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 mequot;Stepehn, get help! You are too young to have a drinking problem!!"

BeachBoi - OMG, that's too funny!

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)