Since I was in town for a concert at the Marquee, I booked this hotel through Priceline at their regular price - $75 with taxes and fees. True, there were several other two-star options in the area that were cheaper, but this one was both very well-reviewed and fewer than two miles from the venue.

I'm very pleased to say that they were absolutely worth the extra money. Our room was extremely clean - at one point I ended up on the bathroom floor hunting for a dropped earring, and was completely impressed at how spotless it was. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There were no "gotcha" items in the rooms (you know the type - "we've provided this bottle of water for your convenience, break the seal and we'll charge you $10"). The bed was a bit firm, but plenty comfortable, with nice soft pillows. The mini-fridge was surprisingly good-sized.

The continental breakfast deserves its own paragraph - plenty of carbs (bagels, waffles, Danishes, mini-muffins, cereal) but also lots of fresh fruit for the health nuts out there. Protein was sadly in short supply, but I managed to load up my bagel with cream cheese, and between that and a banana, I felt pretty well served. Absolutely a cut above most such offerings.

Best of all, the wi-fi was both hassle-free (not even a redirect to a "Welcome to Best Western, please watch this ad" page) and well-covered - there were three access points available from our room. I can't even say how many hotels I've stayed in that could take pointers from them on this matter.

Toss in the free parking and leisurely check-out time (noon), and I was seriously impressed - it was a better experience than most three- and three-and-a-half star hotels I've stayed at. I don't come up to Tempe often, but when I'm in the area again I will absolutely be back.