To add to the list of up-scale HI's:

Wilmington, NC - Right beside Port City Chop House
Columbia, SC - Near USC (lot's of good eateries, too)

Ones to avoid - Chesterfield, VA, Lynchburg, VA

As a PP said, pays to do a little homework before booking - I stay away from the HI's without interior entrances as they have all been old, run down properties in my experience.

I haven't had a bad experience with HGI, but they equate with a slightly above average CY, IMO.