The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Lafayette, Louisiana

You’re never too far from the action in Lafayette, and the Hilton Garden Inn puts you near both the airport and downtown, right by the Cajundome Arena. Highway 10 is conveniently close by for trips to Houston, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and the quiet location promises an easy nights’ sleep. Rooms have an agreeably old-fashioned American hotel feel, with colorful armchairs and floral carpets; they’re roomy and comfortable, and there’s a gym and restaurant.

A calm location in the inner burbs is the big drawcard at SpringHill Suites. The one-time village of River Ranch is tucked into a loop of the Vermilion River and it’s an easy base for exploring Lafayette, within striking distance of the center and the green wetlands on the east edge of town. It’s a friendly stop, with large suites decorated in summery colors, good workspaces, and a microwave and fridge for simple self-catering.

If being close to the airport tops your list of must-haves, make the Wingate your first port of call. Despite the proximity to the runway, the location is surprisingly green, close to a calm bend of the bayou and leafy suburbs. It’s also handy for the Acadiana Center for the Arts, and downtown. Inside, a bright lobby reveals cozy spaces inside, with homey, soft armchairs, patchwork bedspreads, framed art and lots of light.

The Courtyard by Marriott Lafayette South – one of two Courtyard properties in town – has a calm location surrounded by open spaces (something you’ll find a lot of in low-density Lafayette). It’s southwest of downtown, close to arcade shopping and green parkland, and the modern design aesthetic will appeal to fans of clean, straight lines and ergonomic workspaces. A bistro, gym and outdoor pool complete an appealing package.

An airport location doesn’t mean much in the way of noise and traffic in laid-back Lafayette. There’s plenty of greenery and open space around this Courtyard by Marriott property, and big, bright rooms come with angular furniture, soft mattresses and patterned walls that bring to mind a cloudy sky. It’s a popular stop for business travelers, but balconies and a bistro make it cosier than most hotels in the bracket.

North of the center but easy to reach from downtown and the airport, the Best Western Lafayette Inn offers a comfy stay close to Route 10 – handy if you’re in transit from other parts of Louisiana. The decor in the bedrooms has a certain 1920s quality thanks to lots of dark wood and leather upholstery, and there’s a pool, and a snug lounge with fun furniture and a modernist fireplace.

Lots of trees in the immediate vicinity lend a calm air to this airport-handy hotel. It’s minutes from check-in, but it’s a cosier stay than your average airport hotel, with Nordic-influenced decor (light woods, anglepoise lamps, upholstery in bright colors) and plenty of floor space. There’s a pool and gym, and it’s an easy drive to downtown and Lafayette’s interesting museums of Creole culture.

The River Ranch location of this Hilton hotel puts you close to shopping, eating, drinking and more, and not too far from the airport and downtown, in relaxed, open surroundings. The three-tone frontage is easy to spot, but the decor is more restrained inside, with a strong mid-century feel created by flat panels, smooth-to-the-touch surfaces and stylized floral patterns. There’s a mural-filled lounge and a pool, and the outdoor seating areas are a nice touch.