Motel 6 for Low-Cost Lodging

Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) started out 50 years ago charging $6 a night for its rooms. The chain, which now has more than 1,100 properties throughout North America, advertises itself as the lowest-cost national chain.

Today, of course, prices are considerably higher than when the chain opened. The lowest room rate is $39.99, and rates can be considerably higher near big cities or on the East or West Coast. Motel 6s,do not charge extra for kids 17 or younger, and they are pet friendly. The room rate includes free morning coffee, but not the buffet breakfast many other chains provide.

It is a long time since I stayed in a Motel 6, but I found it perfectly adequate and would not hesitate to try one again. In some parts of the country you may find independent motels that are cheaper than Motel 6s, but you don't have the protection of a national franchise.

If you are driving in North America on a tight budget, you might consider trying out a Motel 6.