Rodeway Inn Alexandria

For the $56 I paid, it was worth it, and I'd stay again in a pinch. The location is good, just seven minutes from Cabrini hospital. The linens were fresh and clean, and the pillows were comfortable, though the bed itself was hard. The rooms are okay for the price. The bathtub needs refinishing because paint is chipping off the enamel, and the ice machine and coin laundry were out of order. People expecting a five-star room at one-star prices need to adjust their expectations.

I paid $80 for a room that wasn't worth $30. I got in at 1:30 a.m. and had no idea it could be this bad. The rooms stink and are filthy, and the bathrooms are disgusting. The toilet rocks, the shower curtain bar is half off the wall, and the light fixture is broken. There's a guide for HBO, but no HBO. I wish I could post pictures of this mess.

I'm writing this while I'm here, and I'm glad I stopped. I usually stay at Best Westerns, but that was over $90 on a slow night, while this place was $45 plus 15% tax. Well worth the money. The bed was soft with a pillow top and didn't feel worn out, like a quality bed. The bathroom was clean. The desk edge on the furniture was a little sticky, but I wiped it down. Better rooms are available, including one with a bubble jet hot tub for $70, but I didn't need that.

The new management seems to have put a lot of work into building a reputable business. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean and well-furnished the room was. A room with two queen beds was priced slightly below average. It also had a large-screen TV and free Wi-Fi, though I didn't use either.