Best budget hotels with an equally good reputation
- Abigail Gaston
- Jan 23, 2019
- 5 min read
Sometimes, it just so happens that we get a spectacular deal on airfare and then we head to our favorite hotel finder with the hopes that we will score another fantastic deal and BAM! Nope, sorry, not gonna happen! Well, at least we beat the big brands on attaining a super cheap flight, right? Kudos to us on that!
So, what is the next best option? Well, honestly, you have many options. You could checkout some of the hostels and B&B's in the city you are traveling to or you can look into staying at a vacation rental. There are many sites out there that specialize in vacation rentals; Airbnb, VRBO, and so on. Or, you can checkout these budget friendly hotel/motel options that have been given the "A-OK" to stay by travelers.
Red Roof Inn
The Red Roof Inn brand is a whopping 46 years old and every one of those 46 years, the brand has believed in "simplicity and economy without giving up quality." Up until recently, Red Roof Inn properties were exclusive to the United States (over 500 properties); however, the hotel chain entered the Canadian market in 2015, making it a North American chain.
Red Roof Inn Perks:
Pet friendly rooms /environment and without an additional charge
Best rate guaranteed policy
Free wifi
Many RRI properties have received major upgrades including rooms with hardwood flooring, new Serta beds, modern/contemporary interior design
RRI recently introduced the "Red Roof Plus." This is an economically friendly take on an upscale hotel stay - Motto: "Rooms designed to exceed your expectations."
Candlewood Suites
Candlewood Suies is part of the IHG brand and is relatively new compared to some of the others on this list (1995). Although Candlewood Suites is most familiar because of their extended stay reputation and full amenities within their rooms (kitchen, sitting space, office space, etc.); it does not mean that Candlewood Suites does not cater to the single night stay. All types of stays, long or short, are welcome!
One plus for booking with Candlewood Suites is that because they are known to cater to business personal, there are many fee free services that other hotels charge for. Reviews indicate that Candlewood Suites offers clean and relaxing rooms, plus comfortable work space for those needing extended work accommodations. Overall, Candlewood Suites has a 4 star TripAdvisor rating.
Less than my favorite Starbucks coffee and the best $5.99/mo I spend!
Hampton Inn by Hilton
I must say, I was really excited about this one making the cut! Why? I actually stay at Hampton Inn often. Recently, I stayed at a Hampton Inn in Times Square and it was a spectacular experience! The customer service was beyond excellent, the rooms were super clean and the beds were perfect. Plus, it had the biggest and best continental breakfast I have ever seen!
Hampton Inn is known to have many amenities for vacationers; including indoor pools, fitness centers, the previously mentioned continental breakfast, and the hotel chain falls under that much appreciated Hilton customer service and business standard.
Best Western Hotels and Resorts
I am actually quite impressed with this 70 year old brand. Honestly, I have a hard time even classifying them as a basic budget hotel brand. Based on the ones I have stayed at over the past few years; Best Western sure did not come across as, well, basic. The price resembles that of a hotel with basic amenities, but the hotel offerings are far from limited. Additionally, Best Western offers 13 different types of hotels; including Best Western's "Sur Stay" brand. Meaning, there is always a Best Western for every vacation style. You want the bare minimum, no problem. You want a more extravagant, resort-like experience, they have that too.
As the name indicates, the Best Western brand is not just a hotel chain; it is part of the resort market too!" Resorts that represent individual cultural flair and art from the area of the world it is in and provides world class amenities to vacationers; these resorts are part of the "Premier Collection."
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Homewood Suites offers vacationers a choice between studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom suites at unbelievably low costs. You get premium packages at an affordable price, and enough room to have the entire family stay in one area without feeling cramped.
La Quinta
According to frequent La Quinta stayers, one of the best things about this budget friendly hotel is the continuous deals they offer. La Quenta even offers weekend deals! This is a time of the week when most hotels are jacking prices up; however, La Quinta is helping travelers out by giving them a little break! Also, you can always expect a continental breakfast to start your day off right!
Motel 6
I know you have heard of the "We'll leave the light on for you" motel. However, did you know that the reason for the name, "Motel 6," is because when the first Motel 6 opened in 1962 in Santa Barbara, CA, a 1 night stay actually only cost patrons $6? Today, the average stay is probably somewhere in the mid $60 range; however, still pretty budget friendly.
In a recent USA Today article, I read that Motel 6 is known for their affordable, clean rooms and friendly staff. That is a pretty nice compliment from a respected source. I took it upon myself to go through customer reviews and the top 3 positive commonalities that I discovered were: safe locations/atmosphere, comfortable rooms, affordable price. One of the complaints that seemed to show up the most centered around front-desk knowledge. Evidently, the front-desk staff could use additional education on reservations, policies, and customer service, but that could be an easy fix with some attention given to training by Motel 6 corporate. I also learned through these reviews that Motel 6 is a crowd favorite for road trippers.
Travel Accessory Tip: Get a selfie stick!
My favorite is a wireless/bluetooth option. I the one to the left and really like; it can be purchased here for $21.99
A good budget friendly option is this Mpow stick. It can be purchased here for $9.99.
Selfies are so last season; unless you have the right selfie stick! Just kidding, the "selfie" will never die; it crashed into our world like a hurricane and is here to stay. You see, it started off a bit slow, but after the concept picked up steam it slammed into society with a fury. The best way to take a selfie, however, is with the right selfie stick! Many times I have been on vacation and only had the length of my arm to capture myself surrounded by something really great; however, my arms are often not long enough! Finally, I decided I would invest in a selfie stick. As cliche as it sounds, the selfie stick made a world of a difference; my vacation scrapbook never looked so great!
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5 Tips that may get your hotel fees waived
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