travelguru1

I remember years ago there were over 1000 Days Inn Motels all over America. It was the fastest growing chain in America. Now I see very few left and most of them have not been updated since the early 1980s.

Does anyone stay at Howard Johnsons, Motel 6 or Days Inn anymore?

TxTravelPro

There are tons of them.
36 listed for the Dallas area alone.
PLENTY of people use these hotels... just not me

gail

I stayed at I think the last Howard Johnson's hotel - in some minor city in Virginia - last summer while visiting every college in the Western Hemisphere with our dtr.

Days Inns are still everywhere. Same for Motel 6.

happytrailstoyou

Day's still have a few scary properties. One is in Ocean Shores, WA.

I remember when Howard Johnson meant delicious fried clams and ice cream cones. Now it is synonymous with "Don't stay here."

The last time I stayed at a Motel 6 it was in Topeka, and I had claim my reservation from a person who was protected behind a bullet-proof window. I moved out the next morning.

cheryllj

There are hundreds of Days Inns all over the US. Of course people still stay there. I'm not sure where you travel, but I see them everywhere I go, from Boston to New Orleans to California, so somebody must be staying there.

I've never stayed in a Howard Johnson or Motel 6, but I still see them occasionally.

BeachBoi

I stayed at Motel 6's Flagship location couple of weeks ago.North of Dallas Plano I think.Nice place I got there about 1am and the desk clerk asked me if i was lost.I said "No, I found you".He looked a little taken aback.Said the info he had on "Stephen C" checking in at 1am was that he was a truck driver and I didnt quite look like a truck driver.....You know, a big rigger.......I was in a pretty jovial mood and asked him what did he think i looked like...He guessed right!! Course they left the light on for me...Next mornin got right up and made my way across to IHOP....

GoTravel

When a hotel is built, rarely does it keep the same name unless it is architectually important (Arizona Biltmore), famous (The Plaza, Waldorf=Astoria), or has a historic designation (The Plaza).

All of those Days Inns may have gone on to be any number of the small inexpensive motels available today or depending on the real estate, torn down to make way for bigger and better.

BoniseA

Happytrails,

I know the exact Motel 6 you stayed in. Did you like the convenient access to booby bars?

That part of town is terrible. Topeka used to have an air force base on that side of town. Way back when, that was where everything was. There was a Holiday Inn, a Howard Johnson and a Ramada Inn real close to where that Motel 6 still is.

milemarker0

Days Inns and Best Western Hotels, as well as some others, are really just a connected reservation service...all independently owned and operated.

I remember traveling from Days Inn to Days Inn back in the 70'2 in Florida....they were everywhere. Still see some of them with various name changes...

marleneawe

Well we just stayed in two different Days Inn on our last trip. Have stayed in many of them and Motel 6. Have never had a bad experience, rooms have always been clean. We do not need an expensive overpriced luxury hotel, as long as the bathroom is clean and clean sheets, only staying to sleep.Never stayed at a Howard Johnson's.

Keith

Troll alert.

suze

There's a Days Inn downtown Seattle. Lots of people stay there because it is the cheapest place besides the youth hostel.

happytrailstoyou

I rarely write LOL, but BoniseA you gave me a good laugh.

A few years ago I was making frequent trips to Topeka to visit a very dear aunt. I would stay for a week or so, and on one visit I booked into that Motel 6 to save a few bucks. What a mistake.

I never did find a place I looked forward to staying in Topeka. I eventually settled on a business hotel/B&B near the capitol building. I've forgotten the name, but it was o.k.

I wish I still had a reason to visit Topeka, but I don't--my dear aunt passed away at age 95 a few years ago.

Fodorite018

The Motel 6 in Weed, CA is the best place in town, lol! And actually, it isn't bad at all. We stayed there in June on a quick road trip and it had been redone.

The Days Inn in Castaic, CA was so bad that my DH and I walked in, and even he said "no way" and we left.

sandypaws3

I think Howard Johnsons are in pretty bad shape these days. There are lots of Days Inns! I know there's one in Chicago and some in the suburbs.

http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/home

We stayed in a Motel 6 a few years back, and that was enough. Rock hard bed!

Sandy

J_Correa

We stayed at the Motel 6 on Hotel Circle in San Diego a few years ago. It was ok - no frills, not esspecially comfortable, but clean.

This trip was for a family event - relative of one of my best friends died and left money for a reunion. My friend's husband couldn't go, so I went instead because she did not want to deal with her relatives alone - LOL.

Motel 6 was chosen because everybody in the family could afford it. My friend and I debated about whether to stay there or stay at someplace nicer. We opted for the Motel 6 because she didn't want to appear snobbish and add fuel to the family tensions.

The motel was fine though.

Awhile back we stayed at the Days Inn in Morro Bay, which was ok too. Close to the waterfront, clean, reasonably comfortable.

SamH

There are plenty of Days Inns still around. You'd have to be totally not paying attention to ask that question. I've stayed in more than a few. Many are older former Holiday Inns or BW's.

Stayed in a couple Motel 6's as well. Fine if you just need a shower and bed, which often is just what I'm looking for.

dmlove

San Francisco Airport hotels include both Days Inn AND Motel 6 (and all the other high and low-end chains, too).

Bertorelli

Hi,

Over here in Europe we're not very familiar with the motel concept.
There are a few chains but in most cities the only choice are the more luxurious (and expensive) hotels.

I've visited the US 3 times now and find the chains like Motel6, Days Inn, Red Roof etc perfect for short stays.
You normally just use the rooms for sleeping 1 or 2 nights.
We always check the area and take a peek into the room before we book. ;-)

Last summer we stayed in the Motel 6 in Alamogordo (NM).
Nice, clean place with friendly staff and a nice pool.
Also stayed at the Days Inns in Holbrook (AZ) and Globe (AZ). Both very nice places.

happytrailstoyou

Motel 6 and similar properties are often descent places to stay in small towns such as you mention.

For one thing, since there are often few job opportunities in small towns, a motel can be choosy about whom they hire and retain on as housekeepers.