Description:
You start thinking about a leisurely week in New Mexico or a quick escape to Vermont. You open a guidebook and thumb through the listings. You see sweet bed and breakfasts with antiques, homemade muffins, and secluded hot tubs under the stars. You smile. Then you note the prices--and decide that you've been meaning to attend to a few chores and get to know your local museums better, anyway, so you might as well stay home. If this sounds like your scenario, there is a new guide out with just the facts to rekindle your travel wanderlust. Tracy Whitcombe's tome offers 7,500 listings across the USA for $45 or less a night. Not all cities offer lodgings at that price, but if they do, Whitcombe's got them. Many of the accommodations are motel chains (Motel 6, Econo-Lodge, and the Red Roof Inn); however, there are some independent options as well, with extras like saunas, pools, and fitness facilities. The descriptions are short and pithy, detailing price, number of units, and amenities ranging from continental breakfast to refrigerators and microwaves. You can visit Denver, Portland, Chicago, and even New Orleans with a minimum cash outlay for your basic bed with bath, or stay in smaller towns and save even more. It's easy to find a quaint and romantic inn where you can max out your credit cards, but if economic accommodations are a priority, its nice to be able to make plans you can afford for the vacation you had in mind. --Stephanie Gold
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