The Journey IS NOT the Destination #6: Motel 6

Friday and Saturday, June 20th & 21st. The very first Motel 6 ever built was in 1962 in Santa Barbara. My brother and I stayed there on June 20-21 (a block from the beach, at the Corona del Mar address) – Friday and Saturday during Solstice. I have to say we were disappointed. First of all look at this post - 6 words in TJINTD; it's #6 in the series (it used to be 5 but I had the winery visit out of order) and it's Motel "6". That alone say this couldn't have been a good experience.

It used to be that Motel 6 regularly advertised room prices as low as $59 (is it now $89?) a night; your basic hotel with no amenities. But we paid $150 per night – for your basic hotel. No fridge. No coffee in the room. No microwave. One, very hard Queen bed in a very small room. Pool. Coffee in the lobby for breakfast.

Now maybe this partcular Motel 6 is no longer part of corporate, if there is such a thing. Perhaps independent Motel 6's can charge whatever the hell they want. However, during the course of our travels later that week, we stayed at two Best Western's and one Days Inn, prices ranging from $88 - $89 per night, Sunday through Tuesday. For that pricing we received (see photos from Days Inn - Buellton) 2 Queen beds, coffee in the room, fridge and microwave, FULL continental breakfast, FREE internet and a very nice balcony overlooking a very nice pool (balcony at Days Inn only). Hell, a guy at work stayed at the Paris in Vegas and paid $129 a night and was treated like a king.

I understand some hotels jack up their prices for the weekends and special events (Solstice) but this is beyond ridiculous. The Best Western's and the Days Inn we stayed at keep their rates the same all week. The Best Western in Monterey was a walk from the beach - as a matter of fact we had sand dunes around the parking lot. I’ve seen Motel 6 rates range from $89 - $129 for other weekends throughout the year. Where then are the Motel 6 hotels with advertised $59 or $89 rooms (whatever it is)? Alpaugh, CA?

Needless to say, we WILL NOT recommend ANY Motel 6 hotels. And the radio spots featuring Tom Bodett? Hogwash. How's $150 lower than $88 or $89 ("lowest pirce of any national chain")? Double hogwash.

And by the way, no light was left on.