I’m a fan of Motel 6.
$40 a night, what’s not to like ?
OK a few dodgy nights have been spent in
a room in a Motel 6 that seems to be hosting an
all night Drug Dealer and Affiliated Hookers Convention, but hey. 
I really doubt there’s a “best,” since most US hotels are franchisee owned. I’ve stayed in Sleep Inns that were nicer than a Hampton I once booked, and I’ve seen Sleep Inns that ought to issue a gun and a HazMat suit at check in. In general, I look for clean, quiet, and safe before worrying about a brand.
Btw, I reported this for a forum change. More IMHO than debate.
The quality of motels wildly fluctuates with the franchise. Motel 6 can definitely be a drug-deal/party sort of a motel.
I’m usually not too picky. If I am ever staying at a motel it’s because I am on a roadtrip and didn’t make reservations somewhere, so I don’t expect a quality experience. I am usually not let down.
There’s actually a chain called America’s Best Value Inn. If it’s in the name of the chain it must be true!
Red Roof Inn $45
or Days Inn
Depending on the area. These two are usually pretty good and reasonable.
It depends on the nature of the trip. If I’m making a long trip and just need a place to stay for the night outside of a major city, the Motel 6 is usually the best deal. Their pricing is straightforward, you don’t get different rates if you call the 800 number versus the website, versus the call the hotel, versus walk in. There aren’t 20 different room types with different prices. You’re not paying for amenities you’re not probably going to use on an overnight stay. Internet is usually free or between $3-$5.
If I’m staying in a major city, I’ve noticed that Motel 6 does tend to be the drug deal and hooker convention, so I try to find a place close to the part of the city I want to be in. I’ve had luck with Courtyard by Marriott in unfamiliar cities.
I’ve found that the Hampton has the best consistency. Sleep (and the rest of that chain as a matter of fact) can all be wildly differing from one place to the next. It’s worth the value to me to pay a couple or so sawbucks more to know I won’t be staying in a complete gutter.
[But Lacuna, please do tell about the location with the crappy Hampton, so I can avoid it. Because so far it’s the only chain I will book sight unseen due to its consistency.]
And Motel 6 is right out. It’s rarer to have a passable experience there than a bad one. If it’s not an all-night party in a sketchy neighborhood, it’s early-to-rise truckers warming up, a lobby that has far too many vending machines in a small space to keep the room below 100 degrees, or mysterious noises that waken you every hour (only the last of which I could have reported to any success but didn’t.)
Motel 6 is so dicey. I’ve stayed at nice ones and awful ones. Even some of the top NYC hotels have had bed bugs, you can’t be sure, but you can narrow it down with research
The Hotel Carter
In NYC is consistantly ranked the worst hotel in America. I will have to go and try it one day as an adventure 
Hampton has always been good for me, but they’re just barely in the value category. I’d have to say Motel 6 or Super 8.
Despite the name, “America’s Best Value” is not. OK, I’ve only ever stayed in one, but it was the most run-down place I’ve ever stayed in (as in literally falling apart). The only other one I see with any regularity has online ratings that suggest it’s of the same calibre.
I’ve only stayed at Motel 6 a handful of times, all over 25 years ago; both times were OK but it was weird to be in a motel with no TV! I seem to recall there was no bathtub either (just a shower stall).
I agree with Mama Zappa’s comment on the Americas’ Best chain. Only stayed at one, once, but it was enough. Not a fan.
I have liked nearly every Drury Inn and their lower-priced version, the Pear Tree Inn, that I’ve stayed in. Not charging a pet fee is a bonus (even for large dogs), as are their free high-speed internet and hot breakfast. If you go, definitely book through their website, as it seems the prices can be $20 or so cheaper. I’m not sure I’d call them a budget chain, however.
Despite having worked in the industry, I am not a demanding hotel consumer. Clean, quiet and safe are really about all that I am looking for in a hotel.
No fears, Ludovic: the Hampton I mentioned has been rebranded as a Days Inn for one thing. And really, it wasn’t bad, just pretty outdated. (And the housekeeper walked in at a kind of awkward moment, but that wasn’t brand-specific!)
Come to think of it, I’ve had pretty good luck with Days Inn when I just needed a spot to lay my head for a few hours. Mind you, I’m often traveling with one or more large dogs, so I prefer exterior corridor motels in those cases, and I usually feel pretty safe thanks to my fuzzy bodyguard(s). I just need clean and quiet.
I’ve been staying at Comfort Inns and been very pleased. The hotel/motel group also owns Quality Inn, Sleep Lodge, Rodeway Inn and some others: http://www.choicehotels.com/?sid=xf9PSi.VvoDOgKXe.6
The Comfort Inns where I have stayed have been priced about $79.00- $99.00. I think I may have paid as much as $120.00 once, so pricing likely depends on the area.
They are generally pretty clean, usually have an indoor whirlpool/pool, sometimes a gym, free wireless internet with a desktop computer station in the dining area, and free breakfast. I find their pillows and mattresses to be particularly comfortable and they seem to use the same kinds all over.
I usually travel with my family (4 of us), so getting free wireless and not having to go out somewhere for breakfast helps us out a lot.
Another vote for Comfort Inns. When we drive from the Bay Area to St. Louis we stayed in them every night (they were having a gas card promotion) and were very satisfied, except for the very last one. When we checked in there, and were less than impressed, we called up the reservation number and they switched us to a better related hotel just up the street.
When we had to leave our house when the floors were getting refinished we stayed in one near us, and were also happy.
I like Hampton Inns, but they are a bit pricey. As for Motel 6, there is one near us, and it is the place the cops are always coming to roost out the drug dealers and other pleasant people. No thanks.
Haven’t stayed in a Motel 6 in a very long time, so no comment there. I’ve had pretty good luck with Super 8s, however, and I’ve always found them to be one of the cheapest choices.
Hamptons are good.
I’ve stayed at a couple of America’s Best Value and they were both fairly crummy.
Always heard good things about Red Roof Inn, but there never seems to be one where I’m staying.
While it’s true that it’s annoying to not be able to take a bath, to be fair in many motels, even hotels, the drainplug isn’t very functional at all, either.
I would rather sleep in my car than stay in a Motel 6 ever again. The towels were like sandpaper, and the bedding was the most un-comfortable bedding I have ever encountered (including sleeping over at friend’s houses and using whatever random blankets were available). It was obvious that they had skimped on quality to an extreme. I’ll gladly spend half again as much to stay in a different chain.
I’ve done a fair amount of empirical research, mostly in the West.
In general, I find a Microtel to be worth about $10 more than Red Roof, which in turn is worth about $10 more to me than Motel 6.
I find that Best Value Inns are rebranded older independent properties and construction and quality varies a lot. I value them about $10 less than the Motel 6 nearby, but they are indeed sometimes that much cheaper.
I’ve had a lot of luck with Red Roof, though they are fairly uncommon.
It’s mostly irrelevant though; whenever I choose a place to stay I search one of the big-box discount websites and see what’s offered and google that particular property for reviews.
Days Inn I’d say has the biggest swings; I’ve stayed in one for $40 a night with eggs, waffles, breakfast meats, rolls, fruit and tons of condiments and stayed in plenty of dodgy ones (pre-internet reviews and one case of a property very recently changing hands).