re: What happened to all the non-corporate hotels/motels?

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Says the guy that lives Nebraska

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Nebraska is actually a very nice place to live.

I’m sure it is

I read a really interesting story about this a while back.

Corporate hotels have the man power to guarantee near perfection at all of their properties. Yeah, you have your upscale/"boutique" hotels.. The Pontchartrain, Catahoula Hotel, NOPSI, etc. in New Orleans are examples.

But if they're not upscale/expensive, you run a risk of it being a shithole. I used to book locally-owned hotels for work travel because I was thinking of places like the ones listed above, but three times now I've been burned by choosing one and it not being anywhere near up to the standards of a big chain. Individually owned hotels rely on a GM/owner/staff who care about every detail, which isn't as likely when you don't have corporate breathing down your shoulder.

You can go into a lower-end Marriott hotel like Springhill Suites or Residence Inn for barely $100 in many cities, and you're getting nearly an apartment-sized room that is up to corporate's standards. I use blind booking and I've gotten Residence Inn in NOLA for $52. It was no frills in the lobby, self park, etc. Far from luxury - but when I got up to the room, it was bigger than the apartment I lived in at the time.

You're right, though. You don't see a lot of hotels that are ~$75/night (without using blind booking/3rd party). You see either $30/night shitholes or $100+/night places. No middle ground.

Chain hotels and chain restaurants thrive for the same reason. People know what they are getting.

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People know what they are getting.

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It may not be the best, but it's consistent. The only big chain near me is Applebee's. Kinda hard sometimes when you go out and just want something cheap and easy.

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when i'm in a random place i'll take a risk on a meal (most of the time it's sysco crap anyway) but frick that where i sleep

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Exactly.

The only time you can really guarantee something up to par when it comes to local hotels is when you're booking something pretty expensive. If you're an average person looking for a $100/night place for your family to sleep that is clean and safe, big chain is your best bet.

Location is big too. I learned my lesson booking a inexpensive boutique hotel in the L.A. area the first time I went out there. The city is visited by people from all over the world (especially Europeans). Many places in Europe are notorious for hotels being nothing more than 4 walls and a twin sized bed. So yeah, the place I stayed was rated highly by these visitors, and it was a COMPLETE SHITHOLE.

hell i just had an extended stay in Houston. stayed at a Best Western suite and it was huge and luxurious for slightly over $100/night

i think most of the higher end places are ripoffs with smaller rooms and nicer lobbies. i hate spending a ton on hotels. it seems mostly like a status/segregation thing more than anything else

I usually buy the cheapest and closest to what I want to be by. I never go over $150 unless I'm using points. Not worth it to me.

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i think most of the higher end places are ripoffs with smaller rooms and nicer lobbies

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This is spot on.

I've had a few successes (Pontchartrain in NOLA, The Garland in L.A.) but overall what you said is the case. Monteleone in NOLA is a complete joke unless you get some kind of expensive suite. I think I basically slept in a closet.