[bailey1936]

We are driving to Florida. We are driving from our home in Central IL and want to stop in AL. We have always stayed in Athens but would like to try to drive a little further this year. Also would like a recommendation of a reasonable, but clean motel to stay at. We have stayed at the Country Inn the last several years and it is less and less clean each year. Has not been well maintained. Would appreciate any suggestions.

[sedriskell]

Well, I'd recommend some Decatur hotels, but I'm assuming that you'd like to get even further south. There are some hotels that appear well maintained in Cullman at the 310 exit.

[bailey1936]

Originally Posted by sedriskell

Well, I'd recommend some Decatur hotels, but I'm assuming that you'd like to get even further south. There are some hotels that appear well maintained in Cullman at the 310 exit.

Decatur was a consideration. Where do you suggest to stay in Decatur?

[Southlander]

Jameson Inn, which is on into Decatur, is clean and well maintained. There are a few hotels at the I-65 and Alabama 67 exit...can't tell you about any of them, though.

Birmingham...for some reason there just aren't enough hotels in Birmingham. Occasionally I try to find a room and usually find them priced high enough that I'd just as soon drive home to Decatur.

[sedriskell]

Oh, well, now that I read that you would be willing to stop in Decatur, I can recommend some hotels. Most of the better hotels are going to be on the Beltline, and are located about 2 or 3 miles into town from exit 334. Also, you could get off at exit 340, take Alabama 20 into Decatur, and there is a Holiday Inn in downtown that is very well maintained and is the city's only full service hotel.

Also in downtown, there is, I believe a Country Inn and Suites, next to the Old State Bank that is in a very historic setting and is a pretty nice place to stay.

If you're looking for some more, there is a LaQuinta on the Beltline, near the corner of Spring and the Beltline. There is also a pretty nice hotel at the corner of Danville Road and Beltline Rd.

If you need any directions, just message me.

[harry chickpea]

I second the thought that there aren't many reasonably priced motels in B'ham. There are some near the Greensprings and Hoover area, and a couple good ones out on 280 SE of the city, but those are not inexpensive. The situation between B'ham and Montgomery is much worse. I usually made my trips from South Florida to North Alabama in one go, or stopped at Dothan. One time I was just too tired and had to stop south of B'ham and could only find a flea-pit.

[cpg35223]

Birmingham will be a pretty good stop, actually. You'd be best off stopping at the Lakeshore Drive exit, which is about four-five miles south of downtown. There are quite a few hotels there, plus some decent places to eat, immediately to your right as you leave the interstate. At the same time, there's a Wal-Mart and some other stores in case you need to make last minute purchases. From there, you'll be 4-4.5 hours from most Panhandle beaches.

[dragfan66]

Exit 310 in Cullman is a good place to stop. Just remember Cullman is dry.
It's okay on down around Gardendale too. I can't remember the exit numbers, but it is the Fieldstown Road exit and the one after that.
I wouldn't go into Birmingham though.

[cpg35223]

At Lakeshore Parkway, you'll find a Hampton, LaQuinta, Best Western, Holiday, Drury, and Residence Inn, all within about a 500 yard radius. Plus there's a Landry's, an Outback, a Chili's, iHop, Lone Star, Chik-fil-A, a couple of Chinese places, etc. etc. Plus you can actually get a beer after a long drive. Really, it's your very best option. Drive safely.