I had the occasion this past summer to stay in a Motel 6 here in the U.S. for the first time in many years. I was most pleasantly surprised at the new look of the room. It was simple, utilitarian, but perhaps best of all, something new in that it reminded me of mid-century America with a bit of a nod to Deco, 1950s "Space-Age" design and, perhaps, "The Jetsons."

There is, first of all, a noticeable lack of clutter in the room appointments… no headboards mounted to the wall pretending to be real furniture, no homely wall or table lamps. Instead there were two ample-sized beds (frame and mattresses only), a built-in 32 inch flat screen TV with available connections for gaming devices, laptops, MP3 players, etc., and ambient lighting throughout. And laminate floors. And a really cool sink (and towel "cubby"). And it only cost $49.99 per night. While I normally can’t wait to flee most American motel rooms, I found myself intrigued enough to seek out some information on this innovation. It's a new Motel 6 concept called "The Phoenix". I intend to seek out similar Motel 6 properties in the future. Add the proper DVDs, lounge music, and cocktails, and you could be in for a truly swank weekend for less.

Images via Motel6.com