BEST MIDPRICED HOTEL CHAIN: Wingate Inns

Wingate Inns has quickly become a favorite of road warriors, growing from a single location in 1996 to 90 in just four years. Fans of the chain might cringe when reading this article, though--they'd prefer their new hotel find to remain secret.

What's so great about a Wingate Inn? First, all are built from the ground up. All offer free high-speed Internet access in every guest and meeting room. Each hotel also provides thoughtful amenities, like automated check-in and check-out; in-room cordless phones; and two-line desk phones with all the necessary features. Wingate Inns also offer free breakfast as well as free local and toll-free calls. There's also free 24-hour access to usage of fax, printing and copying equipment, and wireless phones can be checked out from the front desk for use anywhere within the hotel. Each location also has a whirlpool and fitness room.

A key feature of this chain is consistency--you'll find all the above features in every hotel. Better yet, you'll find the price competitive (from $69 to $99) and without nickel-and-diming at the checkout desk.

Christopher McGinnis, a CNN and The Weather Channel commentator, is the author of The Unofficial Business Travelers Pocket Guide (McGraw-Hill) and manages his own Web site at www.travelskills.com. Christopher Elliot is Entrepreneur's "Travel" columnist.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning