Several family members stayed here by virtue of its location, mostly, and for our gathering and convenience this was perfect.

Unlike some of my business or vacation travels, where I've stayed in hotels which were themselves part of the attraction (with luxurious amenities, grounds, and services), this was purely for a comfortable and "reasonably priced" room, chosen primarily for "having a base" from which to venture out to a family gathering nearby. Mostly the only time spent there was to sleep - and by chance to watch the SuperBowl in the lobby, where I learned also a bit about this hotel/motel and its "sister" next door.

Bottom line: there is a Holiday Inn Express across the busy street for $20 more/night - apparently a brand-name thing. The Days Inn just next door (the "sister" property) is quite similar, and around $10 less/night. The difference between the two (according to the friendly desk worker who brought cake & cupcakes for the SuperBowl shift) is in the "brand" and Comfort Inn's slightly nicer touches, like eggs and links with the free breakfast buffet (6-10 AM) which also includes a waffle-maker, cereals hot & cold, juice, breads, yoghurt, and more. Coffee is available 24/7 and there are vending and ice machines both in the eating area and on 2 of the 3 floors. And laundry machines. Plus there is a 7-11 and Burger King just outside the front door.

Unlike a luxury hotel review (focusing on fine dining, tourist attractions, spas & luxurious bathrooms, etc.) I'll "stick to the basics" here. The rooms are quiet, and spacious. No pretenses at luxury, some of the furniture is a bit "pre-worn" (thinking of a frayed coffee table), but no worries - there is just so *much* furniture (and space) here. My room had a king sized bed, a pull-out sofa/bed, iron/ironing board, hair blower, cable (tube-type) TV, and happily: free wi-fi Internet - plus there is a computer in the lobby, with a printer for boarding passes, maps, whatever. A small pool and jacuzzi are just outside, and a little picnic area is in the back (shared with the Days Inn), under some palm trees.

That's really about the whole deal: Basic - with some nice touches, friendly desk staff, convenient to Clark Road/I75 and surrounding area. For a family or single/couple travels, it's really about value and location, not luxury or frills. But you not only "get what you pay for" (value) but in a nice way too, for a reasonable rate. (Rates do vary seasonally, higher in winter, and they do sell out, I saw, such as when a sports competition comes to town and books a large block of rooms.)

I took some pictures, and am posting a few, but I do find that the ones posted on the motel's web page are similar to my own, and true to life. My own photos (and memory) document both the lovely sky and the breakfast nook plus lobby areas and pool, plus the scale of the room. Note: the rooms also have a large refrigerator, desk area (or two in my case), and a microwave (which works wonderfully with a 7-11 burrito or quick re-heating/cooking). I could sit at the desk and work at my laptop - with hi-speed Internet - and with one hand open the refrigerator door and pull out a drink or apple/snack as I remained seated.

Lastly but importantly: location, location. This spot is 5 minutes from the various condos and assisted living centers on Palmer Ranch Parkway. In the other direction it's just one minute to I75 which (in addition to local streets) can take someone to the airport or beaches or downtown Sarasota quite quickly, or set one towards the great attractions in Tampa or the beaches to the South (e.g., Venice). Of course what is described (by both scientists and travelers) as our "nation's finest beach", Siesta Key, is just a very short drive (15-20 minutes?) as are movie theaters, and malls upon malls. Some decent restaurants too.

The website lists some of the area attractions, accurately. There is beach, culture (Van Wezel performing arts center, Ringling Museum, etc.) nearby, and also within driving distance there is an incredible nature preserve/state park (Myaka). A bit further off one can visit the Dali Museum in St. Pete, or find shark's teeth on Venice Beach, or have a wide choice of State Parks and "Old Florida" attractions, from old estates to a Big Cat preserve to Linger Lodge.

And that, I think, is "the story".
The local Comfort Inn/Clark Road web page is at: http://bit.ly/wfsf9C