Salt Lake City has the best selection of accommodations in Utah, with many new hotels built for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Unless you’re on a really tight budget, you’ll probably be more comfortable if you avoid the cheapest motels along West Temple Street or State Street. Many of these older motor-court units have become residential lodgings, and the owners don’t put much effort into upkeep. However, you should have a pleasant stay at all of the following accommodations.

There are several major lodging centers. Downtown Salt Lake City has the advantage of being close to Temple Square, EnergySolutions Arena, the Salt Palace, and most other visitor attractions. South of downtown, near 600 South and West Temple Street, is a clutch of hotels and motels, including several business-oriented hotels. While these lodgings are only six blocks from the center of the city at Temple Square, remember that blocks are very long in SLC.

Another cluster of hotels and motels is west along North Temple Street, the primary surface street leading to the airport. If your trip to Salt Lake City involves visiting students or conducting business at the university, there are a couple of good lodging options near the campus.

In general, room rates can be rather high, though quality is good. The prices listed below are standard rack rates. You can frequently beat these prices by visiting the hotel’s website to check for specials.

Also, because of hotel overbuilding for the Olympics—63 new hotels were built in the Salt Lake area after the city won the Olympic nod—you can frequently find real deals on SLC lodgings at Internet booking sites if there’s not a convention in town. Prices can change by as much as $100 a night within the same week, so take the following prices as guidelines only.

If you have trouble locating a room, consider using the city’s free reservation service (800/847-5810, www.visitsaltlake.com).