Has anyone ever stayed here? I was quoted $96/night. I'll only be in town for one night, and I'd like to be near something interesting...

Wow that's a lot of money for this hotel. What kind of things do you want to be near?

You could do a whole lot better...the location isn't that bad, easy to get around everywhere from the motel and safe enough, but it isn't a picturesque or pretty area...don't know anything about the rooms or restaurant. The Heard Museum is not far and further north on Central Avenue are some of our nicer residential areas. Other than location for getting around the city, I would sure try somewhere else. Depending on time of year you are coming here, you should be able to get some decent hotels for that price, so look around, unless you need to be in that area for some specific reason.

You can get a 3 star hotel for about $33 a night on Priceline. Check www.biddingfortravel.com and then bid on Priceline. $96 a night is WAY too high.

If you are going to stay over one night, and have to run to the airport the next day, then stay at a hotel in the biltmore area. It is very very close to the airport, probably nomore than 10 minutes away and there is plenty of places to eat/shop/drink in the area. No clubs though.

Some hotel suggestions:

Expensive = Ritz Carlton / Biltmore
Moderate = Embassy Suites
Affordable = Phoenix Inn / Courtyard by Marriot / Homestead Suites / Sierra Suites

Thanks for the info. I'm planning on taking a driving tour of the city. Any suggestions for interesting neighborhoods to drive through (both good and bad)? I just want to get a sense of what the city looks like, and maybe get a couple of 'local' meals.

If you end up staying at Holiday Inn, the most local restaurant in town is Durants, south of the motel about a mile, on Central Ave.......reservations necessary, ask for the south room booth........it has been here for 50+ years and has always been full of the movers and shakers......enter thru the back door and kitchen.......just south of the Heard Museum is the Alvarado historic area, just one street of beautiful homes...........west of Central and over to 15th Avenue is the Palmcroft/Encanto area, beautiful homes and the Willo district, post-war homes, distinctly different.......just ask and anyone can tell you where to drive. Then north off of Central along both sides are beautiful old homes with some land. If you end up staying in the Biltmore area, which I would suggest, there are all sorts of gorgeous homes around the Biltmore Hotel area, east and west of the hotel.......and then further out on Camelback Road to about 56th St. and turn south is the Arcadia area, right now is a heavenly time to visit there with all the citrus blossoms out and the air smells fabulous.