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Motel 6 is the classic, no frills motel chain that was founded in 1962 in Santa Barbara, California. The first Motel 6 in Santa Barbara charged just $6.00 a night with the philosophy of "Clean, comfortable rooms at the lowest price of any national chain."

Now part of the Accor brand, Motel 6 continues to grow and currently has more than 840 locations with over 87,000 rooms in the United States and Canada. Motel 6 is now the largest owned and operated hotel chain in North America. The good news is they are everywhere. And while the days of $6/night are long gone, they still are the lowest national chain rooms you'll normally find one in town.

What you get is minimalistic, cookie-cutter facilities that are dependable for their inexpensive prices and over all value. Every room has a bed that is moderately comfortable and complimented with basic furnishings, livable but nothing to make you want to stay away from home for. Normally there is a small TV bolted to the wall, a basic motel-style bath and that is your room. The Bellagio this is not, and you'll never want to stay for days or weeks on end here. No restaurants will be on property, though some budget eateries are almost always close by.

This minimalistic approach is embraced by the chain and their humorous spokesperson Tom Bodett. He is known in commercials to list the things he doesn't need at a hotel stay, such as sewing kits, bathrobes and chocolates on your pillow. A typical Bodett commercial says something like, "But, I'm happy to report you still get nothing you don't need at Motel 6, and, therefore, you don't have to pay for it. I don't need valet parking. If I can drive the old crate 300 miles to the hotel all by myself, I can certainly handle the last nine feet to the parking space."

There is nothing like pride at being cheap.

One issue stems form the fact that Motel 6 employees are some of the lowest paid workers in the hotel industry. Most places are excellent but customer service and reliability can be a hazard at some locations. Still, for someone on a budget. and wanting a clean place they can depend on, the local Motel 6 normally fills the meager bill of the cost conscious traveler.

Learn more about this author, Richard Lloyd Evans.
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