Research unearths cheap lodgings
What does a $50-a-night room look like in Orlando? My mission, if you'll recall from a prior column, was to locate a decent, cheap room in Orlando. My self-imposed penuriously posited budget was $50, as I desired to pamper myself in other ways.

CHRISTINE HICKS- USTA Travel

Research paid off. My first round involved anecdotal reviews of like-priced lodgings on International Drive, a location convenient to my purposes. These reviews made child's play out of the second round, honing the best candidates to a few. Truth be told, the final candidate stood head and shoulders over the competition. Candid reviews such as those on Hotels.com and TripAdvisor indicated my choice was far from perfect. It delivers location, cleanliness and service, and not the price of perfection.

The winner? The Rodeway Inn International Drive. The exterior may look a little the worse for wear, but I wasn't sleeping outside. Besides, beauty is only skin deep.

The lobby is airy, bright, busy and well-lit. Check-in was simple; the front-desk staff is attuned to handling quantities of people (students, groups), so a mere two guests took seconds. We were sent off to a first-floor room at the end of the hall.

The room was, well, functional. We had two queen beds that offered fresh, crisp sheets with admittedly a small set-in stain, like a scuff mark, on the pillow. The bedspread was comfy. We had television, functioning heat and air conditioning, a wall safe and even a small refrigerator. The bathroom was tiny, exhibiting a small amount of mildew, not unlike what you might have in your own relatively clean home, and, after all, this is Florida. Because the unit exhibited otherwise serious signs of thorough cleaning, I was inclined to overlook this. Nothing major was amiss, and nothing was spectacular - just as I had hoped.

Having failed to print out a required piece of ticket information, I went looking for a business center or otherwise available computer. A kiosk in the lobby offers two, with Internet service for a modest price. Within five minutes and $5, I had what I needed. There is a small bar, which we did not patronize. We did try The Palms restaurant, where for $6.95 you can eat from an ample breakfast buffet. This is not haute cuisine. Cereal, bacon, eggs, Danish and other rather pedestrian fare populate the buffet. For the price and for intent, it's perfect. I don't intend to sell you on the Rodeway Inn International, only on the idea that reasonable quality lodgings are available at low prices - especially in Orlando. I saw billboards advertising condo units that were renting by the week for $297 (about $43 per night). It's easy to spend more. The Rodeway International isn't the place for a lot of people. Those who expect champagne on a beer budget will surely complain. If, however, you'd rather spend more of your vacation money on theme park experiences and memorable dinners, a little research will uncover low-cost accommodations where it's not scary to lay your head. (Christine Hicks-Usta has enjoyed more than 30 years of globe-trotting as a member of the travel industry. Direct questions to her at Bee Group Newspapers, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, NY 14231-0150.)