Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Near Legoland

More of a motel than a hotel, this budget property is housed in a two-floor building with an adobe-style roof. All rooms are accessed from the outside and there's a small pool directly in front of the building on the way to the parking lot. An attractive wooden sign and trellis with palm bushes offer a welcoming entry to the hotel. The lobby is small but homey, with brown curtains over the windows, a couple of armchairs, and free coffee available all day. The breakfast room is small and sparse but clean. Aside from these areas, like most motels, guests are on their own. The majority of those staying here are families and day travelers passing through for one night or a weekend at most.

The hotel is surrounded by apartments and other budget hotels on a busy street that runs parallel to I-5. The No. 325 bus stops just outside, but there is little of interest within easy walking distance other than a few churches and a Village Kitchen & Pie Shoppe, a seven-minute walk away. Carlsbad center is a five-minute drive or 10-minute bus ride away. It's a five-minute drive to LEGOLAND and the closest beach, though South Carlsbad State Beach is an eight-minute drive from the hotel. It's a 35 minute drive into San Diego, where there are all sorts of sights and attractions, and about 90 minutes to L.A. The closest major airport, in San Diego, takes about 40 minutes to reach by car.

There are only 39 rooms at this hotel and although the carpet and upholstery look a little dated -- with an abundance or red and tan patterns and stripes -- the rooms otherwise are clean and modern. Each is equipped with a modern flat-screen TV, a large desk and a chair, a mini-fridge, a microwave, and a coffeemaker. All rooms are accessed via an outside landing. Suites are spacious and equipped with sofa beds and coffee tables, but they don't have separate bedrooms. Sinks and vanities are situated in the main part of the rooms, separate from the bathrooms which have shower/tub combos and toiletries. We did notice a musty odor in some rooms when we visited, and rooms lack adequate soundproofing to protect them from freeway noise.

This budget hotel offers a free buffet breakfast with a waffle station, plus free outdoor parking and Wi-Fi access. The small outdoor pool is not heated and is open on a seasonal basis  -- it offers a smattering of outdoor tables and lounge chairs. There's also a computer, a printer and an office chair available for guest use as well as a small laundry room.