Hotels

Please note: These reviews are based on one night in one hotel. Our sentiments and feelings in no way suggest that anyone else will have the same experience with any other hotel in any of the chains we mention. Or, for that matter even with the same hotel.  Where available, a link to a reservation or information website is provided.

Rating stars (*) are now graphics(), which should make them easier to see.

Lodgings are now grouped by their Class, instead of the previously unorganized list.  Many hotel chains can fit into multiple classes, and some hotels have multiple classes of lodging in a single location.  Check with the chain or owner before making reservations.

Hotel Classes

Campground (CG): A tent pad or parking space with two utilities. Park conditions, restroom and shower quality and availability, and convenience of access are major considerations.  As of this writing, the National Parks Service only accepts reservations for large groups.

 Motor Inn (MI): A highly-economized hotel with minimal amenities. Cleanliness, price and room condition are major factors. (examples: Super 8, EconoLodge)

 Tourist (T): A less economized hotel with more amenities. Cleanliness, price and room condition are still the major factors. (examples: Best Western, Fairfield Inn by Marriott)

 Business Traveler (BT): Designed for overnight occupation by salesmen and other businessmen. Room condition and price are still major factors, but amenities and location take a greater significance. (examples: Comfort Inn, La Quinta)

 Business Suites (BS): Designed for extended stays. Price is less important; amenities, services and location have more significance.  Condition remains a major factor. (examples: Clarion, Holiday Inn: Crown Plaza)

Luxury (L): Dream vacation stuff. Price is not an issue, amenities, services and location are major issues, condition is, as always a major factor. (example: Westin Hotels, The Plaza)

 

Cost: Each "$" equals about $20 dollars in cost. Places that were significantly less than $20 are marked with "¢". Cost is based on a single room, double occupancy (or a single tent pad, in the case of campgrounds) at the time of our visit. No way we'll guarantee that your cost will even be comparable.

Ratings:
*—Ick
**—Okay in a pinch
***—Not too shabby
****—Yow!

Brushy Creek State Park —Sallisaw, OK (FTH Tour '97) Nice, quiet park with a man-made lake and a very tall ranger.
Class: CG Cost: ¢ Brett: Donna:

Mission Tejas State Park —Weches, TX (FTH Tour '97) Beautiful grounds, lots to do, fishing, hiking, historic mission and log cabin, woodsy atmosphere, excellent park ranger!
Class: CG Cost: ¢ Brett: Donna:

Lake Arrowhead State Park —Henrietta, TX (DFP Tour '98) Friendly rangers, a fishing pier, a beautiful lake and gobs of Prairie dogs make this a nice park, but it's very, very windy, and the restrooms are inconveniently located.
Class: CG Cost: ¢ Brett: Donna:

Guadalupe Mts. Nat'l Park—(Near) Oria, TX (DFP Tour '98) Beautiful hiking trails, interesting geological formations. Only 20 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns. The campgrounds were clean and orderly and the host was one of the nicest people we've ever met. No showers. Awesome view, cool ranger program, but NO SHOWERS!
Class: CG Cost: ¢ Brett: Donna:

South Llano River State Park —Junction, TX (DFP Tour '98) Abundant wildlife, beautiful trees, a clear lake and river, swimming area, well-maintained restrooms and showers all combine to make this one heck of a place to stay.
Class: CG Cost: ¢ Brett: Donna:

Lockhart State Park—Lockhart, TX (DFP Tour '98) We decided not to stay the night and just drove all the way home, if that tells you anything.
Class: CG Cost: ¢ Brett: Donna:

Lake Pomona State Park—Pomona, KS (BT Tour '99) Very quiet and secluded.  I wish we'd brought sleeping bags instead of just blankets.  Amazing lack of wildlife.  Nobody messed with our garbage bag overnight.  Had to skip showers — 60 degrees and no hot water.
Class:  CG  Cost:  ¢  Brett   Donna

Great Sand Dunes National Monument—Alamosa, CO (EBB Tour '00)  Nice Park.  No showers.
Class:  CG  Cost $  Brett   Donna

Echo Lake Campgrounds—Pike National Forest, (near) Idaho Springs, CO(EBB Tour '00)  Marvelous scenery, Spectacular drive, no running water.
Class:  CG  Cost $  Brett   Donna

Cedar Bluffs Reservoir State Park—(near) Ogallah, KS (EBB Tour '00)  No hot water, kinda bland, but the birds were entertaining.
Class:  CG  Cost:  ¢  Brett   Donna

Super 8 —Woodbridge, VA (PI Tour '95) All they needed were free dirty videos and hourly rates and they could set up shop on South Main.
Class: MI Cost: $$ Brett: Donna:

Cross Country Inn —(Near) Shreveport, LA (FTH Tour '97) The ceiling was cracked and the wallpaper looked like it had been applied by blind elk. One of the lights didn't work. A previous guest had left his briefs hanging from the bathroom doorknob. Otherwise, the night was peaceful and there were no unidentifiable odors or noises. There are better (and cheaper) hotels in Shreveport. Room price had been adjusted upward because of the holiday.
Class: MI Cost: $$$($) Brett: Donna:

EconoLodge—Oklahoma City, OK (BT Tour '99) While very obviously a motor inn, this hotel still manages to be the best in its class.  The rooms are clean and the gravity works which is more than can be said for many other hotels of this class.
Class:  MI  Cost:  $$ Brett:    Donna:

Best Western/King's Road Inn —Texarkana, AR (PI Tour '95) The appointments were nicer than expected and the lobby staff were extremely helpful and courteous.
Class: T Cost: $$ Brett: Donna:

Fairfield by Marriott —Jackson, TN (PI Tour '95) I was disappointed. I really expected more from Marriott than they seemed willing to give. The Lobby was staffed by co-eds who seemed to look at hostelry as the college equivalent of flipping burgers.
Class: T Cost: $$$ Brett: Donna:

Best Western/Peddler's Inn —Montgomery, AL (PI Tour '95) Located in the airport district, this hotel makes the best of a bad situation. Missing vending machines highlight the high crime in the area. However, the lobby staff was friendly and courteous, and not only does the hotel feature a personal coffee-maker, but also a free breakfast buffet. This is the only hotel this trip that had stationery in the room.
Class: T Cost: $$ Brett: Donna:

Best Western—Hobbs, NM (DFP Tour '98) The motel was nice, although there was no way to turn off the A/C. Our room had an attached carport and the room comes with a complimentary breakfast to die for.
Class: T Cost: $$ Brett: Donna:

Comfort Inn—Texarkana (BT Tour '99)  The walls were dirty and had holes in many places.  Parts of the ceiling had been spackled many times.  Two of the lamps had no bulbs.  Not quite so clean [as other Comfort Inns].  Obviously, this one hasn't been upgraded because the bathtub/shower hasn't been replaced by a one-piece unit.
Class:  T  Cost:  $$$  Brett:    Donna: 

Comfort Inn—Santa Fe, NM (EBB Tour '00)  Rooms were okay.  There were suggestions and options for water conservation all over the room.  The shower had a regulated-pressure valve that was totally cool.  It was a little overpriced, but we expect that is due to the location.
Class:  T  Cost:  $$$$  Brett:    Donna: 

Quality Inn—Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO (EBB Tour '00)  Closet-sized room.  Dirty room.  No drain plug in sink.  Manager stranded a trainee at the desk during a rush period.  Didn't stay.
Class:  BT  Cost:  $$$$$  Brett     Donna

La Quinta—Downtown (I-25@ Colorado), Denver, CO (EBB Tour '00)  Nice staff.  Okay room.  Some allowances have to be made for location.  Good breakfast selection.
Class:  T  Cost:  $$$$  Brett:    Donna: 

Comfort Inn —Abingdon, VA (PI Tour '95) Friendly, well-appointed, cheap.
Class: BT Cost: $$ Brett: Donna:

Ramada Limited —Charlotte, NC (PI Tour '95) They're remodeling, so some minor problems may be overlooked. Ice and vending machines are not very convenient. Lobby staff were very friendly and helpful.
Class: BT Cost: $$ Brett: Donna:

Comfort Inn—Fort Stockton, TX (DFP Tour '98) The room is equipped with a mini-fridge that is not an honor bar, a recliner and a blow dryer. It's definitely aimed toward the business traveler, but it's a good deal and well-worth the stop.
Class: BT Cost:$$ Brett: Donna:

Comfort Inn—Jefferson City, MO (BT Tour '99)  Clean rooms, deodorized with gardenia.  Several amenities.  Once again the Choice Hotel chain scores, but Brett got a fuzzy English Muffin for breakfast.
Class:  BT  Cost:  $$$ Brett   Donna

Comfort Inn—Battlefield Road, Springfield, MO (BT Tour '99)  Nicer than last night's Comfort Inn (Jefferson City), but about the same price.  This one had a hairdryer instead of a coffee-maker.
Class:  BT  Cost $$$  Brett   Donna 

La Quinta—Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO (EBB Tour '00)  Nice hotel with an interesting stairway.  Friendly staff.
Class:  BT  Cost:  $$$$  Brett   Donna

Comfort Inn —Dallas, TX (FTH Tour '97) The window was open, the wallpaper was peeling in places, the serving staff were...special. The lobby staff, on the other hand were very nice, and the continental breakfast was done well.
Class: BS Cost: $$$ Brett: Donna:

La Quinta—Amarillo, TX (EBB Tour '00)  Nice rooms.  Pool available.  3-story building with elevator.  Coffee in room.  No MTV, the bastards!  Very clean and nicely decorated.  Friendly staff, plus a recliner!
Class:  BS  Cost:  $$$$  Brett    Donna 

Comfort Inn—I-35 North, Oklahoma City, OK (EBB Tour '00)   We had a suite, since that's all they had left.  Used the guest laundry room--clean working machines.  Very helpful and friendly staff.  Crowded Breakfast area--not much left if you come later.  No view.
Class:  BS  Cost:  $$$$$  Brett:    Donna: