Both name brand motels and independently owned properties have their pros and cons. When it comes down to where to book your stay, it often comes down to personal preference. The following information can help you decide where you'd like to lay your head.

Name Brand Motels

Name brand motels are the icons of the roadways. Their distinctive logos, usually placed on sky-high signs, leave no question as to their ownership and/or management.

The Pros

While some chains do own all of their properties, others are franchised out to independent owners. The difference between an owner of a chain brand motel and an independent mom and pop is that the chain brand owner must adhere to certain standards to keep using that logo. Frequent spot checks by regional managers keep them on their toes.

The scrutiny is even greater at the motels that are owned by the brand but have onsite managers. One example is a major chain that requires mandatory breaks for their onsite managers, who live on the property. Every few months a roving management team will come in to give the onsite managers a week-long break. While the onsite managers are away from the property, the roving team will go over the books, do a thorough inspection of the property and make sure everything is up to company standards.

Both inspection scenarios make sure that you get the same quality of accommodations and service, no matter where that particular motel is located.

The Cons

There isn't much of a con to staying at a name brand motel, unless you are looking for something unique. Fans of these properties know what to expect in accommodations, amenities and services. Frequent travellers can often recite the breakfast menu. There are slight variations between name brand motels in Australia and other countries, but ultimately, it could get really mundane really quickly.

Independent Motels

Booking a room at an independent motel is a leap into the unknown, a perfect match for the adventurous traveller.

The Pros

Independently owned properties show the personality of their owners, and in many cases represent the area in which they are located. Theme motels are a delightful surprise and an excellent example of creative marketing. For example, if you are staying in remote Winton, in Western Queensland, your motel is almost certain to have a dinosaur motif.

Spend time in Manly Beach or any surfing town along the Gold Coast and the décor and attitude will reflect the beach, the waves and the surfers that challenge them. In one Australian town, Coober Pedy, independent motel owners have made sleeping in caves quite the experience.

Even in Sydney, some independently owned motels in or near the historic Rock neighbourhood display a certain Victorian charm. Here, and elsewhere, some independent properties blur the lines between motel, hotel and bed and breakfast accommodations. You're just as apt to find a motel serving a full hot breakfast as you are the more basic continental fare.

The Cons

The downside of independently owned properties is there is always the possibility of checking into a lemon. Since there is no management team to guarantee the quality of the accommodations or the customer experience, you may find dated rooms, a lack of expected amenities, or a front desk that's manned 24/7. Of course unsatisfactory motels tend not to stay in business for long, so it's not a great risk.

Another issue you may run across with a few independent properties is that they don't take credit cards. Some will take cheques and/or traveller's cheques, but a few want payment in cash. These properties might have a website, but to make a reservation you usually have to call or book through a third party.