in July 2004 edition...
Topics:
-Guide to a great rate
-Hotels: 50 chains - what you get for your money,
and 10 ways to save - how to get a great rate on any room.
And no, I don't work for Consumer Reports
A friend just gave me a copy. I'm sure you can access it online.
Enjoy.

You can only access it online if you pay for a subscription first.

Do you think the info is good caribtraveler? Worth paying for??

Thanks for the info! I will swing by my mother's house and take a look at her copy!

I am going out to buy it.... hope it is still on the stand! I find CR to be really reliable with their info!

mclaurie: I'd say yes, but go by a hard copy. a lot of things in it, i knew already..things i learned from other fodorites...like biddingfortravel.com. but overall, good tidbits in it.

i meant..."buy" a hard copy.

You could also go to your local library... I bet most libraries carry Consumer Reports. Just copy the specific article if you like it for 10-15 cents a page.

I found the article pretty much jived with my experience: Radisson, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Super 8, Motel 6, Econo Lodge, Days Inn, and Travelodge don't meet expectatioins for value, service, or upkeep.

It rates Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, and Holidy Inn Express lower than I would.

In the moderate range they especially like SpringHill Suites and Homewood Suites--which I've never stayed at. Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott came out OK.

In the budget category they like Sleep Inn and Extended Stay America (which my sister and her husband frequent).

I should have mentioned that the article verifies my experience that motel web sites often have better prices than elsewhere.

I don't know if the article mentions you can almost always get an AAA or ARUP discount and that booking at a motel site you can usually cancel up until the last minute unless the property is located in a resort area.

It is a good article. Among much info,it rates Residence Inn, Homewood Suites, and Embassy Suites as especially good for families, which I would agree with.