I don't look for cheap...You tend to get what you pay for in a lot of cases but you can save money with becoming a rewards member with one of the better chains.
Now we do a lot of traveling for work or vacation so it pays off especially if you use the points generated when you use a rewards card to pay for other travel expenses you will have anyway.
Rewards include room upgrades, free night stays, breakfast, bulk room assignments (same floor) etc.
IHG has a lot of hotels in their program but we use Marriott Brands that has a large list of hotels as well and its a good relaxing clean environment from pool to outdoor areas.
IHG, may be the best for softball since a lot of tournaments are now doing heads in beads and use Holiday Inn, HJ, Drury etc. but sometimes you look at location and hotel and decide the penalty is worth staying elsewhere
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