great takes on family travel in the U.S.

It is rare that one sits up at night, planning a fun vacation that includes the perfect destination, the best things to do, and that fabulous motel. MOTEL?

Ok, so they aren’t exciting. They aren’t the kind of rooms that you dream about staying in,with comfy robes, silky sheets, and room service. However, motels serve a valuable travel purpose. They let you enjoy a stay without swallowing your wallet and sometimes that can make or break a trip.

However, there are motels that can rise above the boring and serviceable. They have that extra flair or creative touch that makes them a little more special. In Austin, Texas….a wonderful travel destination….there is the Austin Motel. This is not your ordinary motel. Established in 1938 as a motorlodge, it has been refurbished over the years into a unique and funky lodging option that captures that old Austin charm.

Its most appealing attribute is that it is located in one of Austin’s best and most convenient neighborhoods. Just south of Congress Avenue bridge and Lake Austin, where millions of Mexican Free-Tail bats swarm every evening. It is a short walk from the famed bars and clubs of 6th street and the Texas Capitol. Plus, it is right in the middle of South Congress. Here you have a multitude of funky shopping, antique stores, hip restaurants and late-night venues. You couldn’t ask for a better location.

The actual motel has very individualized rooms. Each one is decorated differently. Not one room is like another…with entirely different layouts, furniture, wall murals, color schemes, etc. There are some very creative stylings and rooms that are very basic to slightly luxurious. Scroll through their list of rooms and find one that fits your personality! You can easily find one for $70-100/night. The hotel also has free parking, a “50’s style” pool and claims to be “green”.

You can’t ask for a better budget option in Austin. So, here’s to being cool and cheap!

Thanks to Nika for the great Austin Motel photo.

With around 46 million annual visitors to NYC, Times Square and its surroundings have become one big fat tourist trap, focused on squeezing every last dollar out of naive tourists. Hotel rates, especially, are way out of control, with average nightly rates zooming up to over $300 (it was around $250 last year). What are Joe and Jane Six-pack supposed to do to find some decent and cheap hotels for New York trips? For starters, continue reading…

In addition to listing out the most desirable cheap hotels for the Big Apple, I’ll also be listing out some New Jersey hotels which are making a real and sustained effort to reach out to NYC visitors and tourists. Plus, NYCvisit.com -the City’s official tourism portal - has come up with an innovative deal offering 1 night free at major hotels. But first, let’s get started on the cheapskate NYC hotels.

The Pod Hotel - From bunk beds to single and double ‘pods’ and a swanky Townhouse Studio, the Pod Hotel in Turtle Bay, on the eastern edge of midtown, is a good example of how space challenged hotels in NYC can make up for it with cheap rates and a funky sense of style. They have a summer special going on now for $139. Standard rate for a Double Pod is around $200. More details here. All said and done, the rooms are small, even by NYC standards, but if all you’re looking for is a place to sleep, then the Pod is an excellent midtown base for an extended stay in New York City.

Two decent hotels near the Empire State Building are the Herald Square Hotel with rates from $89, and the Wolcott Hotel which comes highly recommended as one of the best budget hotels in New York City. Then there’s the New Yorker with rates from $129 and the Chelsea Savoy (its a bit far from the usual tourist haunts) with rates from $99. And the Park Savoy, just off Central Park, with rates from $145.

Now these were all decent enough and quite cheap, by NYC standards. But if you want something more out of a hotel, without having to pay through the nose, then check out the NYCVisit.com Sunday Stays program, which offers 20–30% off at participating hotels, along with free room upgrades, discounts on room service and restaurant dining, complimentary breakfast and other freebies.

Lastly, you can go one step further and entirely avoid the hassle and high prices in NYC by opting for a hotel in New Jersey, most of which are way cheaper and more spacious and luxurious. Here’s a full list (pdf file) of NJ hotels within 14 miles of New York City. This list might come in especially handy if you’re driving to New York City, where you’ll likely have to sell your car to get hold of parking space for a couple of days.

Photo by p_a_h via flickr (creative commons)

Austin has it all, from luxury suites and fine dining restaurants to budget hotels and cheap eats. If you are planning a trip that falls into the latter category then you will not be short on options. The “Music Capitol of the World” is an easy place to enjoy yourself while pinching pennies. I have put together a list of great hotels that will ensure you enjoy your stay without spending much cash. You might be able to find cheaper hotels in Austin, but, you can be confident that none of the hotels on this list will be a stone’s throw from the interstate, cockroach friendly, or barely inside the county line!

1. Austin Motel: This place is funky, unique, and cheap and located on one of the hippest streets in Austin. It is an old motor lodge, celebrating its 70th birthday this year. Each room has been updated and individually furnished with bright colors and fun patterns. Rooms start as low as $75 and you can walk to the many excellent shops and popular restaurants along South Congress, or take a stroll down to Congress bridge over Town Lake–downtown bars and clubs are a walk or cheap cab ride away as well. This is my pick for best value.

2. Adams House bed and breakfast: This is a beautiful old house in the popular neighborhood of Hyde Park. The area is lined with old oak trees and cute houses. This bed and breakfast has a great lawn and nice communal areas. The rooms are very individualized and cozy. They have several rooms for under 100/night. If you are a state employee, you get a discounted rate. Plus, there is a yummy free breakfast every day!

3. 6th Street Hostel: If you are the type who likes to be RIGHT in the middle of all the action, then this is the place for you. Cheap rooms, nothing fancy, but surrounded by the bars and clubs of Austin’s famed 6th street. If you intend to get a good quiet night’s sleep, then this is not the place for you!

 No matter your style, Austin has a great room for you. So, book a cheap hotel and then start planning all the tasty restaurants, great bands, and fun outdoor activities that you want to do!

Chicago is a terrific place to visit-especially in the summer while it’s warm and the lakefront is full of activities. But, it can also be an expensive destination. Inevitably, there will be cab rides to pay for and meals to buy. One way to enjoy Chicago without the sting of a high credit card bill, is to find low cost accomodation. Save your money for that game at Wrigley Field or to attend a taping of Oprah, and book a cheap hotel.

Here are some budget hotels to choose from:

1. Arlington House: This is a great option for its cheap rooms and terrific location. It has clean rooms  and is located in a convenient neighborhood, right next to Lincoln Park. This could save you a lot on cab fare!

2. Sheffield House: Again, nothing fancy. But, the rooms are clean and you are two blocks from Wrigley Field. You can actually hear that “swing, batta batta, swing”!

3. Heart of Chicago Motel: This is an old staple for cheap and dependable lodging. It has free wireless and free breakfast (can you really ask for more) and is located in one of Chicago’s old stately neighborhoods. You can walk about at night and pretend you live in one of the million dollar homes.

Chicago has plenaty of cheap accomodation options if you are willing to forgo some luxuries. Saving money on your hotel will free up some cash for all the great sights and scenes that Chicago has to offer. So, what are you waiting for?

Thanks to Dan Taylor for hotel bed picture!

Nothing beats a weekend in California’s wine country for romance and relaxation-that is, unless you are worried about the second mortgage you took on your house in order to finance the trip! It is true that it is easy to part with money here. However, it is also entirely possible to spend a weekend in wine country that doesn’t take a bite out of your check book–only a nibble. This starts with finding a cheap hotel!

My suggestion would be to stray a little more north of the highly frequented Napa and Sonoma valleys. Drive a little further and you will enter the Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley area with small towns such as Healdsburg and Guerneville. Here, you have many more economical options. Here are several I found on UpTake.

1. Creekside Inn in Guerneville. They have charming cottages that are good for one couple to a small group. You can easily get a two bedroom with a kitchen for around $175 a night. Split between friends or couples, this is a terrific price, especially if you consider how much you will save cooking in a kitchen versus forking over a lot of cash at a pricey restaurant.

2. L&M Motel in Healdsburg. Not precisely a hotel, but, worth mentioning here. The rooms start under $100 and while basic, are very clean and comfortable. The staff is friendly and you can walk the few short blocks to the main plaza in town. They are pet friendly as well, so can save you the cost of boarding your furry friend.

3. Amerisuites in Healdsburg. Again, no frills-but it has a great locations and a terrific price. Save your money for a vineyard tour.

These cheap accommodations will help you plan a more price conscious trip. I have found that the winding back country roads in this area are filled with small, family owned wineries that have a unique feel and tasty wines . Plus, these vineyards are far less likely to charge high prices for tastings-which is an easy way to spend a lot of money. What you save on paying for tastings you can make up for in actual bottles of wine!

The true splendor of wine country is also it’s beautiful setting. It does something for the soul to gaze at the rolling gold hillsides supporting bountiful vineyards and knarled stately oak trees. The best part about this: the views are free!

Thanks to Rdesai for the vineyard picture.