 hour front desk... You get the picture. Average rates from $137, which, considering the location and the amenities, was pretty decent.


The question that remains - What's the catch? You can get a hint by their cancellation policy. $20 cancellation fee, regardless. To sum it up, once you're booked, you're hooked. If you land up there and don't like it, you lose money. And the motel gets free money.


So, if you must stay there, I suggest you forego booking in advance, and just land up in person. Take a look around, and if you like it, well, have fun. If you don't, there's two big Atlantic City hotels to left and right, who'll be quite happy to part you of your money.


Info: 3200 Pacific Ave Atlantic City NJ 08401; (609) 345-6195; www.elgrecomotel.com/

Ripleys Aquarium Package at River Edge Motor Lodge Gatlinburg

There's a lot of mountain lodges and motels in Gatlinburg, up in the Smoky Mountains. Most of them are cozy getaway retreats, which offer heated pools and courtyards with tables and chairs to help you enjoy the morning sun. One of these cozy motels/hotels up in the Smoky Mountains is the River Edge Motor Lodge.

The lodge is within walking distance to many of the timeless attractions in Gatlinburg TN, including Ripley's Aquarium, Ober Gatlinburg Tramway, Christus Gardens, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Also within minutes of the lodge are Dollywood, Dolly's Splash Country, and Pigeon Forge, along with downtown shopping malls and music theatres.

Accomodation options vary from a standard queen room to a honeymoon jacuzzi suite and family suites with two baths. The standard queen room sleeps four and comes with 2 queen-sized beds, a private balcony, cable TV and HBO, refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave, hair dryer, free wireless internet.

Rates from $55. The honeymoon suite costs $70 and the family suite with twin baths clocks in at $95. The River Edge Motor Lodge is also offering some packages and discounts. One of the packages - Ripley's Aquarium package - costs $144.95 - $304.95 for 3 days/2 nights. And until March 31 2009, you'll get 15% off if you book 2 or more nights.

Info: 665 River Road Gatlinburg TN 37738; (865) 436-9292; www.hotel-gatlinburg.com/

Searching for Quality Inn Washington DC

There's a very real and tangible class divide in and around Washington DC. There's the haves - those who have something to with politics or federal bureaucracy, and the have-nots - those who're just ordinary District citizens working in local jobs.

Visitors in DC also get lumpe dinto these two categories, like it or not. If you're here on business or to visit someone who's someone in DC, then it's a good bet that you'll be staying at one of the posh Washington DC hotels lining Pennsylvania Ave.

On the other hand, if you're some ordinary Joe Schumck from Hicksville, then these hotels, which charge anywhere between $450-600 per night on average, have no place or you. For the have-nots, there's a string of Washington DC motels and cheap budget hotels, where the rates are more in tune with the rest of the nation ($80-150).

One of these cheapskate hotels happens to be the Quality Inn near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It's also one of the few places where you can check-in without automatically being lumped on to one or the other side of the class divide. At the Quality Inn, you'll find business travelers and liesure travelers alike - People with a corporate expense a/c who have business in DC, and those spending from their personal chekbooks, who just want to see how business is done in DC.

Of course they offer you rates from $99.99. But one of the main reasons the Quality Inn is so popular is it's location. The hotel is situated close to many of the tourist attractions in Washington DC, like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House and the United States Capitol building.

The New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metro station is within walking distance, providing easy access to everything the city has to offer. Enjoy a variety of restaurants, cocktail lounges, theaters and world-class shopping in the surrounding area.

Amenities include free limited parking, free continental breakfast and free coffee, free wireless high-speed Internet access, free local calls, and a seasonal outdoor pool. For business travelers, they offer additional conveniences like in-room desks and access to copy and fax services.

Info: 501 New York Avenue NE, Washington DC 20002; (202) 543-7400; website

Dolphin in San Diego Bay

We're talking about the Dolphin Motel in San Diego, which is located 200 ft from the Bay. It's all about the splendid tradition of an 'American Owned' family motel, handed down from one generation to the next.

Dolphin Motel has been in operation for 32 years now, and it's one of the last remaining indie San Diego motels which hasn't given in to the temptation to sell out to a real estate developer or become part of a big chain and build a luxury hotel.

They offer cheap and clean rooms starting from $55 onwards. Located 5 minutes off San Diego airport and 12 minutes to the Cruise Terminal, Downtown, Broadway, the Gaslamp District and the other attractions in San Diego.

The air-conditioned rooms are furnished with 5 star diamond Serta beds and cable TV with over 78 Channels, and some of the rooms have refrigirators. You get free high speed internet and wi-fi and they even have a laptop you can use. To top that off, you get free morning coffee and pastries, luggage storage facilities and free monitored parking. There are 7 major restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the motel.

The Dolphin Motel is surrounded by major San Diego hotels and chains like the Ramada, Vagabond, Comfort Inn, and Holiday Inn, all of which offer essentially the same basic amenities and same Harbor view rooms, but at more than twice the price, and in some cases, more than 4 times the price.

Bottomline here is that if you're traveling on a budget in San Diego, then the Dolphin Motel is the perfect choice.

Info: 2912 Garrison St. San Diego CA 92106; (866) 353-7897 or (619) 758-1404; www.dolphin-motel.com/

50s Style Rooms at Ohio House Motel Chicago

Chicago is where Route 66 kicks off on it's long historical & colorful journey to the West Coast. As such, there's plenty of Chicago motels which are still stuck in the heydey of the Great American Roadtrip, even if Route 66 is only a faint memory now.

One of these antique motor courts is the Ohio House motel in the heart of downtown Chicago, which offers a classic 50s style double-decker roadside lot with free parking. Each of the 50 guest rooms offers a television, free cable TV, shower and bath. If you want to splurge, there's also a mini-suite with a Queen Bed, full sofa sleeper, refrigerator, and microwave.

There's an attached coffee coffee shop (Ohio House Coffee Shop) along with other restaurants, diners and other facilities close by, including laundromats, and shopping. The motel is located in the River North Area within walking distance of Hard Rock Cafe, Rock n' Roll McDonalds, ESPN Zone, Navy Pier, North Bridge and Merchandise Mart.

It's also just five blocks west of Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, and the other famed Chicago attractions on the lakefront.

It's simple and clean. Offers the necessities and is convinient for both tourists and for overnight guests passing through Chicago.

Info: 600 N. Lasalle Street Chicago IL 60610; (312) 943-6000; www.ohiohousemotel.com/

2 Nights Free at Metro Inn Motel Minneapolis

I figure if you're looking for Minneapolis motels, then you're looking to save money. Look no further. In addition to the usual low rate offered by most other motels in the Twin Cities, the Metro Inn Motel is offering a special - Stay for 5 mights, and you get 2 extra nights free.

Basically a sweet deal if you want to stay for a week, or an extended stay on a weekly rate. They also have 4 day rates. All you have to do is print the coupon you find here and present it when you check-in.

The Motel is close to all the attractions in Minneapolis, 3 blocks off I-35 & 62. To the East is Mall of America and Twin Cities Airport. To the West is the South-Dale Shopping Mall and great "Valley Fair". Plenty of restaurants close by, and it's minutes away from Down Town with a Bus Line around the corner.

The Metro Inn Motel offers 35 single, double and King rooms, with amenities including refrigirator, microwave and cable TV, airconditioned rooms, complimentary coffee and concierge service, and offers plenty of parking space.

It's not like it's the Ritz, and it has it's faults. Service isn't something to write home about, and even though the website says the place is pet friendly, the reality is that they don't really welcome people with pets. They don't have an online reservation system, so you'll have to either call them or take your chances.

But for all of that, it's a pretty good place if you're on a budget, which, after all, is the whole point of seeking out a cheap motel instead of a posh hotel.

Info: 5637 Lyndale Avenue S Minneapolis MN 55419; (612) 861-6011; www.metroinnmotel.com/

Free Room Upgrade at Palm Court Inn, Palm Springs

When you're in Palm Springs, it doesn't really matter if you're checking into a hotel, motel or some other boutique property, so long as none of it is upscale. Point I'm trying to make is that hotels in Palm Springs are just about as cheap as Palm Springs motels.

You could either say that the motels are better than other places, or that the budget hotels in Palm Spings aren't as good. That's your lookout, but far as I'm concerned, most properties are like the Palm Court Inn - You can't really call it a hotel nor a motel nor an Inn. It's what you want it to be.

And to make the distinction even more hazy, they're offering a free room upgrade. Book any standard room at the regular price and receive a free upgrade to a pool view or garden view room. Valid on Sunday through Thursday night only.

You can lounge by the pool and pretend it's a luxury hotel, or you can just walk in to your room straight from the street, like a motel. And you'll get personalized service, with a free breakfast, like an Inn.

Amenities at the Palm Court Inn include a 24 hour front desk, meeting, event and banquet facilities for upto 150 guests, 4 acres of lush gardens, pools and fountains, pool with sun deck, jacuzzi & children's wading pool, on-site restaurant (Rick's restaurant), exercise room, coin operated laundry, and complimentary parking.

In-room amenities include one King or two Queen beds, cable TV, room service from Rick's Restaurant, refrigerator & microwave, iron & ironing board, and hair dryer.

Info: 1983 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs CA 92262; (800) 667-7918 or (760) 416-2333; www.palmcourt-inn.com/

Looking for a motel with a Vibe in Los Angeles?

There's cities for the haves and there's others for the have-nots. Some cities, like New York and Los Angeles, are merciless to the have-nots. They will crush your spirit, chew you up and spit you out onto the streets and kick you in the pants back to where you came from - Unless you have the money and the right connections.

Very rarely are you allowed to stay at good hotels in Hollywood, and have a good time at a club or lounge in West Hollywood or Beverly Hills, unless you have a big wad and/or someone connected enough to get you in. The one exception to this rule is the Vibe Motel on Hollywood Blvd. You can hang out and meet actors, dancers, musicians, models, entertainment industry types, international travelers and more. The rooms are decorated funky and have a swinging retro 60's groovy motel feel.

The motel is located in the middle of all the visit-worthy Hollywood attractions, so you can walk to the Hollywood Sign, Sunset Strip, Theater Row, Hollywood and Highland (Kodak Theater), Hollywood and Vine (subway metro rail station ).

As for the motel itself, you can drive right up to your room and park. You get free parking, free breakfast, free wi-fi, free coffee and tea, a free movie room, free BBQ and dinner parties, coin operated laundry, and discounted tours of LA.

The standard rooms have a queen size bed, a 27 inch TV with satellite, small refrigerator, microwave and private bathroom with a shower. Rates from $65 per night. The 'Regular Private Rooms' have one or two twin beds in addition to what you get in the standard room. 'Premium Private Rooms' have a queen size bed plus one or two twin beds, a full kitchen, a 27 inch TV with satellite, air conditioning, and a private bathroom with bathtub and shower.

Granted it's not the Beverly Hilton or the Roosevelt, but hey, even the big stars had to sleep with the common trash in Los Angeles motels before they got their break. Who knows, you may meet a few people who could end up as the biggest stars of the next decade.

Info: 5922 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood CA 90028; (866) 751-8600 or (323) 469-8600; www.vibehotel.com/

How to get the best value inn Fort Wayne, IN

When the going gets tough, the tough get going - To motels. What I mean is that instead of cancelling a vacation, you can still take it - but with a reduced budget. The three main expenses are airfare (or gas), food and lodging.

Airfare and as are specific to your destination, so that's your lookout. But as far as accomodations are concerned, you need to look or the best value or your buck. In other words, you need to check-in at America's Best Value Inn. They have a network of over 750 Inns, hotels and Suites in North America, so you can find one just about anywhere you ant to go. And they do indeed provide value.

Take for example, the Best Value Inn at Fort Wayne, IN. Slightly more individualistic than you'd expect from a chain motel, and much more by way of amenities and facilities than you'll find at any of the other Fort Wayne motels.

Located just off I-69 for easy on and off highway access, it offers 45 spacious guest rooms, easily accessed from exterior corridors with park-at-door convenience, jacuzzi suites, and hi speed wireless Internet access.

All rooms come equipped with microwaves, mini-fridges, hairdryers, computer data port telephone, free HBO, VCR rentals, free local calls, and sofas (some rooms). Complimentary coffee, orange juice, and cookies are served every morning from available 6a.m. - 9a.m. Centrally located near major restaurants, business, and shopping and the other attractions in Fort Wayne.

All this for rates from $45.95 for a room with 1 King Bed. The jacuzzi room is $90, and if you want two double beds, it's $52.95.

Info: 1401 W. Washington Ctr. Road Fort Wayne IN 46825; (260) 489-3588; website

How'd You Like To Spend Your Days Inn Atlantic City?

Atlantic City has a problem with the rest of New Jersey - They just don't like the AC in-your-face do-what-you-want attitude. NJ, inspite of being in New York City's massively metropolitan shadow, is surprisingly conservative.

The small beachfront towns on the NJ shores don't like strangers, they don't like noise, and they do not want to see their precious little communities disturbed in any way. Point here being that not everyone in Atlantic City is a big spender and gambler.

They come from all over the state, and stay in the small Atlantic City motels peeping out onto the Boardwalk, in between the gigantic casino complexes. They enjoy a good time at the casinos, go around and take a tour of the sights, and then quietly catch a bus back to their home towns.

The Golden East motel, now simply a Days Inn motel, is one such motel located steps away from the Atlantic City Beach and Boardwalk. It is within walking distance of the casinos - Ballys, Claridge, Caesars, Trump Plaza, Resorts, Taj Mahal, and Showboat - as well as local restaurants and Atlantic City attractions, and a few blocks from The Walk Factory Outlet Stores and the Atlantic City Convention Center.

The Days Inn offers a free continental breakfast, free local calls, ice machine, daily USA Today newspaper, coffee, and internet station which are all located in the lobby. And free parking for one vehicle per room. In-room amenities include a hair dryer, iron & ironing board, free high speed wireless internet, and a microwave oven. Some of the rooms have balconies and the suites have sofa beds.

Rates from $49.99 (plus taxes) per night. For this rate, you get an oceanview room (non-smoking) with a balcony, 2 double beds, coffee maker, wi-fi, hairdryer, fridge, cable TV and HBO, along with use of the other amenities mentioned above. You can get a 1 King bed room for the same rate. For $99.99, you can get a 3 double beds deluxe room, or a deluxe room with 2 King beds.

Info: 169 South Kentucky Avenue Atlantic City NJ 08401; (609) 344-7001; website

Got Truck? Stay Inn Denver

I am so truly fed up of the glitzy hotels like the Ritz, where Joe Blow would have to cough up his entire retirement savings to enjoy a decent week. America really, really needs to lower it's sights a bit. Has any of your neighbours been to the Colorado ski resorts this year? I don't think so.

But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy one. Just need to make the necessary course corrections. And if you are going to go there, why not go the whole hog, and enjoy the vacation, but without paying for the costly digs. Take away the hotel charges, and you're left with the ski lift tickets and food. And airfare, if required. Considering the cost of the hotels in Colorado in winter, it's a safe bet to say that your vacation cost is likely to be cut in half, at the very least.

So how does one go about doing this? Pretty simple. Find a decent motel. Costs around $35-60 per night. Best to check out the Denver motels which are a bit off the ski resorts. It's worth it, even if it takes an hour or so to get to the resorts. The ones in the immediate vicinity of the resorts are just as bad as the hotels, in terms of pricing.

One such cheap motel is the Stay Inn in Denver. Rates start from $39. If you want to pay for the week, that'll be $215 for a room with 1 King bed, and $235 for a room with a queen or two double beds. And if If you have a commerical drivers license, you can actually get a discount here.

Sure, it's a trucker's motel. If you have a truck and want to enjoy a family skiing vacation on the slopes of Colorado, and you wnat to do it on a budget, it's not that bad a deal. Even if you're not so fond of crude jokes scrawled in the loo, look on it this way - You're there to ski, not to critique the interior.

Info: 12033 E 38th Ave Denver CO 80239; (303) 371-0740; www.denvermotel.net/

$59.99 per night at San Diego Loma Lodge

Here's the deal - Non-smoking airconditioned room with a comfortable 1 King bed, complimentary hi-speed internet access, mini-fridge, satellite TV with HBO and ESPN,plus 16 channels. Iron, ironing Board are available upon request. Microwave may be available upon request.

And public amenities and facilities include free morning coffee & danish, daily newspaper in the lobby, guest laundry, swimming pool open year round, with a soda / candy / ice located in pool area. Name - Loma Lodge. Location - San Diego, CA. Rates from $59.99 per night. These are standard rates. Not specials. Specials and weekly rates are even lower.

If you want a room with 2 double beds, that's $64.99. Three double beds family guest room? $74.99. And if you want a little more luxury, then go for the $64.99 One King bed deluxe non-smoking, pillowtop California bed, upgraded towels and soap.

That's right. It sounds like a great deal. It is. Why pay in excess of $200 for a hotel room when you have decent and cheap San Diego motels like Loma Lodge? The Loma Lodge is a quaint 43 room Spanish style motel, centrally located just 2 miles west of hotel circle and with easy access to all freeways and San Diego attractions.

They have a 24 hour front desk, and a one stop concierge where you can book tours, rental cars and anything else you need.

Info: 3202 Rosecrans Street San Diego CA 92110; (619) 222-0511 / (800) 266-0511; www.lomalodge.com/

Where's the Heart O' Chicago?

The Heart of Chicago can be found where Hollywood meets Michigan. Huh? That's the Heart O' Chicago motel, which is located in Chicago, IL, one mile from the Hollywood Beach on Lake Michigan. If you're looking for Chicago motels, look no further. The Heart O' Chicago has everything you need, and then some.

A long and colorful history - you got it (built in 1959)
Complimentary continental breakfasts - you got it
Free wireless Internet access - you got it
Multilingual staff - you got it
24-hour front desk - you got it
Free parking - you got it
Air conditioning - you got it

Room options include 1 bed with bath, 2 beds with bath, and 1 King bed with bath. Average rates are around $110 per night. Location is in a friendly residential neighbourhood, but you might need a car or have to use some other mode of transportation (10 minute walk to the nearest subway station) if you wish to go visit the usual tourist attractions in Chicago. Rooms are generally known to be clean and service decent, although you are advised to exercise caution and use your own judgment.

For those who do not have the budget for checking into one of the high-end luxury hotels in Chicago, but dislike the 'seen one, seen them all' quality of the Motel 6 and Super 8 motels, a place like the Heart O' Chicago can really be a blessing.

Save money on accommodations, and spend it on yourself. Go on a shopping spree on the Magnificent Mile, hang out at a jazz club and enjoy the fine cuisine offered by Chicago's restaurants.

Info: 5990 North Ridge Ave Chicago IL 60660; (773) 271-9181; www.heartochicago.com/

$69 Ski Packages from Grand Sierra Resort Reno

Don't tell anyone, but I clicked on an advertisement on a website today. I know, it's shameful. Nobody clicks on advertisements anymore. But this one was just too good to let it go by. It was an ad from a resort in Reno, and the first image said $69 ski package at the Grand Sierra Resort, including a room and ski lift ticket.

The next picture says they'll give you $50 Match Play or $25 Free Play. The third image says you also get $50 dining credit or $50 spa credit. My math is not so good, and it seemed too good to be true, but I had to know the details. So I clicked.

And sure enough, they do offer all this. This season Grand Sierra Resort has the best ski packages available, starting at $69 per person. Take your pick of 11 ski resorts including Squaw Valley USA, Alpine Meadows and Mount Rose. All ski packages include your choice of $50 Match Play or $25 Free Play and a choice of either a $50 Dining credit or $50 Spa credit.

Actually, the reason I found this package was because I was looking for some good indie Reno motels. But the only ones I found were the branded motels (Motel 6 & Super 8). One site had a huge list of motels and budget hotels, and when I looked deeper, most of them had closed down or joined up with the chains.

When you look at the ridiculously cheap prices offered by the ski resorts in Reno, you understand why there are no motels left.

Info: 2500 E. Second Street Reno NV 89595; (775) 789-2000; www.grandsierraresort.com/

Vegas Chalet Motel

The Vegas Chalet Motel in North Las Vegas is a rare breed - A motel which is just a motel and nothing else. More often than not, lodging is a secondary aspect for people who come to Sin City. There's many reasons for this, including the fact that one way or the other, everyone in Vegas - residents and visitors alike - has a very close connection to gambling and the casinos.

If you're a resident, then you work in a casino, or you work for a company or organization which deals with casinos. If you're a visitor, you'll be hard pressed to find a place to stay which does not have an attached casino, or at the very least - One within walking distance. My point is that most hotels in Las Vegas are way cheaper than the brand name motels. Secondly, like I said, most of them have a casino tucked in somewhere.

So you'll be hard pressed to find decent and cheap Las Vegas motels which simply offer a cheap place to stay without the usual Vegas 'experience'. Most of these stand-alones have either closed down or joined up with the lucrative casino business. The Vegas Chalet Motel is one of the last remaining breed of independent stand-alone motels.

It's quite some distance from the Strip, and offers 50 budget rooms with satellite television, complimentary parking, free local calls, daily housekeeping, 24 hour front desk, iron & ironing board, electronic locks, and vending machines. Rooms have heating and air-conditioning, and bathrooms have bathtubs & showers. You have a choice of rooms with single or twin beds.

You'll find restaurants (Mariscos Las Islitas) and shopping facilities close by, and of course, there's also some casinos in the vicinity. Or you can just drive or use public transportation to the Strip. Rates from around $60 per night. No pets allowed.

Info: 2401 Las Vegas Blvd N.North Las Vegas NV 89030; (702) 642-2115; www.vegaschaletmotel.com/

Miami Blu Motel

Got the recession blues but still dreaming of the hot and sizzling Miami? No worries. We got something for every budget. There's a bucketload of Miami motels which cater to every kind of traveler. Some are full of transients, some are family friendly, and some even offer the luxury facilities and amenities like big hotels.

The basic concept of settling for a motel is to cut down the cost, so first you need to find motels which are in betwen $50 to $75 max. Second, you ened to make sure said motel offers most, if not all, of the amenities one would expect from a big hotel. If you can do this, you end up saving well over a 100 dollars, while giving up very little comfort and luxury.

One such motel, which offers the best of both worlds, is Motel Blu. In fact, it fits the bill so perfectly that even the management is confused over whether to label themselves as a hotel or a motel. So they call themselves 'Motel Blu - A Miami Hotel in Biscayne.'

The hotel/motel is located within a few minutes of the Miami beaches, Miami downtown and the Interstate 95. Each guest room features high speed Internet access and cable satellite television with HBO®, Showtime and Disney. Hotel amenities include an outdoor pool and a new 5 Star Restaurant. In addition, you get air conditioning, spacious parking facilities and wireless internet.

Unless you're looking for snooty waiters with bow-toes, Motel Blu isn't that big a change from any of the decent Miami hotels you'll find in the vicinity. The kicker, of course, is that rates at Motel Blu start from $65 for an 'efficiency' room. For a room with double beds - $68. Throw in the Air/Cruise Port Shuttle Package for one person, and you have to pay out the grand sum of $89. Two people for the Air/Cruise Port Shuttle Package? $95.

So, you could either wait for a couple of years to get over the recession. Or, you could catch an economy flight right now, and book into Motel Blu. Miami vacations on the cheap like this - including airfare, motel charges, food and other expenses - will probably cost you less than what you'd pay just for a posh suite with an oceanfront view at a luxury hotel on Collins Avenue.

Info: 7700 Biscayne Blvd Miami Florida 33138; (305) 757-8451; www.motelblu.com/

Valentine Fever Strikes Hilton Concord in Oakland

Call pest control. Or the Department of Health! The Ghost Busters! There's a little guy wearing nothing but underwear, armed with a bow and arrow, terrorizing the good folks at the Hilton Concord Hotel in Oakland, CA.

Name tag says he's Cupid something and his stated mission, according to one victim, is to hit everyone he sees with his hi-tech chemical tipped arrows which apparently unleashes your inner romantic. He's doing very well, because he seems to be working in cahoots with some of the hotel staff, and the Hilton Concord finds itself in the shameful situation of becoming one of the most romantic hotels in Oakland and the East Bay.

The capitalist Hilton guys have drummed up three packages which make people more susceptible to the potent arrows from aforementioned tiny terror. Listed below are the three romantic getaways for Valentine's Day at the Hilton Concord.

1. Cupid's Arrow - You will be greeted in your room with Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and a chilled bottle of house champagne. Wake up the next morning to have Breakfast in Bed with a select menu. Also included is a late check-out of 3pm. Rates from $174 per night. Valid from Feb 12 - Feb 16, 2009.
2. Be My Valentine - you will be greeted in your room with Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and a chilled bottle of house champagne. Have a romantic dinner for two in the on-site restaurant Grissini Trattoria and Wine Bar. Dinner includes an appetizer to share, two House Salads, two entrées, and a Lover's Dessert to share. Wake up the next morning to have Breakfast in Bed with a select menu. Also included is a late check-out of 3pm. Rates from $304 per night. Valid from Feb 12 - Feb 16, 2009.
3. Always and Forever - You will be greeted in your room with a delicious box of See's Candies. Then, have a romantic dinner for two in our on-site restaurant Grissini Trattoria and Wine Bar. Rates from $319 per night. Valid from Feb 12 - Feb 16, 2009.

Hmm... Seems like the Always and Forever package offers less value for more money than the Be My Valentine package. But then, no one ever said that love makes any sense, or is based on any kind of logic.

Info: 1970 Diamond Blvd Concord CA 94520; (925) 827-2000; www.concordhilton.com/

Be Mine In ’09 Romance Package at Mayflower Park Seattle

The Superbowl is over, the Steelers stole the game, and its time to throw away the beer bottles, and start focusing on things you've been neglecting in football fever. Like that booking for a Valentine's Day celebration for the lady who's been toiling while you were sprawled out on the couch, stuffing chips and swilling beer.

It's the month of Cupid, and he's got his bow and arrow all ready and aimed at you. So you better stick 'em up and hand over everything you have, including your heart and your credit card. If you're looking to make 2009 the year when you made the pitch to that special someone who makes your heart go racing like a ferrari on nitrous boost, then I have the perfect place and package for you - The Be Mine In ’09 Romance Package at the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle.

Valid through February, the package includes:-

• Classic, deluxe or suite accommodations
• Champagne or sparkling cider upon check-in
• Full American breakfast for two
• Valet parking
• Late 2 pm check-out

Under this package, the classic guestroom costs $189, the deluxe guestroom $199, and suite accommodations at $209. More details and online booking here. Romantic getaways don't get any better than this.

The Mayflower park Hotel has plenty of history, having first opened it's doors way back in 1927. It was called as The Bergonian at that time. There aren't that many upscale Seattle hotels which have as much history as the Mayflower Park, and are still in business.

It's location in downtown Seattle, at Fourth Avenue and Olive Way, is also the perfect place for a frenetic day of shopping in Seattle. The Mayflower Park directly connects to Westlake Center, a four level shopping mall. Macy’s Department Store and Nordstrom are both across the street, and the Pacific Place mall is just two blocks away and houses Cartier, Tiffany & Co., the Pottery Barn and other fine shops.

The rooms at the Mayflower Park Hotel feature poster headboards and armoires in traditional Queen Anne styling. And you can make use of the many in-room amenities including hair dryer, iron and ironing board, free high-speed internet, coffee makers, luxury robes, large screen televisions and in-room safes.

Hotel amenities include a fitness studio, valet parking, same day laundry, business services, and in addition to the aforementioned Andaluca restaurant, there's also a lounge (Oliver's Lounge).

Info: 405 Olive Way Seattle WA 98101; (206) 623-8700; www.mayflowerpark.com/

Buy Buy Manhattan Special at Roger Williams NYC

Whether it's business, pleasure or a getaway from it all, there's no hotel which is more tuned into the needs of travelers and New Yorkers alike, than 'The Roger'. Great Murray Hill location on Madison Ave, just blocks from Grand Central Station and the Empire State Building and the other famed New York attractions, a short stroll from SoHo, the Fashion District, Union Square, Park Avenue, and the West Village.

The Roger Williams Hotel offers 193 guest rooms and suites, 15 garden terrace rooms boasting private, landscaped terraces, wireless internet (extra charge), full-service concierge, help-yourself breakfast pantry, with complimentary daily newspapers, signature cocktails and light fare on the Mezzanine Lounge, high-tech meeting space, and a state-of-the-art fitness center with latest-generation cardio fitness equipment.

And inspite of the location and popularity of the hotel amongst tourists enjoying their New York vacations, it's still surprisingly cheap. Rates for the specials start from $289 per night. And that's just the starting point. There's oodles of deals and packages inside, including the Sunday Stays deal, where you get 20% off on the best available rate.

Other notable specials include the Buy Buy Manhattan shopping package, which includes deluxe accommodations, complimentary champagne or valet parking, special welcome discount coupon, and free "I love NY" tote bag. They'll also provide you with all the information you need to enjoy a day out shopping in Manhattan.

There's also a 'Romantic Manhattan' package, and another one called 'Manhattan holidays' which offers 25% off for 3-night stays and 50% off for 4-night stays.

I've seen the insides of plenty of New York hotels, and very few are able to find the correct balance between luxury and affordability, and between discrete privacy and stylish flamboyance. The Roger Williams Hotel neatly straddles this divide, and that's about all you need to know.

Info: 131 Madison Avenue New York NY 10016; (888) 448-7788 / (212) 448-7000; www.hotelrogerwilliams.com/