Springfield motel suggestions near UIS? (Bloomington, Hampton: hotels, houses, crime)

[TootsieWootsie]

Can anyone suggest a motel that is SAFE and not expensive to stay at near UIS? I need to go there soon, and have no idea what is there to stay in.
I wonder if I need to call and make a reservation for the graduation ceremony time?

[studedude]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

Can anyone suggest a motel that is SAFE and not expensive to stay at near UIS? I need to go there soon, and have no idea what is there to stay in.
I wonder if I need to call and make a reservation for the graduation ceremony time?

Microtel just off of Dirksen Pkwy about 2 mi north of Stevenson. My wife and I stay there frequently. You can walk across the parking lot to a fairly new IHOP. Very small rooms. Certainly adequate for sleeping. Wireless internet if you need it. Several places to eat across the street. It looks like its about 4 mi from UIS.

[arpschneider]

Originally Posted by studedude

Microtel just off of Dirksen Pkwy about 2 mi north of Stevenson. My wife and I stay there frequently. You can walk across the parking lot to a fairly new IHOP. Very small rooms. Certainly adequate for sleeping. Wireless internet if you need it. Several places to eat across the street. It looks like its about 4 mi from UIS.

Just stay away from any of the places (read: dives!) located on Dirksen between Clear Lake and North Grand! We had friends didn't know any better, stayed at one of these places and who wound-up having their room broken broken into (while they were there!) and robbed at gunpoint once. Basically, they're drug-infested flop houses frequented mostly by druggies, hookers and pimps. "Outsiders" are always easy to spot and become victims.

[breer23]

Originally Posted by arpschneider

Just stay away from any of the places (read: dives!) located on Dirksen between Clear Lake and North Grand!

I agree...there are a slew of hotels right at the exit for UIS on I-55 (Exit 90 - Toronto Rd.). Any of those should be fine.

[studedude]

Originally Posted by arpschneider

Just stay away from any of the places (read: dives!) located on Dirksen between Clear Lake and North Grand! We had friends didn't know any better, stayed at one of these places and who wound-up having their room broken broken into (while they were there!) and robbed at gunpoint once. Basically, they're drug-infested flop houses frequented mostly by druggies, hookers and pimps. "Outsiders" are always easy to spot and become victims.

This is good advise. Further north on Dirksen gets pretty seedy. Also gets you further from your destination. The Toronto rd exit is closer to your destination. My business is north of there so I've never stayed there. I know it is a nice area.

[runninfiend]

Toronto Rd. is fine. I've stayed at the (I think it's still) the Ramada Ltd., and it was very nice. Cheap, too.

[breer23]

I think Toronto Rd. offers better options than those a little further into town. The hotels on S. Dirksen seem a little overpriced for what you get (sans, the Microtel, perhaps), and the ones on S. 6th St. are a little less desirable, but nowhere near as bad as the ones on Dirksen between N. Grand & Clear Lake (I grew up in Grandview).

FYI: North Dirksen Pkwy. (around Sangamon Ave.) also offers some decent hotels, but that area has become so congested, and as someone pointed out earlier, it's further away from UIS.

[AnimalLover]

I'm from Springfield. A client stayed at the Drury on Dirksen for a weekend and liked it. Personally, I would stay at Staybridge Suites 217-793-6700 4231 Schooner Dr or Hampton Inn 217-793-7670 2300 Chuck Wagon Dr. They are about 10 minutes from UIS and close to Bob Evans, Steak and Shake, OCharleys & Monicals Pizza . Definitely make a reservation.

[TrixxiSpumoni]

Toronto Road does offer better options and a little more character, however, I would stay at the Drury just because it's so close to Steak n Shake. The west coast has no steak n shakes, and that's just a damn crime.

[breer23]

Originally Posted by TrixxiSpumoni

The west coast has no steak n shakes, and that's just a damn crime.

Did you ever get to visit the original S&S in Bloomington?