Quality Inn - East Stroudsburg POCONOS

This Budget Inn outpost is situated in a two-floor building that's a bit larger than most hotels in this category. Guests enter to a simple lobby with print sofas and armchairs, a Persian-style rug, lobby business corner, small gift stand with t-shirts, and cooler with snacks and drinks. Otherwise, there's no surprises here -- it's not the most sleek or contemporary budget property we've come across, but it's clean and homey, and touches like the fireplace in the lobby add a cozy touch that feels appropriate for the hotel's mountainous setting. This is a straightforward, budget hotel that serves its purpose as a quick stopover for guests traveling on busy I-80 or those looking for a reasonably priced base from which to explore the Poconos region. 

The Budget Inn & Suites sits just off I-80, a five-minute drive from the center of Stroudsburg and the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a five-minute walk or one-minute drive from the hotel. Stroud Mall, with its retail stores, dining, and movie theater, is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, while The Crossings Premium Outlets are a 15-minute drive along I-80. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is just east -- five minutes away by car -- and has plenty of excellent hikes, and outdoor pursuits like fishing and swimming are available. Great Wolf Lodge -- a great destination for families with kids -- has an indoor water park and takes 15 minutes to reach by car, while Mount Airy Casino is a little under 20 minutes away by car. Skiers can reach Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in 10 minutes, Camelback Mountain Resort in 20, and Jack Frost Big Boulder Ski Area in 30 minutes by car. The Lehigh Valley International Airport near Allentown takes 35 minutes to reach and the New York City metro area is about 90 minutes east, with three major airports.

The Budget Inn has 112 smoking and non-smoking rooms and suites in a two-floor building with interior corridors. Rooms come in Standard, Deluxe, and Suite categories. The look throughout is mostly modern, but decidedly homey, and all are in generally good condition. There will be some dated decor, like light wood veneer furniture in some rooms and floral patterned bedspreads in others. Color schemes vary but include beiges, reds, and blues, and all rooms are carpeted. The more contemporary rooms have white bed linens, striped soft furnishings, and updated mid-tone wood furniture. Beds are Serta brand mattresses that put them a step above most budget hotels. All rooms have coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with plenty of channels (no HBO or other premium channels). At 32 inches, the TVs are a little small when viewed from the beds in some rooms. Deluxe Rooms add mini-fridges and desks, and Suites add microwaves, living rooms with queen-size sofa beds, and an additional TV. Bathrooms are clean, well lighted, and spacious, with good counter space and curtained shower/tub combos. Some Suites have jetted tubs. The hotel has no elevator, so guests with mobility issues should request a ground-floor room. 

Served in the hotel's restaurant, a free breakfast buffet during the week features hot eggs, waffles, home fries, biscuits and gravy, toast, pastries, muffins, cereal, fruit, yogurt, coffee, and juice. On weekends the buffet (for a fee) also includes specialty eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and French toast, but it is not included with room rates. The restaurant also serves sandwiches, burgers, and other American fare for lunch and dinner. It has a bar that offers a happy hour, and pours cocktails, beer, and wine alongside several flat-screen TVs with live sports. There is no swimming pool, but the hotel has a small fitness center that's fine for a basic cardio workout. It includes a treadmill, exercise bike, and recumbent bike plus a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, but there are no free weights or weight machines. The hotel also has a 24-hour computer corner, lobby gift shop and snack cooler, 24-hour free lobby coffee and tea, and a lobby microwave. There's also an ATM machine, a coin-operated laundry, 24-hour front desk, and free parking with space for large vehicles. Up to two pets per room are allowed for a nightly fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.