Although chain hotels and motels offer the traveler a familiar place to rest on a trip, local businesses can offer a comfortable alternative, with a touch of Americana thrown in.
Traveling can be fun on a budget because of the many available bargain options you have. In addition to the numerous chains of hotels and motels out there that you can check out on the internet, there are still many "mom and pop" hotels, motels and cabins off the beaten track that are not listed in any guide book but are known only to the locals in that area. And just because they're not listed nationally does not make them bad. The money the owners save on advertising may go into better laundry detergent, more stringent cleaning, and attractive furnishings. One never knows until he checks.
The question of which is better remains to be answered. Many folks enjoy a bit of Americana, finding those country inns to be a step back in time, reliving the vacations they took with their parents in the family sedan so many years ago. Others like the familiarity of a chain group of accommodations, because familiarity is assurance, but even the chains are not all alike.
If you are extremely organized and have planned your trip well in advance, you can go on-line and do an Internet search for accommodations in the area you will be traveling. However, those who do this on a regular basis are aware that only the major hotels and chains will be listed. Many privately-owned hotels cannot afford internet listings, and their location is a well-kept secret until you actually drive by the place.
Generally, chain lodgings are located just off the exits of major highways and interstates. You can see their signs high in the sky, each beckoning the traveler to take the exit and stop there to sleep. Many of them are pre-advertised on billboards as you drive along, with signs saying "ten more miles at Exit 312." If you are a regular traveler, you'll be familiar with the names, and already have a preconceived idea of what type of establishment it is, as well as the price range. Of course, sometimes the billboards also display the price, leaving nothing to guesswork.
Many exit areas have a myriad of signs all attached to one post, telling the motels available at the next ramp. In addition to the chains, you might see a sign displaying an unfamiliar place, such as "Cameron's Cabins" or "The Starlight Motel." You can be pretty sure these are privately-owned places, and they could be the travelers' dream come true. They could also be their worst nightmare.
If you are one of those people who likes to keep off the interstates and would rather drive major highways that travel through all the small towns and backwoods areas, "the scenic route" as it were, you will have access to many of the non-chain, mom-and-pop motels that are still in existence from years ago. Some are exactly the way they were in the fifties, spruced up to change with the times, and some are actually modern, long, low-slung beauties built in recent years. You can get an idea of how they will be inside by noticing how the outside looks. Is the paint peeling? Are shrubs kept up, lawns mowed, snow plowed away from each unit? Are the light bulbs in working order? Is the sign in the front lawn truly appealing? If the outside is unattractive, chances are the inside won't be much better.
When stopping at a cheap, privately-owned motel, ask to see a room before you pay your money. Check the shower and the toilet facilities first. Are they clean? Do they have those disposable paper covers on them? How are the towels? Are they fluffy? Is there a bad smell in the room? Is the rug clean? Is there dust in the corners? Does the bathroom door close properly? Sometimes these individual places are impeccably clean, with the owners doing all the work, and because it's their main source of income, they want their place to reflect perfection. This is not always the case with chains, where cleaners are hired at minimum wage, and if they can cut corners they will.
Many chain hotels have leaky bathrooms, dust bunnies under the bed, and bedspreads and comforters that haven't been washed in weeks. If you haven't made reservations in advance, ask to check the room you will be sleeping in. Even if you do have reservations, you don't need to take a room that's not up to your expectations. You may also ask for your money back if the chain you've stayed in was dirty, noisy, or dangerous.
Sometimes cheap chain hotels located outside of the city limits are gathering places for drug dealers or shady people. Convenience to local attractions isn't always a safe thing.
It just takes a little common sense and a person's individual tastes whether to choose a chain hotel or an inexpensive roadside hideaway. Both have their good points and bad points, but if they are clean and quiet, you should enjoy a good night's sleep.
