I travel often for work and often end up staying in these hotels. Company travel policy is: do it cheap! and somehow the travel agent keeps finding these places.

Like others who have posted here, I often go to out of the way places, where a Choice property may be (one of) the only Choices around.

There is a wide variation of quality and amenities, but I have had relatively few really awful experiences. And those, you will hear about in a minute

Because there is such a wide variation I thought it might be useful to some folks for me to post places I've been. I appreciate the postings of all who have already reviewed hotels on here, and I'll try to keep people informed as I go.

Anyway...ironically it seems I have had WORSE luck the higher up on the Choice hotel food chain I go.

I also try to make a point to grab a directory whenever I stay at one of these. I have found that any of the "Gold Award" winners really are consistently better. I have never had a bad stay at any such designated hotel.

Clarion:

Austin TX south - I-35 and Oltorf - BAD. Old, outdated (exterior corridors), small rooms and ugly as sin. Has weird purple exterior lights; thought I was arriving at a night club when I pulled up after dark. Told a friend in town where I was staying, and she said "oh, the purple hotel". Not recommended. There are dozens of others nearby that are better at the same price.

Philadelphia PA - interesting, to say the least. Hotel is right in the middle of Chinatown (smack dab in the middle of the block between a Chinese restaurant and some other Chinese businesses). Parking is a problem - a garage down the block; nothing on site. Building is an adaptive reuse of something with exposed brick in weird places and strange angles in rooms. Small hallways. I guess the architect did all he could. My n/s room smelled like smoke. Not recommended.

Portland, OR airport - Good. Recommended. Modern, clean, large rooms, comfy beds, good desk. Only drawback is it's hard to find in the back of a business park.

Quality:
Can't honestly recall a good stay in a Quality Inn.
West Springfield, MA - old, rundown, right on the highway, noisy. Has a Chinese restaurant off lobby. Hotel smells like old grease and MSG.

Sedona, AZ - older property, kind of cheesy. When making reservations online, could not figure out why it cost less than the adjacent Comfort Inn. Reason: Comfort Inn is 20 years newer!

Gresham, OR - skanky looking property, staff all look like they live in a trailer with their cousins, scary co-guests (one was arrested while I was there), room wasn't too clean, minimalist furnishings, overlooks a run-down apt. complex. Avoid it.

Comfort Inn:
Opelika, AL - good. New, clean, right off the highway.

Dothan, AL - good. Actually the nicest property in Dothan - better than the Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn. It's a 5-story bldg (about the only one in the city) and is the only hotel in the city with interior corridors as far as I could tell.

Knoxville TN north (Central Avenue Pike) - pretty good. Older property with exterior corridors, but clean and neat. Good free breakfast.

Sun City Center, FL - not recommended. Feels like it was built with gum and string. No soundproofing at all. Exterior corridors. Overpriced for what you get.

Harrisburg PA east (Union Deposit Road) - a Gold award winner, and well-deserved. No problems at all.

Sleep Inn: Only been to one (Knoxville TN north - right up the road from the aforementioned Comfort Inn) and it ws great! Brand new, comfortable, clean, and under $40/night. If they're all like this, I will be looking for more Sleep Inns!