10 Great Hotels for Under $100

Plenty of travelers think of luxury and automatically assume they have to shell out a lot of dough in order to get what they deserve. Not so. We believe it's still possible to get a good hotel without draining the savings account.

We anonymously scoured the South in search of unforgettable lodging. The rate (tax not included) could not top $100. We had to negotiate, browse the Web, and sprinkle a bit of pixie dust, but our picks offer a night's stay where one crisp $100 bill can buy a room where you can walk to the beach (Sea Turtle Inn), hang out in the hippest part of town (hotel Indigo), or peek out over glorious mountaintops (The Iris Inn). Here are our favorites.

1. The Maison Dupuy Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

This intimate hotel is distinctively New Orleans. A charming courtyard, with wrought iron tables and a large, three-tiered fountain, serves as the epicenter of this French Quarter inn. The 200 rooms feel quite European, as they seem cozy and rather small, but still they are nicely decorated. Several come with tiny balconies overlooking the courtyard or French Quarter.

Bourbon Street is just a skip away, so ask about the quieter rooms if sleep is a major concern; it can get noisier in certain areas of the hotel. Rates: start at $99 and above during the spring and fall high season. Lower rates are available in the summer and winter. 1-800-535-9177 or www.maisondupity.com.

2. Crowne Plaza Lexington at The Campbell House, Lexington, Kentucky

This grand hotel, with its white-columned front entrance and elegant lobby, is the essence of Southern hospitality. From the bellmen and the waitstaff to the housekeepers and the front desk clerks, expect friendliness and warmth.

Any day now, the hotel will complete a $20-million renovation, an undertaking that will have remodeled every one of its 290 guest rooms; all common spaces, including the lobby and restaurant; the indoor swimming pool; and the two-story bar that overlooks the pool. The changes will make this historic property even better than it has always been. Rates: range $89$179. January and February are the best times to get low rates. They tend to be higher when horse events are in town. (859) 255-4281 or www.thecampbellhouse.net.

3. Quartz Mountain Resort, Lone Wolf, Oklahoma

You have to know where you're going to find this remote destination. But you'll be glad you did. Nestled in the Wichita Mountains, this 118-room lodge offers modern-day amenities in a magnificent setting. Rooms are comfortable with Southwestern decor, though nothing fancy. It's the breathtaking views and clean air that are truly special. Rates: $69-$99 Sunday-Thursday, year-round. Weekend rates start at $ 109 during the summer, toll-free 1-877-999-5567 or www.quartzmountainresort.com.

4. Hotel Preston, Nashville, Tennessee

Getting to Hotel Preston, with the obnoxious construction on Briley Parkway, can be as challenging as avoiding a pileup during a NASCAR race. But wait until you see the room you'll be sleeping in, then you'll understand why this hotel made the cut.

The rooms, complete with all-ivory bedding and houndstooth-covered lounge chairs, feel more rock V roll than the country western you'd expect in Nashville. The location is ideal-just minutes away from both the airport and Opryland shopping. And a special touch is the hotel's "You Want It, You Got It" program, which offers pet fish, lava lamps, CDs, and other items to make your stay more comfortable. Rates: Visit their Web site for Try Us rates available to first-time guests. They range $79-$93, depending on availability, toll-free 1-877-361-5500 or www.hotelpreston.com.

5. The Iris Inn, Waynesboro, Virginia

It's difficult to locate a room anywhere in the mid-Atlantic area that comes in at $100. But we found a mountain retreat that offers comfort, convenience, and cost effectiveness.

This inn sits atop a ridge just a quarter mile from 1-64, near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Inviting porches entice guests to linger, as do comfy beds and silky sheets in each of the 10 rooms.

An observation tower on the property offers a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. Rates: $100 on weekdays November-April. Rates go up on the weekends and during the MayOctober high season. 1-888-585-9018 or www.irisinn.com.

6. Hotel Indigo, Atlanta, Georgia

With oversize white Adirondack chairs in the lobby and rhythmic tunes filling the air, hotel Indigo resembles a piece of Miami Beach in the middle of Atlanta.

We love the crisp, fashionable hues of white, indigo, and green incorporated in the rooms and appreciate the knack for cleanliness. Be wary of the bathroom size where some adults may find themselves shoulder to shoulder between two walls (it is that small).

Still, the location of this place is hard to beat, and the restaurant/bar off the main lobby serves as a great hangout on weekend nights. Rates: $119-$ 139. The hotel offers special weekend rates for less than $100 during certain times of the year, based on availability. (404) 874-9200 or www.hotelindlgo.com.