La Quinta Inn Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport South

This is one of those properties you should only stay at if you are seeking a cheap place to sleep and for only one night like I did.

I have never been a fan of the motel type setting of many chain hotels and this is no exception. What I mean here is that every room has an entry door to the outside world rather than being in an enclosed facility. The room was stark but I managed to get a decent night's sleep.

The benefits of this property are the price $58.65 plus $7.09 in taxes, a free airport shuttle, free wi-fi and buffet breakfast.

My plane was departing at 5 a.m. which was too early for the shuttle or the breakfast so I needed a $15 cab ride that took 5 minutes.

This property is definitely not a place I would take my family on vacation, but as I said it serves the traveler who needs a cheap place to stay by the airport.

Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa

There is nothing like spending a few days in the Phoenix area in July and this trip was no different than my previous experiences.

The Hilton is located in Mesa, but is a short drive from the airport. It is a very nicely appointed property with an atrium at its core allowing for plenty of natural sunlight.

I can't say that there is anything special about the rooms, but they are clean and comfortable.

The hotel has a restaurant and I did eat there on my last night and was the beneficiary of a two for one special night. My other meals were at the nearby mall and and a local bar-b-que restaurant.

I paid $94 plus another $11.30 in taxes so it was a good but not spectacular deal.

Hotel Icon

A short trip to Houston in June and while the Icon wasn't my first choice it turned out to be a great choice.

I wound up at the hotel because I started searching far too late for a room and all the nearby hotels to the convention center were either sold out or too expensive for my taste.

This is a beautiful property bordering the historic part of Houston. As an old bank building converted to a hotel there are limitations, but the rooms are spacious and you even get a unique window from the bathroom into the bedroom so that you can take a shower or bath and still watch television.

The service by the staff is excellent and if you just need a quick trip downtown the hotel will provide it for free in one of their vehicles which includes a very old fashioned taxicab.

There are plenty of places to eat nearby and is convenient to shopping and other services.

The Hotel Icon will definitely be at the top of my list on my next trip to H-town.