I just returned from a road trip in which I had 3 one-night stays at Best Westerns (Marion, IL, Paducah, KY and Knoxville, TN). It started because the rate on the one in IL was very good but I continued because I don't use chain hotels that much (my two big trips for this year are India/Nepal, where the tour company picked them, and an Airbnb stay in Edinburgh) and wanted to try to concentrate them with one chain. In previous years I've used either Fairfields or Hamptons.

The BW gyms tended to be a bit less well-equipped; none had water coolers and one didn't have towels (although the adjacent pool did). Two had VERY small pools, even smaller than I'd seen in Fairfields/Hamptons. The third had a nice-sized one but it was outdoor only. One breakfast was similar to Hilton/Marriott (and that was the cheapest rate); the other two had fewer items. All were shower over tub rather than the updated large showers I've occasionally seen in Hilton/Marriott's comparable properties. One was on two floors but had no elevator.

Conclusion: you get what you pay for. BWs were lower than the rates for Hampton/Fairfield and I could see why, but no real dealbreakers. For a one-night stay I have pretty basic standards: clean, quiet, someplace I can get a decent workout. I may use BW on my trip in December and use the money I save for other travel extravagances.