Baymont by Wyndham Bartonsville Poconos

The Baymont Inn is housed in a two-floor building with interior corridors and porte cochere entrance. Yes, this is a budget hotel, and it serves mostly as a base for guests en route to other destinations, but it's clean and modern enough to be comfortable for a couple nights for travelers exploring the Poconos region. In fact, it's a far more updated hotel than many other budget properties in the region. Guests enter to a modern lobby with a dark-wood reception desk, beige-and-brown wavy-print carpet, and comfortable brown sofas and chairs. There's free coffee for anyone looking to relax outside of their rooms, and the hotel also has The Lounge, a fairly lively restaurant and bar with a DJ on the weekends. The bar attracts a mix of locals and hotel guests. Most of those staying here are couples and families, though some business travelers also pass through.

The hotel conveniently sits just off I-80, right on Route 611, a busy local road that's lined with numerous shops and restaurants of the suburban variety (read: fast food and big box stores). There's not much that's walkable in the area, and guests will likely already have a car with them if they've landed here. The Crossings Premium Outlets are an eight-minute drive from the hotel, while Great Wolf Lodge -- a family-friendly destination -- is 10 minutes away and has a large indoor water park. There are plenty of outdoor activities in the area, including hiking and fishing. There are also several ski resorts within a reasonable drive, like Camelback (15 minutes away), Shawnee (20 minutes), and Jack Frost Big Boulder (30 minutes). Those looking for indoor adult activities can hit up Mount Airy Casino, which is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. It's a 35-minute drive to the Lehigh Valley International Airport and the hotel is just over 90 minutes west of New York City and its several airports.

Housed in a two-floor building with interior corridors and an elevator, the Baymont Inn has 115 rooms and suites in various king, queen, and double bed configurations. Rooms get good natural light, are quiet and clean, and have a modern look, especially when compared to some of the fusty budget options in the Poconos region. The color palette is dominated by slate blue, grey, white, and brown -- it's a soothing combination, with patterned carpets in on-trend hues, and mid-tone wood furniture that's simple and modern. White cotton bedding looks sharp and there are prints of palm trees hanging on the wall, one of the brand's staples. 

All rooms come with desks, ergonomic chairs, in-room safes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels and HBO. Most rooms also have additional seating, either an armchair or a mod love seat by the window. Suites have additional amenities that can include two-person jetted tubs, pull-out sofas, or fireplaces. Bathrooms are clean and well lighted, with ample counter space and shower/tub combos -- some can be quite narrow and cramped. Smoking rooms are available, and smoke can be smelled in some of the hotel's corridors. Wi-Fi can be a little slow in some parts of the building. 

The Baymont Inn offers its guests a good range of features, especially given it's value rating. The high-quality breakfast buffet features eggs, sausages, hash browns, make-your-own waffles, cereal, coffee, juice, and a rotating menu of pastries, muffins, bagels, and breads. The hotel also has an adjacent bar and grill restaurant, The Lounge, which serves pub fare for lunch and dinner, and has a weekend DJ with dancing. Outdoor seating on the patio is available in warm weather. Guests can swim year round in the heated indoor pool, and soak in the hot tub on the deck. A small fitness center has a weight machine, free weights, treadmill, and recumbent bike. The hotel also has a playground, outdoor volleyball court, and coin-operated laundry facility. There's free coffee throughout the day in the lobby, and a microwave as well, plus vending machines, a computer station, and video game room. Free parking is available, with space for large vehicles,and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Up to two pets per room are permitted for a nightly fee.