Smuj, re favourite places.
A route that was always popular was the "Bucket of Sunshine" to Almagordo in New Mexico.
I cannot remember the name of the hotel in Albuquerque but they had a "happy cocktail hour", we got very happy, the cocktails were free and the hour always stretched to two. They also put free "snacks" on which was practically a complete buffet, no need for dinner. Follow that with a free full breakfast buffet in the morning and you went home with dollars in your pocket from unused allowances.
