Econo Lodge Inn & Suites

A fairly typical roadside budget hotel, the Baymont Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells feels empty and dull due to its sparse furnishings. The lobby has high ceilings, but apart from the front desk, there are only three leather couches in a carpeted corner of the room, adding to the empty vibe. As a result, conversations from the lobby echo throughout the halls from the groups of water park revelers and budget-conscious families that the hotel caters to.

Located right off of Interstate 94, the hotel is on frontage road between a Perkins and the Polynesian Resort Hotel. Other than a few fast-food chains there isn't much else within walking distance, but the hotel is conveniently situated for driving with most attractions under 10 minutes away. Across the Wisconsin River, the restaurants and bars lining Broadway downtown are within a five-minute drive. It's a seven-minute drive to Noah's Ark, the largest water park in the country, and Timbavati Wildlife Park is a nine-minute drive away. Expect just over a two-hour drive to General Mitchell Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee.

The hotel's 65 rooms come in a surprising number of categories (most slight variations on the same room, such as the 2 Queens One Sofa Bed Room or the 2 Queens One Sofa Bed Hot Tub Suite). Rest assured they all have the same budget decor, with neutral off-white wallpaper, bland wood furnishings, badly dated upholstery, and busy carpets. Microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers are standard, along with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Most have bathrooms with average shower/tub combos. Apart from having two or three beds (two queens, or two queens and a king), the only significant differences between room types are whether they're on the first or second floors, though some upgraded rooms have sofa beds, or wet bars and whirlpool tubs. Suites add dining tables for four people, and also have whirlpool tubs. Most rooms overlook parking lots and we heard traffic sounds from the rooms facing the road.

The hotel has a simple breakfast room with a free daily continental breakfast that includes a waffle maker. There's a seasonal outdoor pool with a small sundeck, along with a large heated indoor pool inside a wood-paneled space that also houses a sauna. A small fitness room has a treadmill, stationary bike, and a weight-trainer. There's also a 24-hour business corner in the lobby, with a computer and printer. Free parking is included.