Sunset Magazine: The Top 50 Hotels Under $150

With average hotel prices starting to rise again, Sunset Magazine set out to find weekend room rates for under $150 per night. Not to be cheap, the magazine set some standards: the room had to have its own bathroom, no bedbugs and over the hotel should have some personality. These hotels are either near popular water, mountain or wine country destinations. The hotels listed have an under-$150 rate for at least one weekend through late spring and summer excluding tax. Their best choices of U.S. hotels are listed by location and located in some popular resort destinations. See the full list at sunset.com.

Unfortunately the list does not include the region around New York City. Thought not listed either, there are always bargains about at some quality hotels in Las Vegas for $150. As a sample, here are the magazine's choices for Hawaii:

Ha‘iku Plantation Inn, Maui. This sugar plantation turned 4-room inn in Maui’s horsey upcountry is close to the Haleakala Crater, Pa‘ia town, and the gorgeous beach at Baldwin.  So you get a head start on all the Hana day-trippers schlepping from the resorty south shore. $119; haikuleana.net 

Ohana Waikiki East, Honolulu, Oahu. If you’re willing to walk a couple of blocks to the beach, you can save big bucks at the 441-room Ohana Waikiki East high-rise hotel—or either of its sister hotels, the Waikiki Malia or Waikiki West. Here’s the deal: You get a no-frills room (ask for an upper floor to cut down on street noise) and a pass to the trolley that endlessly circles Waikiki. $105; ohanahotels.com   

Hotel Lana‘i, Lanai. Lanai is the most fancy-pants of all the Hawaiian islands—virtually every visitor is bound for one of its two Four Seasons Resorts. But a few choose the Hotel Lana‘i in town, built in 1923 for pineapple plantation execs. The 11 rooms aren’t 5-star but are loaded with charm: Hawaiian quilts on the bed, hardwood floors, white wainscoting. Dinner here isn’t cheap, but it’s a must. $99; hotellanai.com