EXHIBIT 5.1
                                 March 4, 1997
 
Extended Stay America, Inc.
450 E. Las Olas Boulevard
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4
 
  We have represented Extended Stay America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation of a registration statement on
Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement"), filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, for the purpose of registering shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") which the Company
proposes to issue in connection with the proposed merger of Studio Plus
Hotels, Inc., a Virginia corporation, with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company.
 
  In this connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate and
other records, certificates and other papers as we deemed it necessary to
examine for the purpose of this opinion, including the Registration Statement
and pertinent resolutions of the board of directors of the Company.
 
  Based upon such examination, it is our opinion that the shares of Common
Stock registered under the Registration Statement are legally authorized and,
when issued pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger
described in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
 
  We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the references made to us in the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving
this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose
consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.
 
                                          Very truly yours,
 
                                          /s/ Bell, Boyd & Lloyd
 
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