Have you ever stayed at a Super 8?
 

I was checking out rates at hotels in Santa Barbara, CA. They are so expensive. Even a Best Western is almost $200! And most of them have two night minimums.

I noticed that Super 8 had a very reasonable rate. But are they horrible? Never even tried one before. We can handle Best Westerns.

Yes

Where exactly is it? Super 8 is best for highway stops. In cities, they tend to be located in the most undesirable areas. The accomodation is about as basic as it gets, but OK if you just can't drive anymore. I would never call staying at a Super 8 as a final destination a "vacation".

I would try tripadvisor.com. You can put in your dates of travel and they'll bring up which hotels have availability and price range, and there are reviews of them. I can't comment on that particular Super 8, and I couldn't find it on tripadvisor, but I stayed in one once and it was nasty.

I've only stayed at one and I have to admit it was not a good experience, but that may have been our fault. We had no reservations for a night in St. Louis and just figured we'd get a hotel. We were young and dumb admittedly.(This was about 10 years ago.) Well, let's just say a "working woman" was in the room next door and kept us up most the night. The rest of the night was spent awake due to the police activity in the parking lot. Not saying this was Super 8's fault, more due to the neighborhood I believe, so check out the neighborhood first.

For me, I won't go less than Holiday Inn level.I attended a seminar at a Motel 6 in Dallas.The heat in the meeting room didnt work.The men's room off the lobby was beyond ghastly and the free coffee was from the day before.I wasnt even going to consider spending the night there.Not exactly Super 8, but First Cousin I think.

I have stayed in Super 8s that were fine (Sandy UT). We were on a ski vacation. The rooms were nothing special but we had a pool, hot tub, and included cheap waffle breakfast with our lift tickets at $64 a night/person

considering that a lift ticket retailed for $58, we we were quite pleased and would do it again.

I would check tripadvisor

Ever stayed? Yes. Are they horrible? Depends on what you're looking for. As others have said, try to get an idea of what the neighborhood is like. If you're just looking for a place to sleep and keep your luggage while you're gone all day, it should be fine. If you want a "nice" hotel to hang out at, Super 8 isn't for you. I stayed in one in Fruita, CO and it was fine,but I don't know that the same would be true for one located in a larger city.

We stayed in one in Gallup, NM that was very nice and one on I-70 west of St Louis that was pretty bad. Now I'm a confirmed Holiday Inn Express user.

No, Super 8s aren't horrible. They are generally a step below Comfort Inns and others that we prefer, but maybe a step above Motel 6. Amenities limited and breakfast buffet limited. Just can't tell, though...we look for lesser expensive motels and have stayed in some.
ozarksbill

Beachboi - A seminar at a Motel 6? That's too funny! I wonder what company/organization did that! Hahaha...

Anyways, I think Super 8 in general are okay. A clear step above Motel 6, and most locations are relatively new. Also, their quality seem to be more consitent than Best Western or Comfort Inn.

I have stayed at many Super 8 motels over the years. However, I have not stayed at Santa Barbara.

Although a national chain, Super 8's can vary widely in how they look, are managed and how safe the neighborhood is.

Knowing no more than we do at this point I'd think about that old rule of thumb... If it sounds too good to be true....

I've stayed in several different Super 8 motels. It really does depend on the individual location as to the quality.

rkk.....I was "auditing" the class.It was a 26 hour class required by the State of Texas for those offenders are given probation in DUI cases.It was a tutorial on rules and statistics and there was a test at the end!It cost $60 and is mandatory.As a guest,I had to remain anonymous.I made the highest score, and the teacher just loved me and couldnt believe I was an offender! As I check out of the class, she begged me:"Stepehn, get help! You are too young to have a drinking problem!!"

BeachBoi - OMG, that's too funny! :D

Hi Heavens, I am sure the Super 8 you are referring to is NOT in Santa Barbara but is in Goleta (where the University of Santa Barbara is located). Believe it is on Hollister St/Ave whatever. The outskirts of Santa Barbara. I believe this Super 8 is safe and OK.

I never stay at Super 8 either but doubt if this one would be terrible. Have you gone on to TripAdvisors to see if there are any comments/recommendations. Best wishes.

For anyone pulling this up for general info on Super 8s....On the whole, I'd agree that they're best for one night highway stays. However, the one in Times Square is a great deal for the price.

As others have said, they do vary widely. And we've found that even the same Super 8 can change considerably if it changes management. There's one near my in-laws that we've stayed at several times. When it first opened it was great-- clean, convenient, nice breakfast. A year or so ago we started to notice a change. The upkeep didn't seem as good and the breakfast went way downhill. Recently we learned that it had changed hands.

I'd definitely agree that Super 8 is a good step above Motel 6. But very inconsistant. If you're going to stay more than one night, I'd recommend getting as much info as you can about the specific Super 8.

Thanks all for your help. I see your point. If we just need a bed, and probably not a good bed, it might work. But if we actually need to spend a little time in the room, don't stay there. This makes perfect sense to me.

Yes, it is the one in Goleta. Going to see a student (our OD) and need a place to stay. Since she isn't going to want to spend that much time with us, we better have a place to "hang" and do some of the things we like to do in a pleasant envirenment (like watch a little TV, read, relax).

We'll also have our son with us, so there will be some time spent at whatever hotel we do choose. Thanks again, you have helped me make my decision. Cheaper is not always better, for travelors, right?

When we were in Santa Barbara in 1998 we stayed two nights in a motel 6 and it was great. It was about 100 yards from the seaside in a very nice neighbourhood. You actually only need a clean room and full bathroom when you are touring. We stayed in a Super 8 in New Mexico and it was fine too. Paul

OMG swalter...we had the same experience years ago in Grand Rapids, Michigan at a Motel 6. I had to stuff the comforter by the door to keep the smoke from cigarettes from billowing under the door. My kids were young and slept through the racket, but my husband and I were up all night getting an earfull. My father had made us the reservation to save us a few dollars, which I was grateful for. The next morning we move up the street to the Marriott. That Motel 6 was our worst hotel experiences ever! (Well, except for the hotel in the Bahamas but we were very young and stupid and that IS another story. LOL)

stayed at a Super 8 in Rapid City SD this year and the place was very clean and had one of the most comfortable beds I ever slept in. Add to this that they charged $65 a night and added breakfast the next morning I had no problems.

Most all of the best Westerns and Super 8's out west are very nicely done. Definitely equal to most Holiday Inns and some of the BW's are even nicer.

If you kid doesn't want to hang out or been seen in public with you - doesn't mean you have to stick to your motel/hotel room.

I stayed at a Super 8 just west of Roanoke, VA and it was basic and clean with no pool but I don't go somewhere to just spend time in a room or a place I sleep in. If you have a Prince/Princess complex like most on the board who stay @ 4 star type places - you aren't going to like it. I'd have to agree with some, even Holiday Inns vary from town to town, some are very nice some aren't impressive at all but again I don't have that royalty aspect in me. If it has a shower, bed, tv - I'm happy w/it.

I stayed at Super 8 this week. It was the best option in the town I visited for business. It was actually quite nice-certainly not a Hyatt Regency but was clean, the bed comfortable and it was quiet. A value for what my company paid. I usually try to stay at Hilton Garden Inns or the like, but none in this area.
Unfortunately, the wireless internet was going to be installed in 3 week. But, it will be there for next time.

Hi Heavens, please don't spend all your time in the hotel/motel room. You will be right next to Santa Barbara, down 101 is Ventura, at the Hwy 33 turn off heading east for about 20 minutes is Ojai. I truly hope you will take advantage of all the wonderful places around you. Best wishes.

The Super 8 in Times Square was more than adequate and quite a bargain for us this summer ($89 on weeknights.)

I have never stayed at the Super 8 or the Motel 6 in Santa Barbara but my sister and other friends have stayed at the Motel 6 and they all say it is by far the best Motel 6 they have ever seen. They say it is the original Motel 6 and has been kept up and is far different than other Motel 6's. I would be doubtful about this if I had heard it only from on person but several different people have mentioned it and how they have been very pleasantly surprised.

Don't worry you guys, we aren't going to spend all the time that OD doesn't want to be with us in our little hotel room. We will get out and about. Maybe take a drive up to wine area, or east of SB. But we do like to kick back, sip our wine and read. We will have 14 YO son with us and the chance of the three of us agreeing on what to do is slim. I have heard that there is a very good bowling alley in Montecito I think we will check out. And just driving and seeing other parts of the area will be nice. As long as he has his IPOD he'll cooperate. But a pool could come in handy.

I will check out the Motel 6. Thanks for all of your comments. Trust me, to stay in a gorgeous place like SB, it will not be spent in my hotel room. But it is a nice place to relax...

My friend calls it the super dump at least the one she gets stuck using in rural virginia. every year there is a family reunion and it's the only game for miles around. she brings cleaning supplies and her own sheets.

Wow, that is bad when you have to take your own cleaning supplies to your hotel room.

The Motel 6 in Santa Barbara on the beach is the #001 and gets pretty good reviews on tripadvisor. Will try and book that sometime in the future to try it out. It is right on the beach, apparantly.

We are going to keep the BW. More amenities.

Super8s, being mostly or entirely franchised operations, can vary at extremes to either end. Some are gems, some are dumps. Most are tolerable for a 1 night stay, but for a multi-night stay, I'd have a "plan-B" ready if things aren't going well.

The good news is that Cendant, the parent of Super8 is getting tough on standards. They are going to relie more on guest comments to schedule inspections of properties, so if you do stay at one, give feedback ( + or - ) to the HQ. I've stayed at Super8 in Williamsburg (2nd Street!) several times and found it well maintained & pleasent staff.

Accor is putting a LOT of money into cleaning up both its Motel6 and Red Roof Inns. I've had great luck with RR, but my experiences with Motel6 has been all over. Worse: Syracuse NY, Best:Binghampton NY, Honorable Mention:Williamsburg VA

We're all about saving money in our travels but Super 8 is a big red flag IMO.
Most are connected to truck parking lots.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
But they're usually right off the highway and not in the best location.
Location Location Location!

I've stayed at Super 8s. They are much like any chain (motel or food) ~ it all depends on management. I wouldn't want to spend a week at one, but agree with bardo1 about being a highway stop. This isn't my idea of a "vacation," but it can be a place for a weary driver.

stay at a super 8 outside of cleveland every year to attend the film festival. that one is; inexpensive, clean and about as nice as the typical comfort inn type hotel. they also started a continental breakfast this year. our experience has been good for a place to sleep.

In Santa Barbara there's a Travelodge that isn't too bad, the Sandman Inn and the El Prado are fine, and there's a Day's Inn not far from the beach. Mason Beach Inn is another one I'd look into.

My general rule with Super 8 is to avoid them near big cities since they tend to be in run-down areas. In the boonies they're usually fine...we've stayed in Super 8's in Maine and in Northern California that were terrific.

I wonder if any Fodrites were conceived in a Super 8.

I have given up on staying at Super 8, but I have found, as others have mentioned, that Super 8 (Motel 6 and others of this ilk) are sometimes very acceptable when they are the only chain motel in a town or area.

OK so....does anyone know about the Super 8 Bayview in San Diego?

The Bayview seems to get pretty good reviews for a Super 8, but it is located near a noisy airport and it is in need of renovation.

They vary a little from place to place, but for the most part they are nicer than the Motel 6's with exterior coridors. The one in SLO, CA was clean and decent. The Travelodge there was a slight step up if that gives you an idea. I'm betting you are looking at a summertime weekend in SB right? I've seen rates almost triple from winter weekdays to summer weekends, up the coast from SB to Santa Cruz!

We've stayed in the Mason Beach Inn in SB.

It's OK and the staff is very nice.

Days Inn on Bath is, to be polite, a dump. :-B