Gold-diggers seeking ElDorado Motor inn to Atlantic City

Really. The casinos of Vegas and AC are the modern equivalent of goldmines. It's where all the money, and the boom towns and the glamor and hot chicks are, and piss-poor gold-diggers come in from all over the map, and blow their life-savings, desperate to strike gold.

And of course, there's the Japanese tourist groups, who come in by the bus load from New York for weekend trips, wanting to soak in the whole 'experience' of Atlantic City vacations.

And the ElDorado Motor Inn is right there, waiting to house these sad-sacks, right next to the goldmines. The ElDorado sits adjacent to the Tropicana Casino, just a block away from the beach and the Atlantic City Boardwalk, and a short stroll down to the pier. Truth is, the motel isn't half-bad. It's pretty decent, actually, if you compare it to some of the other Atlantic City motels that peek out in between the big casinos.

The air-conditioned guestrooms with balconies and direct exterior access are equipped with refrigerators, cable TV and HBO, complimentary internet and free local calls, and private bathrooms with complimentary toileteries and a shower/tub combo. Iron & board and rollaway beds are available on request.

The ElDorado offers free parking, a 24-hour front desk and a microwave in the lobby. Standard rates from $51.99 onwards, for which you get all of the above plus 1 King bed in a room with a view of the casino and a partial view of the Atlantic ocean.

It's not that bad a deal, and if you get wiped out in the casinos, and want to go back to your little Jersey towns with the nice picture-postcard New Jersey beaches, then at least you won't regret blowing a big wad on an expensive hotel room.

Info: 2741 Pacific Ave Atlantic City NJ 08401; (609) 345-5956

Chill out on the Rooftop of the Essex inn Chicago

Unlike Los Angeles and New York, where every other hotel has a nifty rooftop pool, Chicago didn't really have many fab rooftop hang-outs. Well, maybe a few...Like the Essex Inn, which has a rooftop garden, swimming pool and a fitness center.

The massive pool looks more like an atrium or an Olympic competition tank, with the enclosure and the deck chairs and flags and all. The 1350 square foot fitness center, fully equipped with cardio machines, weight-training equipment, CrossTrainers, Lifecycles, treadmills and free-weights, is even more swanky with 6 TV sets. Like I said, the rooftop of the Essex Inn is a nice place to hangout in Chicago. View isn't bad either.

To make it even more of an attraction, the onsite restaurant - Savoy Bar & Grill - is a great place to just sit back and watch the activity in Grant Park across the street. Dining options include Greek, Mexican, and Italian specialties, as well as ribs, roast sirloin, and fried shrimp.

And considering all these facilities, the upscale guest rooms and suites and the perfect location on Michigan Avenue with a bunch of major tourist attractions in Chicago bunched around it, the rates, starting from $199, are pretty darn reasonable.

Of course, you could shave more than 100 dollars off that tab if you looked for some cheap Chicago motels to stay in, and then popped in to the Essex Inn to enjoy the other amenities.

But if this is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, then the best way to enjoy your Chicago vacations would be to book in at the Essex Inn and let the luxury wash over you.

Info: 800 South Michigan Avenue Chicago IL 60605; (312) 939-2800; www.essexinn.com/

Deluxe Extended Stay Lodging in Washington DC

Sometimes, things in the Betway don't get done so quickly, and in such cases, you might find yourself stuck on extended Washington DC vacations. But you can't just waltz into the few remaining Washington DC motels - you're going to need to maintain a certain standard. This is where the deluxe all-suite digs of Extended America come in real handy.

Take, for instance, the Extended Stay Deluxe Washington, D.C. - Fairfax. There's two of them in Fairfax, actually - we're talking about the one on 3997 Fair Ridge Drive. Offers studios with rates from $64.99 onwards. You get fully-equipped kitchens and plenty of work and leisure space, with separate sleeping, living and working areas.

The kitchen comes equipped with a full size refrigerator/freezer, microwave, stovetop, coffee/tea maker, dishwasher, and dining and cooking utensils. And if that's not enough, you get housekeeping and they also serve compliementary coffee and a continental breakfast.

The 93 suites also offer wireless internet (one time fee of $4.99 per stay), cable TV, iron & board, hair dryer, sofa bed, on-site guest laundry, 24-hour front desk, air-conditioned public areas, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness facility.

And the location offers easy access to public transport, with all the major tourist attractions in Washington DC in between 15-20 miles off. Dulles International Airport is about 20 minutes away.

Info: 3997 Fair Ridge Dr Fairfax VA 22033; (703) 359-5000; website

American Idols found in Bevonshire Lodge Motel in LA

Well, actually, it's wannabe American Idols that are to found in the Bevonshire Lodge Motel on Beverly Blvd., because it's cheap. Course, there's no shortage of cheap Los Angeles motels, but this one is close to CBS Television City where the show is taped.

It's not exactly a hip location to hang out at, but if you're visiting CBS Studios, then you could do a lot worse. Believe me. There's n number of places in the Fairfax District, and especially around the Groove and CBS Studios which are filled with transients and wannabe Hollywood stars who actually do all kinds of weird stuff.

But the Bevonshire Lodge isn't like that, and besides, it has a neat pool in the courtyard, surrounded by the rooms and stairwells. If you're a bit athletic, you could easily jump off the first floor balcony straight into the pool.

The air conditioned guest rooms start at $60 per night for a standard room with a King bed, and $65 for a double, and $85 for a family room which sleeps 5 people. In addition to the heated outdoor pool, you also get free external parking, safe deposit boxes, cable TV and complimentary coffee in the lobby.

If you're a tourist looking to enjoy your Los Angeles vacations, they'll help you out with your tour arrangements and offer car rental discounts. Which you're going to need, because when you're in Los Angeles, you're going to need either a tour bus or a car - trust me.

It's 10 miles to the wonderful Los Angeles beaches and the Santa Monica Pier, and if you don't have some form of hop-in hop-out transport to see all the tourist attractions in Los Angeles, you're going to need a new pair of legs in a couple of days.

Info: 7575 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles CA 90036; (323) 936-6154; www.bevonshire.com/

Take the Metro to the Motel in New York

Actually it's called the Subway in New York, but that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about the Metro Motel in Queens, New York. It's an ideal and effective cost-saver if you're a visitor enjoying New York vacations - the motel is just 10-15 minutes off Manhattan, and the advantages of relatively cheap facilities in Queens.

The Metro Motel offers 120 rooms ideal for both families and business travelers. You don't have a view of the famed New York attractions like the Empire State Building like you do with other New York motels that are actually located in Manhattan. But you do get close proximity to New York landmarks like the Queens Shopping Center, Flushing Meadows (where the U.S. Open Tennis tournament is played) and Shea Stadium.

You also get to enjoy the delightful ethnic and cultural smells and sounds and sights of Queens, which is a melting pot for the latest wave of immigrants. You'll find Bollywood songs being played on street-front stores and the exotic smell of spices mixing with the sights of jewlry stores and saree mannequins in display windows. Chinatown is nearby and cheap Asian food is available a-plenty. It's all part of the New York experience.

You get free parking (10 minutes from Manhattan and La Guardia - that's got to be worth a fortune...) and a choice of a standard room or a Jacuzzi suite. Large beds, lots of glass, which makes the place look bigger than it actually is. The color schemes are a bit heavy, but overall, it's a decent enough place. You have free parking, proximity to the airport and Manhattan and easy accesibility to public transport, a nice bed and private shower. You could do a lot worse for $88 per night in the Big Apple.

Info: 7300 Queens Blvd and 73rd St Flushing NY 11377; (718) 457-5000; www.metromotel.com/

Villa Rosa spawns intimacy inn Palm Springs

The Villa Rosa Inn, located just off East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, CA, has intimacy stamped all over it. For starters, unlike any Palm Springs motels or hotels in the same price range ($79-$149), this secluded property offers just 6 guest rooms and suites.

The limited rooms, the idyllic setting, the sweeping views of the mountains towering above tall swaying palms and the heavy shrubbery which ring the grounds, the heated outdoor pool with deck chairs and poolside dining, the brilliant weather - it all adds up to very, very intimate getaway Palm Springs vacations.

To top it off, they offer you a complimentary breakfast poolside. You can spend the day relaxing, taking dips, enjoying a good book and watching the birds hum and twitter in the shrubs. You can set out on excursions to check out the Palm Springs attractions, play some golf, and do some shopping. Evenings are made even more romantic by the fine restaurants of the Coachella Valley.

All the guest rooms and suites have poolside views, and are equipped with King or queen sized beds, remote control color TV, refrigerators, phones, quality linens, bath & pool towels, and morning paper. Fully appointed kitchens are also available.

You have a choice between a guest room with King bed, another one with the King bed and a private patio, a studio with a King bed and full kitchen, a Junior Suite with a Queen bed and full kitchen, and two 1-Bedroom Suites with King bed, full kitchen and a private patio. The rates vary based on season and preference of guest room/suite.

A 2-night minimum stay (3-nights for holidays) is required.

Info: 1577 South Indian Trail Palm Springs CA 92264; (760) 327-5915; Reservations: (800) 457-7605; www.villarosainn.com/

Mission possible at Bay Motel

The Mission Bay Motel in the heart of Pacific Beach makes it possible to enjoy San Diego vacations without spending a lot. The motel is located just steps from the Pacific Ocean, with one of the most popular San Diego beaches and the boardwalk stretching for 2 miles right in front of the motel.

You can just pretend to be a beach bum, and spend all your time lazing on the beach, or you cna take a walk or bike ride along the board walk. Evenings you can spend in the nearby bars or go to the Gaslamp Quarter, take in a ball game, get drunk and raise cain.

Also near the motel is the Mission Bay Park, in case you're the outdoorsy type who enjoys wtaer sports. Of course, you also have Sea World and Belmont Park in Mission Bay.

The Mission Bay Motel offers 50 guest rooms, with a choice of single, double and triple beds, or a pseudo-suite with double beds and a kitchenette. The kitchenette has a 2 burner electric stove, sink and small refrigerator, along with dishes, utensils and pots & pans.

Spring rates vary from $89 to $119, depending on your prefernce of rooms. You get free parking (1 vehicle per room) and all rooms come with showers, phones, and Cable TV. $5 extra for teens, and children below age 12 stay free, as long as they accompanied by a paying adult.

All said and done, the Mission Bay Motel can be said to be a fine specimen, amongst San Diego motels. Sure, you don't get room service at 2 am, but it's well maintained, has no 'bad elements', and if you're getting a room for the entire family at around $100 with the Pacific Ocean and the beach in front of your eyes, I guess I'd be willing to forego the room service, the uniformed staff and the shiny brass doorknobs.

Info: 4221 Mission Blvd San Diego CA 92109; (619) 231-5701; Reservations: 1-866-649-5828; www.missionbaymotel.com/

Santa Monica Motel brings Pacific Sands to your doorstep

It's true. You won't find any other Los Angeles motels so close to the Santa Monica Pier. The Pacific Sands Motel is located right across the street from the Santa Monica Beach and Pier.

The motel offers an outdoor pool and complimentary wireless. I'm sure there must be plenty of cheaper digs in Venice Beach, but as far as the City of Santa Monica is concerned, I don't think you'll find anything less than $100, so close to the beach and pier.

Not only are you getting a room right on one of the most beautiful Los Angeles beaches, but you also get the Pier, Pacific Park, Muscle Beach, the Carousel, the Ferris Wheel and all the other famed Santa Monica attractions at your doorstep. It's one of the premier tourist hot-spots on the West Coast.

Amenities offered by the motel, in addition to those listed above, include cable TV, hair dryer, iron & board (on request), work desks, housekeeping and 24-hour front desk. The guest rooms are furnished retro-style, with direct exterior access and private bathrooms. The heated outdoor pool is a nice touch - walled to offer you some privacy from the exterior, with a nice hedge and palms swaying in the background.

It's not exactly the Ritz, and the double beds are kinda squeezed into the rooms, or maybe it's because the beds are huge. Plus, they charge you $7 for over-night parking. But still, considering the rates and the location, it's probably a fair enough deal. Especially if you're with family. Children below 14 stay free, and they even have some rooms, with extra beds, especially built for large family groups. Rollaway beds and cribs available upon request.

Info: 1515 Ocean Ave Santa Monica CA 90401; (310) 395-6133; www.pacificsandshotel.com/

Sea Breeze Blows Thru New Atlantic City Motel

Actually, the New Sea Breeze is a motel in Pleasantville, NJ, which is a couple of miles from the AJ casinos and another mile more to the beaches, Boardwalk and other well-known attractions in Atlantic City.

But 2 miles shouldn't be too much of a bother to somebody who wants to hit the casinos. I mean, other than this, your options are to either pay through the nose to stay at a luxury hotel/casino complex, or stay at one of the miserable dumps which call themselves Atlantic City motels.

Better to spread your wings a bit and enjoy the comforts of a nice small-town NJ motel, set in a picturesque location in Pleasantville, where the Expressway and Black Horse Pike form a gateway linking Atlantic City to mainland New Jersey. It also means that this is the last place (or the first, depending on whether you're coming or going) where you'll see the famed New Jersey beaches along the NJ shores, before you enter the urban mess of Atlantic City.

To make it even more worthwhile, the Sea Breeze actually does blow through the New Sea Breeze Motel. They offer air-conditioned rooms with direct access from the exterior, and balconies overlooking the ocean.

Complimentary parking, a 24-hour front desk, laundry facilities, housekeeping, iron & board, hairdryers, refrigerators, microwaves, and a television make up the offering even more attractive. Rollaway beds and cribs available upon request.

While the motel does not have it's own dining facilities, there's plenty of restaurants nearby, including all kinds of fast-food joints.

Info: 7080 Black Horse Pike West Atlantic City NJ 08232; (609) 484-0025; website

Apache found in Chicago Motel

It's no wigwam, but it's as good a place as any for an Apache Chief to feel at home. We're talking about the Apache Motel on 5535 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago. In their own words, the Apache Motel offers all the comforts of franchise Chicago motels and hotels, but not the price. Rates at the Apache start from $59.

For which rate you get a King room with a mini-refrigerator, tables and chairs, a ncie desk with a round mirror (which makes it look kind of like a movie set), a dinky TV, nice big windows and a big bed with headboard and all, easy colors and bright lighting. They also have suites and doubles, in case you need bigger digs.

You'll need a drive to get to the downtown Chicago attractions about 9-10 miles away, and about the same to O'Hare airport, but it's well worth it, considering the price. If it's any consolation, Wrigley Field is only 4 miles off, and there's no shortage of restaurants in the vicinity.

Info: 5535 N Lincoln Ave Chicago IL 60625; (773) 728-9400; www.apachemotelchicago.com/

Motel fit for a Highlander in Arlington VA

Do you know why it's so difficult to find Washington DC motels? Because there's so many of them minutes away in Arlington, VA. Given the choice, even people who work in DC opt for an Arlington residence. So when you're in DC, do as DCites do - Stay in Arlington.

And a good choice, if you're on a mean budget, is the Highlander Motel on 3336 Wilson Blvd. The equation is pretty simple - 5 minute walk from Virginia Square Station, free parking, free HBO and free continental breakfast.

Factor in the cheap rates (standard rates from $70), the upwardly mobile neighourhood with condos and apartment blocks coming up around the motel, easy accessibility to public transport and proximity to the Washington DC attractions.

You could say that you're getting the best of both worlds - accomodations in the orbit of the ultra commercialized and hyper-inflated DC proper lodging market, but with the convinience, homey touch and cheapness of Arlington.

There's a busy road out front, but some of the rooms are quiet enough to get a good night's sleep The rooms are quite spacious, relative to the rates and by DC standards, and brightly lit, with floor-to-celing windows and drapes.

And you have a splendid array of dining options, including Mario's Pizza and the aptly named Murky Coffee where you can hang out for free wi-fi internet and murky cups of coffee. What? The Motel itself does not have internet access, and besides, if you're looking for Zagat rated restaurants, DC ain't that far away...

Info: 3336 Wilson Blvd Arlington VA 22201; (703) 524-4300; www.highlandermotel.com/

Visit-ing NYC? Motor inn-to the Plaza

If you motor into the famed Plaza Hotel in New York City, they'll take your motor away, then take away everything else you have and own including your shirt, and then hand you with a bill for the rest. Granted they treat you like royalty, but if you can't afford it, then you might want to consider The Plaza Motor Inn in Secaucus, New Jersey.

It's just a 10 minute drive down to all the wonderful New York attractions, and it'll save you in excess of $200 per night, because rates at The Plaza Motor Inn start from $79. Plus you get free parking - which you won't find at any New York motels.

The Plaza Motor Inn is located directly in the heart of the Secaucus Outlet Center, 20 minutes from Newark International Airport. The Meadowlands Sports Complex - home of the New Jersey Devils, New Jersey Nets, and the New York Giants and Jets football teams, is just 5 minutes away, and there's plenty of facilities nearby, including shopping and restaurants. Best part is that you can park your car for free, and take public transport into Manhattan.

The air-conditioned guest rooms and jacuzzi suites are capable of accomodating between 2-4 guests, and offer wall to wall carpeting, wi-fi internet and cable TV.

Info: 155 Route 3 East Secaucus New Jersey 070941; (888) 421-8382; www.plazamotel.cc/

Study of Cambridge inn Palm Springs

People generally take Palm Springs vacations in order to get away from it all, and enjoy the mix of urban and natural pleasures of the desert. And a study of comfort and a perfect sense of getaway within Palm Springs can be found at the Cambridge Inn.

The Cambridge Inn is located 2 miles from the Palm Springs Convention Center, and 3 miles from the airport, and within walking distance of the downtown Palm Springs attractions. It's a small place, with 66 air-conditioned guest rooms with private patios overlooking the pool and spa. In their own words - 'It's a Home Away from Home.'

Amenities offered include complimentary continental breakfast, coffee/tea maker, refrigerator,
hair dryer, cable TV, private bathrooms with showers and bathtubs, work desks, free wi-fi. You also get free parking, safe deposit boxes, guest laundry services, an outdoor heated pool, outdoor spa tub and whirlpool, and business services.

The guest rooms have direct exterior-access, and are spacious enough for 1 King or 2 double beds, with room left over to throw in a couple more beds in between. The floor-to-ceiling windows with both heavy and light drapes for your preference make it seem like a big luxury hotel room. Actually, the Cambridge Inn is one of the best Palm Springs motels you'll ever see, and offers standard rates from $70.

Info: 1277 South Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA; (877) 325-5574; www.cambridgeinnpalmsprings.com/

Check-in to the Marina inn San Diego

What is the best way to enjoy the golden San Diego beaches and other attractions if you're on a budget? You check-in to the Marina Inn Hotel & Suites, 2 blocks from the Cruise Ship Terminal, with the Gaslamp Quarter less than a mile off, and both Sea World and the San Diego Zoo less than 3 miles away. Rates from $59 to $154, depending on your preference of accomodations and date of stay.

If you're looking for San Diego motels, you don't really need to know more than that, but allow me to hammer in a few more nails anyway. The good people at the Marina Inn offer their guests free self-parking, a complimentary breakfast with waffles and coffee, free newspapers, complimentary wireless internet, cable TV with HBO, hairdryers, iron & board, microwaves and refrigerators (last 4 on request).

They have a 24 hr front desk, and you can ask for rollaway beds and cribs, if you need them. The 27 air conditioned guest rooms at the Marina Inn offer views of the Marina with plush pillow-top beds and cherry wood, modern décor. Safes are provided in-room, and so is a coffee maker and free coffee.

After a hard day of checking out all the San Diego attractions, you can relax by walking over to the harbor and enjoying a beautiful sunset over the bay. Best part of it is that the Marina Inn is family and kid-friendly. They even a special kids' suite. Pets are allowed (fee per pet), and they also offer special packages which include discounted attraction tickets. More details here.

There's plenty of good restaurants and 24 hour dining facilities available in the vicinity, including a Denny's and a Steakhouse.

Info: 1943 Pacific Highway San Diego CA 92101; (619) 232-7551; www.marinainnsd.com/

Royal Pagoda found in Los Angeles Motel

Before we get to the details, let's have one thing sorted out - what's a royal pagoda? Well, see, a pagoda is a real stacked up Asian broad - you know, like a big base, a smaller one on top of the base, and another nice one on top of that, and so on. A royal pagoda, we assume, must be one fit for a king, or made for a king.

Which is what the Royal Pagoda Motel in downtown Los Angeles set to be, but the ravages of time have wreaked havoc on this royal dwelling, and it is now what it was meant to be - just another of the many cheap and highly unmemorable Los Angeles motels you'll find dotting downtown.

It's definitely not the Westin Bonaventure, but it's still not so bad, if you consider what they offer - cable TV, free parking and direct access to rooms from the exterior, air conditioning, complimentary toileteries, magentic keys, rollaway beds, hairdryer, iron & board, and microwave (all 4 available on request), in-room refrigirator and wake-up calls.

There's a 24 hour front desk, and free coffee in the lobby. Must be mentioned here that if you're sitting in a motel drinking coffee while the sun shines over the brilliant Los Angeles beaches, then you probably need to have your head examined.

Anyway, the Royal Pagoda's 35 rooms divided into 2 stories offer, in addition to the above mentioned amenities, also offer private bathroms with showers, with a choice of two double beds, 1 King bed or a deluxe unit with two doubles and an attached kitchenette.

The Royal Pagoda is located about 3 miles from Staples Center, 6-7 miles from Hollywood and nearly 10 miles to Universal Studios and the other major Los Angeles attractions, but if you're in the mood for Chinese food and an Asian environment, then you're definitely in the right place.

Info: 995 N Broadway Los Angeles CA 90012; (323) 223-3381; http://royalpagodamotel.com/

Enjoy Ascot at Motel in Atlantic City

Let's keep it simple - the aptly named Ascot Motel is a single block off the casinos and guilty pleasures of the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It offers free garage parking, an outdoor pool and a free continental breakfast. And that's about all that's expected from Atlantic City motels.

It works something like this - you come in with your pockets full, park your ride in the garage, check-in and stow your bag, take a shower and then hit the Atlantic City attractions. Late at night, you come out of the casinos, pockets empty, drunk and feeling wretched that they cleaned out your clock. You walk straight to the hell-raising bars lined up alongside one of the most famed New Jersey beaches, drink away the sorrow and head back to your motel, drunk as a skunk.

Take a nice dip in the pool, cool off a bit and go to bed broke and tired. When you wake up, you still got your car and your bag, you eat the free breakfast, and then you hightail it out of AC, a lot wiser, and a lot less richer. That's how Atlantic City makes money, and the best that can be said is that it's an experience. And the Ascot Motel isn't half as bad as some other motels you could have ended up at.

In addition to the aforementioned pool, breakfast and parking, they also offer a 24-hr front desk, free local calls, housekeeping, hair dryers and iron & ironing boards (on request), a microwave and coffee in the lobby, and the 80 guest rooms are kitted out with cable TV, refrigerators and shower/tub combo. Rollaway beds and cribs available on request. You get all this for rates from $70.

The Tropicana Hotel Coffee shop is nearby, and so are restaurants like Cuba Libre and the Baltimore Grill.

Info: 101 N Iowa Ave Atlantic City NJ 08401; (877) 747-8713

Is Mart Plaza the best place to Holiday inn Chicago?

Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do. One of these great American traditions happens to be the annual vacation. You slave all year round, scrimp on the little luxuries, and save up enough - so you can blow it all in a weekend of sun n'sand, or shopping and wining and dining.

It's your right, and you deserve it, recession be damned. That's why employers offer paid vacation leave, and travel companies offer family vacation packages. And most often, it's places like New York and Los Angeles which benefit from this tradition, as middle America heads for the coasts. But in the mid-west, Chicago is King. There is other city remotely close to getting the kind of expereince that Chicago vacations offer.

And one of the main beneficiaries of this annual tourist deluge is the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, located adjacent to the Chicago Merchandise Mart, minutes from the Loop, and with the best views of all Downtown Chicago. Within walking distance, you'll find great restaurants, intimate wine bars, exotic art galleries, stunning architecture, and a wealth of other unique Chicago attractions. Most importantly, it's also within walking distance of Michigan Avenue and the Magnificent Mile shopping district.

The Holiday Inn offers 521 guest rooms, including 4 suites, the Cityscape bar - which, as the name suggests, offers sweeping views of Chicago, free wireless internet, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, meeting and banquet facilities for weddings and corporate events.

At any given time, the hotel has at least half a dozen specials, discounts and group package deals. Course, you could cut down much more if you choose to stay at one of the relatively cheap Chicago motels like the Heart O'Chicago. But there isn't really much point in saving up all year for a vacation, and then trying to save money on the vacation too. That would make you Uncle Scrooge.

The whole point is to go out and have fun and be treated like royalty for a couple of days. And that's what you get at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.

Info: 350 West Mart Center Drive Chicago IL 60654; (312) 836-5000; www.martplaza.com/

Wonderful Days at Hotel inn Broadway NYC

The Days Hotel Broadway is a throwback to the golden days of yore when Bohemians ruled the Big Apple, and successful artists weren't measured by the size of their condo. Those days are gone, but the Days Hotel still offers rooms as cheap as any you'll find at New York motels, while their facilities and location are as good, if not better, than any $250 hotel in the Upper West Side.

The Days Inn is located two subway stops to Times Square & the Theater District. It's close to Columbia University, and just a short stroll to Central Park and all the surrounding major tourist attractions in New York.

The 214 guest rooms at the Days Inn offer you free wireless hi-speed internet, free coffee maker and coffee in guestrooms, hair dryer, in-room safe, complimentary news paper, iron & ironing board. A discounted parking garage, business center and fitness room are available for your use. Refrigirator, cribs, rollaway beds, etc. available for free, upon request.

The hotel also offers laundry and dry cleaning services and a shuttle service. Key West diner is just around the corner, there'sa 24 hr Deli across the street, and plenty of restaurants and pubs within walking distance, including the original Carmine's Restaurant.

Rates from $84 per night.

Info: 215 W 94th Street New York NY 10025; (212) 866-6400; www.dayshotelnyc.com/

Budget Host Travelers Motel in Alexandria, VA

Searching for Washington motels is actually a fool's errand. Nobody has a nice house in Washington DC except for the President and his buddies. That's because everyone lives across the 'pond' in Alexandria, VA.

So when in Washington, do as Virginians do. Find yourself a cheap budget motel in Alexandria. There's plenty to choose from, but unquestionably the best of the lot is the aptly named 'Budget Host Travelers Motel.'

It's located at Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, on 5916 Richmond Highway, just minutes away from the attractions in Washington DC, and just a 1/2 mile from the Huntington Metro Subway station.

And best part is that inspite of being relatively cheap, and centrally located, the motel is a perfectly family-friendly place, offering cribs and non-smoking rooms with free parking, complimentary newspapers, high speed internet and cable TV.

Of course, the motel is pretty old, but it's been well maintained, and it's an American family-owned motel. They even have a some books piled up for guests to read near the ice machine. Nightly rates start from around $95. Nice bed, with a reading lamp above the headboard and another one on the table stand next to the bed. Window is a bit small, but then, if you want a room with a view in Washington DC, then you go to the Hay-Adams and pay $600+ for a view of the White House.

All said and done, the Budget Host Travelers Motel, as the name suggests, will allow you to actually spend your money on the pleasures of Washington DC vacations, as opposed to lining the already fat bottonlines of a big hotelier.

Info: 5916 Richmond Highway Alexandria VA 22303; (703) 329-1310

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/