<p>Looking for recommendations on where to stay while visiting Whitman next month with my son. Doing this trip on a budget, so would like to find something clean, inexpensive, and convenient to the college. No frills necessary, but don't want bed bugs either. :) Thanks!</p>
<p>Just saw the “lodging” thread from last November that suggests a few budget hotels downtown and close to campus…</p>
<p>Hi Sunmachine, I hope you and your son have a good visit in Walla Walla!</p>
<p>We’ve enjoyed staying within walking distance of the campus at B&Bs or the Marcus Whitman…but due to booking late last year ended up at the Super 8 out toward the airport. It is only a short driving distance, no frills–but perfectly fine, clean and had a nice breakfast.</p>
<p>My friend stays there frequently on business (with the college) and recommends the Travelodge as quite inexpensive and acceptable. H stayed there on college trip with D and said it was OK, nothing special.</p>
<p>The good thing about the Travelodge is that it’s across the street from campus and a block from downtown Walla Walla. It gives you a real feel for where you can get to on foot when you are a Whitman student.</p>
<p>I read an exceptionally negative review about the Travelodge on an on-line site, but it was from 2008. Hopefully things have changed for the better since then.</p>
<p>I didn’t stay at the Travelodge, I stayed next door at the Vineyard Inn. Believe me, it wasn’t fancy, but it was clean and had everything I needed, especially since I spent all my time on campus or exploring the town.</p>
<p>I’ve stayed at both Travelodge and Vineyard and would not recommend either to anyone. Many things are broken or worn out, and I never thought either was all that clean. I stayed there when my daughter first started Whitman but stopped because the savings and convenience weren’t enough to make up for the cons. The Hampton is great, but not within walking distance. But it’s a pretty quick drive. If you’re visiting during the week, rather than a weekend, you might find a good rate at the very nice wallawallainns.com, which is downtown right on Main St. close to campus. You also might get a good rate at the Marcus Whitman during the week.</p>
<p>Rix, maybe the Vineyard Inn is under new management. I stayed there this year in September and it wasn’t as bad as you describe. Not new, but nothing was broken and it was clean and comfortable. Maybe I got the good room.</p>
<p>Just putting a plug for the Best Western which is walking distance to campus. By the end we always stayed there (although it has been almost a year since our last graduation visit).</p>
<p>We stayed at the Travelodge and Vineyard Inn several times a few years ago. The location was excellent, but at that time at least, they were both a little broken down and cleanliness was only so-so. S stayed at the Vineyard Inn a few months ago, said it was fine but no hot water (apparently he’s easy to please). For graduation (2009) we stayed at the LaQuinta and I thought it was a definite step up. It’s a little farther, maybe a 7-8 block walk to campus, but nicer. It is next door to the Best Western which also looked nice. The Best Western was always booked when I was looking for a room, so that may be a good sign. We stayed at the Holiday Inn once - it was nice, but not within walking distance to campus or downtown (although everything in Walla Walla is a short drive). The Marcus Whitman is nice, definitely a step up. We never stayed there, but have had drinks and dinner over the years. Very pretty.</p>
<p>I saw this is the WW paper and remembered this discussion about the motels closest to Whitman (Vineyard and Travelodge). This is about the Vineyard, and while it’s appalling it doesn’t surprise me much.</p>
<p>[Major</a> meth lab found at Walla Walla motel | Walla Walla Union-Bulletin](<a href=“http://union-bulletin.com/stories/2011/05/19/major-meth-lab-found-at-walla-walla-motel]Major”>http://union-bulletin.com/stories/2011/05/19/major-meth-lab-found-at-walla-walla-motel)</p>
<p>Rix, yikes! I was cheek to jowl with the underbelly of Walla Walla. Perhaps that’s too many body parts for one sentence? Anyway, I’ll be headed for the Best Western next time.</p>
<p>Now we know why Noseemom’s S didn’t have any hot water when he stayed there… I imagine you need a bunch of that to cook meth. Definitely give the Hampton a try if you’re ok with the short drive.</p>
<p>I love the idea of not having to rent a car, sort of getting the student’s eye view of Walla Walla, but there seem to be several better options within walking distance that fit my thrifty nature. Thanks for the heads up. I keep having visions of the Vineyard Inn with yellow police tape around it.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Vineyard in April (pre meth lab bust!). It was much like bopambo described: very basic, but clean and convenient. No one would ever mistake it for a swanky hotel! But there was plenty of hot water with good water pressure, at least in our room. The “continental breakfast” wasn’t worth bothering with. Like bopambo, I especially liked being within walking distance of the campus and downtown. To me, the least desireable feature of the motel was that the row of rooms opens onto a back alley that had several overflowing garbage cans. </p>
<p>Wondering if the person busted was the manager who checked us in!</p>
<p>sunmachine, I’m glad you survived it. I started wondering the same thing about the person who was behind the desk when I was there. Creepy!</p>
<p>We have always stayed at the Best Western. It has always been clean and has a breakfast on the weekends.</p>
<p>Took my S for a visit to Whitman last year and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. It is a short drive to the campus but the hotel is clean and comfortable and perfectly adequate for a short stay.</p>