When in my twenties I stayed in places priced at $4-10 a nite, yes this was many years ago and the bathroom was "down the hall." I'm like the above posters and now want my own bathroom when I travel. But I still look for "value" and use lots of resources and strategies to find inexpensive but nice accommodation.

I've stayed at the Shangri-La in BKK for $65, thanks to Priceline. In Siem Riep I stayed in a little inn for $40 that was a total gem, with excellent service and free breakfast. I use VRBO to find casitas in Santa Fe and have a favorite large one with separate bedroom, kitchen, fireplace, and private patio for $65 a nite. I've stayed there a lot and the owner gives me the rock-bottom rate even at the height of summer.

I'm at the La Quinta Ben White in Austin right now, weekend rate $49 with free breakfast. I have a king room, large desk, free internet, recliner chair, large bathroom. When I arrived yesterday there was a sign at checkin saying "Guest of the Day" with my name and last initial on it. I was floored. I told the lady I was their "guest" and pointed to the sign. She gave me a gift bag with water bottles and snacks. I'm only a "gold" level with LaQ and I think the next higher level gets a bag for every visit, but I never got one before so it was a delight.

A couple of years ago I met up with one of my FT gal pals in NYC. We stayed at the Millennium Hilton in a big suite with two bathrooms and a fabulous view the first nite, courtesy her high status. I think we were charged $119 and she performed some kind of white magic on the desk clerk to get that particular suite. The rates were astronomical the following nites, so we moved over to the La Quinta where we had their largest room, QQ, for about $89 a nite. Yes, it was a big letdown after the chic suite, but so affordable and the room was extremely spacious by NYC standards.

I have favorite hotels all over the world, usually low-cost out-of-the-way inns or small properties that charge $28-65. Budget doesn't have to mean "cheap" with poor service. Often it means charm, quality, and surprising service. Just ask anyone who has stayed at any of the hotels (Alam Indah, Alam Jiwa and others) owned by Abu Wayan around Ubud, Bali.