Identifying a good budget hotel can be difficult sometimes because you are not really sure if budget means cheap and broken down or inexpensive and good value. Ideally you will not really know until you get there and look but nowadays with the internet, it is a lot easier to find out about hotels. And people like to talk so searching forums and online review sites will help to know the truth about a budget hotel. But, the first thing to do is decide in your mind what budget means to you and what exactly you expect.

Basically, a good budget hotel is known by several traits:

• clean surroundings
• cheap price
• extras like complimentary breakfast, iron, tea bags and coffee in the room,
• close enough to the attractions of the area.

As mentioned, to start your search, look for forums that cater to your destination. Scour other people's discussions looking for any clues that might pertain to you. Then, ask others what they think. But be specific in your request, otherwise you will get a lot of garbage that really does not mean anything. Plus, you want to be able to compare apples to apples so make sure you tell the others your focus. For example, if a pool is a must, or you need internet service, or you want satellite TV, all these things should be in your posting.

Another obvious way to identify a good budget hotel is by doing an online search in your price point. Use specifics to keep your search narrow and add the location name, maximum price you are willing to pay, as well as the word hotel or motel. Sift through the results, reading the individual sites, and looking at their photos to see if they appeal to you. Remember, though, that photos are not always indicative of the “real thing” so check elsewhere to verify information.

If you are close enough to the location, just drive there for a day and have a look around. You might also check some travel agents' websites as they offer reviews and sometimes they have been to the hotel themselves so they can give first hand opinions. Lastly, once you find a budget hotel that you think you like, search for the hotel name and complaints. If anything glaring comes up, you might want to avoid the establishment but if the complaints are trivial or have nothing to do with your preferences, then you might have found your perfect budget hotel.