Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Lodi - Wine Country Area

The lobby had comfortable seating, coffee, a TV, and plenty of local guides. The younger man working mornings and Sal, the General, were both polite and cordial. One late morning last week, the sleepy woman at the desk gave me a more honest rate that matched the online price after I showed my faith-based loyalty card. As a professional caregiver and travel docent, my main concern was that there weren't healthy dining choices, and GM Sal hadn't satisfactorily sanitized the place when I asked, given COVID and US health code concerns.

For a Budget stay, this place is a five-star find. Peter, the manager, consistently goes out of his way to get things sorted for me, and I appreciate how caring the staff are toward me and the other guests. The rooms are clean, and the service is worth more than what you pay. It may not have the shiny extras of a Ritz Carlton, but I've stayed here often and have sent friends and family when they've visited the area. If you're visiting Ara, Peter will do his best to help. Thanks for always being there, Pete!

The room had a working fridge and microwave, a TV with lots of satellite channels, and a shower with good pressure and steady temperature. There was a small shampoo bottle and two little bars of soap by the sink. The beds were clean and the mattresses reasonably firm, but the raised metal bases clanked when we sat or got up. The room also smelled like smoke or weed under a failed citrus deodorizer. My smoke alarm was missing, and the door's security lock was broken, as if someone had forced the door before. The pool was clean but unheated. The hot tub was cold and smelled like feces. Breakfast was a letdown: a few pieces of bread, two dry cereals, and coffee, despite being advertised as included. There's a donut shop and a gas station across the street, plus a convenience store a couple blocks away, so those are better options. Soda machines by the office charge $2 a can, while the gas station half a block down has drinks and snacks. This is a budget motel in a run-down part of Lodi.

Peter at the desk was friendly and helpful, and the room was spotless, with a fridge and microwave. Nothing was broken, everything worked, and there was even a 50-inch TV. I've had very different Econo Lodge stays, but this one was a pleasant surprise. It's a clean, affordable overnight stop just off the 99.