United States of America Hotel Tips by Toughluck

AmericInn Lodge & Suites: Always a pool and breakfast

You'll always find a pool and a nice room. Mid-range in price and always in good condition.

Unique Qualities: If you like a quick breakfast, AmericInn will do. If you prefer a liesurely breakfast, the options are limited and there is little space in the lobby. While the pool is great in the evening, it's not as comfortable as a place for breakfast. But you'll find a good room and easy access.

Comparison: about average

Phone: 800-396-5007

Theme: Motel

Website: http://www.americinn.com

Holiday Inns: Holiday Inns

Pool, comfortable chair and desk in every room. Queen and King size beds. You'll even find many with 'holidomes'. These are pools with game areas, in an enclosed space. Many rooms will open directly onto the play area. Great for kids.

Unique Qualities: We used Holiday Inns (not to be confused with the lower cost, fewer amenities of the Holiday Inn Express) when we were traveling with kids. We knew that we'd have a pool and usually a large open space for them to move around and burn off energy from long days in the car or boring days (for them) in museums.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 877 865 6578

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.holidayinn.com

Motel 6: Lowest Price of a chain anywhere

Just the basics and you only pay for the basics. Clean, simple. Adequate. Perfect for the small budget. Located across the country, mostly along the major roadways

Comparison: least expensive

Theme: Motel

Website: http://www.notel6.com

Days Inn: National availability - newer rooms

Simple rooms, adequate. You always know that you'll get a nice room (nothing deluxe) at a reasonable price for the area. It will be comfortable.

Unique Qualities: When in doubt, Days Inn is always a good place to stay.

Comparison: about average

Phone: 800-DAYS-INN

Theme: Motel

Website: http://www.daysinn.com

Many Glaciers: National Park Lodges

All the National Park Lodges are great places to stay. Some are spartan, others are unique architectural places.

My Favorites:
Many Glaciers Lodge in Glacier NP, Montana.

Yosemite Motor Lodge in Yosemite NP, California
Awahnee Lodge in Yosemite NP, California

Canyonlands Motor Inn, Yellowstone NP,Wyoming
Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming
Old Faithful Hotel, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming
Roosevelt Inn, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming

Lake Cresent Lodge, Olympic NP, Washington
Kalaloch Inn, Olympic NP, Washington

Unique Qualities: Just so you know, most of these hotels have no elevators. So if you're on the top, it's a long climb each day.

Many Glaciers Lodge: Located on the shore of Swift Current Lake with a view of the glacial peaks.
Yosemite Motor Lodge: below Yosemite falls, with easy access to the valley and rooms for 2 or 6 people
Awahnee Lodge: Most deluxe in a simple way. Located below a rock wall nearly 1000' tall. View across a meadow and the valley.

Canyonlands Motor Inn, a short walk from the canyon. Numerous smaller buildings (2 or 4 rooms) and middle size buildings with 10-25 rooms. Away from the roads and crowds.

Old Faithful Inn: Numerous small cabins (usually duplexes). Central washrooms, low price. Our's had a view of Old Faithful. We woke up and saw the geyser at full eruption out the window.
Old Faithful Hotel, the historic building with a lobby of natural trees, straight or bent, holding up a 3-story atrium. An architectural wonder.
Roosevelt Inn: a series of small cabins without linen or regular heat source. Bring sleeping bags or bedding. They sell heat logs. It's the quietest area of the park. Old western style. Enjoy the evening on the porch of the Inn (meals served) and watch the night settle in. I'd like to spend a week here. note: it's not close to much of the park, which is why I like it.

Comparison: about average

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.nps.gov