EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                         AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
                         -----------------------------

          AMENDMENT, dated as of September 18, 1998 (this "Amendment"), among
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks
party to the Credit Agreement described below (the "Banks"), MORGAN STANLEY
SENIOR FUNDING, INC., as Syndication Agent and Arranger, and THE INDUSTRIAL BANK
OF JAPAN, LIMITED, as Administrative Agent. All capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings provided such terms
in the Credit Agreement referred to below.

                             W I T N E S S E T H :
                             -------------------  

     WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Banks, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as
Syndication Agent and Arranger, and The Industrial Bank of Japan, as
Administrative Agent are parties to an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
dated as of March 10, 1998 (as amended, modified and supplemented through the
date hereof, the "Credit Agreement");

     WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend the Credit Agreement as herein
provided;

     NOW THEREFORE, it is agreed:

     1.  Section 11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (a) adding the
proviso "provided that the September 1998 Charge shall not be deemed to
constitute corporate overhead for purposes of this definition" at the end of the
definition of "Annualized Corporate Overhead Amount", (b) deleting the "and"
before clause (iv) of the proviso to the definition of "Consolidated Net Income"
and inserting a comma in lieu thereof, (c) adding the phrase "and (v) the
September 1998 Charge shall not be taken into account in determining
Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower" at the end of the definition of
"Consolidated Net Income" and (d) adding the following definition in the
appropriate alphabetical order:

     "September 1998 Charge" shall mean the non-recurring expense of up to
$13,250,000 resulting from the establishment in the fiscal quarter of the
Borrower ended September 1998 of a valuation allowance for costs which have been
incurred to acquire options for sites, the performance of related due diligence
and other related expenses.

     2.  This Amendment is limited precisely as written and shall not be deemed
to be a consent to or modification of any other term or condition of the Credit
Agreement, the other Credit Documents or any of the instruments or agreements
referred to therein.

     3.  In order to induce the Banks to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower
hereby represents and warrants that (x) no Default or Event of Default exists on
the Amendment Date (as defined below) after giving effect to this Amendment and
(y) all of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Documents
shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Amendment Date after
giving effect to this Amendment with the same effect as though such
representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Amendment Date (it
being understood that any representation or warranty made as of a specific date
shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specific date).


 
     4.  This Amendment shall become effective for all purposes on the first
date (the "Amendment Date"), on and after the date that the Borrower and the
Required Banks shall have signed a counterpart hereof (whether the same or
different counterparts) and shall have delivered (including by way of
telecopier) the same to Administrative Agent's counsel (attention:  M. Irmak
Canevi, Fax:  (212) 354-8113).

     5.  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts
when executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.  A complete set of counterparts
shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

     8.  THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.

     9.  From and after the Amendment Date, all references in the Credit
Agreement and each of the Credit Documents to the Credit Agreement or each of
the Credit Documents shall be deemed to be references to such Credit Agreement
or each of the Credit Documents as amended hereby.

*                                      *                                       *

                                       2


 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of
this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above
written.

                                    EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.


                                    By:  /s/  Robert A. Brannon
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Robert A. Brannon
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President
                                    
                                    MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING,
                                      INC., Individually, as Syndication Agent
                                      and as Arranger
                                    
                                    By:  /s/  Michael T. McLaughlin
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Michael T. McLaughlin
                                       Title:  Principal
                                    
                                    THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN,
                                      LIMITED, Individually and as
                                      Administrative Agent
                                    
                                    
                                    By:  /s/  Takuya Honjo
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Takuya Honjo
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President

                                       3

 
                                    BALANCED HIGH YIELD FUND I, LTD., c/o
                                      BHF-BANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
                                      Acting through its New York Branch as
                                      attorney-in-fact
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  John Sykes
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  John Sykes
                                       Title:  Vice President
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Tony Heyman
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Tony Heyman
                                       Title:  AVP
                               
                                    BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST
                                      COMPANY
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Brian S. Dossie
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Brian S. Dossie
                                       Title:  Assistant Vice President
                               
                                    BANK ONE, KENTUCKY, NA
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                               
                                    BANKBOSTON, NA
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Renee A. Ross
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Renee A. Ross
                                       Title:  Managing Director
                               
                                    BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                       4

 
                                    BEAR STEARNS INVESTMENT
                                      PRODUCTS, INC.
                                   
                                   
                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------  
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                                   
                                    BLACK DIAMOND CAPITAL
                                      MANAGEMENT LLC
                                      c/o TORONTO DOMINION TX, INC.
                                   
                                   
                                    By:
                                       ----------------------------------- 
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                                   
                                    CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF
                                      COMMERCE
                               
                                   
                                    By:  /s/  Karen Volk
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Karen Volk
                                       Title:  Authorized Signatory
                                   
                                    CAPTIVA III FINANCE, LTD.
                                      c/o PACIFIC INVESTMENT
                                      MANAGEMENT CO.
                                      By:  PIMCO Management Inc.,
                                         a general partner
                               
                                   
                                    By:  /s/  Richard M. Weil
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Name:  Richard M. Weil
                                        Title:  Senior Vice President
                                   
                                       5
                               
                                   
                               
                               
                                   
                                   
                                   

 
                                    CHANG HWA COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD.,
                                      NEW YORK BRANCH
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------  
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                               
                                    CHEVY CHASE BANK, FSB
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------  
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                               
                                    COMPAGNIE FINANCIERE DE CIC ET DE
                                      L'UNION EUROPEENE
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Marcus Edward
                                       -----------------------------------  
                                       Name:  Marcus Edward
                                       Title:  Vice President
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Sean Mounier
                                       -----------------------------------  
                                       Name:  Sean Mounier
                                       Title:  First Vice President
                               
                                    DELANO COMPANY
                                      By PACIFIC INVESTMENT
                                      MANAGEMENT COMPANY, as its
                                      Investment Advisor
                                      By:  PIMCO Management Inc.,
                                         a general partner
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Richard M. Weil
                                       -----------------------------------  
                                       Name:  Richard M. Weil
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President

                                       6

 
                                    ERSTE BANK DER OESTERREICHISCHEN
                                      SPARKASSENAG
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Paul Judicke
                                       -----------------------------------  
                                       Name:  Paul Judicke
                                       Title:  Vice President
                               
                                    By:  /s/  John S. Runnio
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  John S. Runnio
                                       Title:  First Vice President
                               
                                    FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  June Shiong Lu
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  June Shiong Lu
                                       Title:  SVP & General Manager
                               
                                    FLOATING RATE PORTFOLIO
                                      c/o INVESCO SENIOR SECURED
                                      MANAGEMENT
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Kathleen A. Lenarcic
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Kathleen A. Lenarcic
                                       Title:  Authorized Signatory
                               
                                    HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Linda W. Wolf
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Linda W. Wolf
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President
                               
                                    IMPERIAL BANK
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Steven K. Johnson
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Steven K. Johnson
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President

                                       7

 
                                    KZH III LLC
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Virginia Conway
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:  Virginia Conway
                                       Title:  Authorized Agent
                               
                                    KZH ING-2 LLC
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Virginia Conway
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:  Virginia Conway
                                       Title:  Authorized Agent
                               
                                    KZH-PAMCO LLC
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       ------------------------------- 
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                               
                                    LAND BANK OF TAIWAN
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       ------------------------------- 
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                               
                                    LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                       8

 
                                    MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST
                                      COMPANY
                                
                                   
                                    By:  /s/  R. Buford Sears
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:  R. Buford Sears
                                       Title:  Administrative Vice President
                                   
                                    MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER &
                                      SMITH INCORPORATED
                                   
                                   
                                    By:  /s/  Benjamin W. Lau
                                       -------------------------------
                                    Name:  Benjamin W. Lau
                                    Title:  Authorized Signatory
                                
                                    ML CLO XIX STERLING (CAYMAN) LTD.
                                      c/o STERLING ASSET MANAGEMENT,
                                      LLC
                                   
                                
                                    By:
                                       ------------------------------- 
                                    Name:
                                    Title:
                                   
                                    ML CLO XX PILGRIM AMERICA
                                      (CAYMAN), LTD. c/o PILGRIM
                                      AMERICA INVESTMENTS, INC.
                                   
                                
                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                                   
                                       9

 
                                    MOUNTAIN CLO TRUST
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:
                                    
                                    ORIX USA CORPORATION
                                    
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Mr. Charles Kobayashi
                                        ------------------------------
                                        Name:  Mr. Charles Kobayashi
                                        Title:  Vice President & Manager
                                    
                                    PAM CAPITAL FUNDING, LP
                                       c/o PROTECTIVE ASSET
                                      MANAGEMENT COMPANY
                               
                                    
                                    By:
                                       ------------------------------- 
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                                    
                                    SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO
                                      c/o BOSTON MANAGEMENT
                                      RESEARCH
                                    
                                    
                                    By:  /s/  Scott H. Page
                                        ------------------------------
                                        Name:  Scott H. Page
                                        Title:  Vice President
                                    
                                    SUMMIT BANK
                                    
                               
                                    By:
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                       10

 
                                    THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF
                                      SINGAPORE, LTD.
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                               
                                    THE LONG TERM CREDIT BANK OF
                                      JAPAN, LTD.
                               
                               
                                    By:  /s/  Thomas Meyer
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:  Thomas Meyer
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President
                               
                                    THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------  
                                       Name:
                                       Title:
                               
                                    TORONTO DOMINION TX, INC.
                               
                               
                                    By:
                                       ------------------------------- 
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                       11

 
 
                                    RZB FINANCE LLC
                                    
                                    
                                    By:  /s/  John A. Valiska
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name:  John A. Valiska
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                    
                                    By:  /s/  Pearl Geffers
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name:  Pearl Geffers
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                    
                                       12

 
                                                                         ANNEX I


                         ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT
                         -----------------------------

     Each of the undersigned, each being a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Amendment
Date (including each Subsidiary of the Borrower which was a Subsidiary Guarantor
immediately before the Amendment Date and each Subsidiary of the Borrower which
becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Amendment Date) hereby acknowledges and
agrees to the provisions of the foregoing Amendment, and hereby agrees for the
benefit of the Banks that all references in the Credit Documents to the "Credit
Agreement" shall be deemed to be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended
by this Amendment.

                         ESA 0100, INC.
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                              2

 
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                         ESA INDIANA, INC.
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                         ESA MARYLAND, INC.
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                         ESA OHIO, INC.
                         ESA OKLAHOMA, INC.
                         ESA TEXAS, INC.
                         ESA TENNESSEE, INC.
                         ESA UTAH, INC.
                         ESA VIRGINIA, INC.
                         ESA WASHINGTON, INC.
                         EXTENDED STAY 0453, INC.
                         EXTENDED STAY 0463, INC.

                                   6

 
                         EXTENDED STAY 0507, INC.
                         EXTENDED STAY 0547, INC.
                         EXTENDED STAY 2506, INC.
                         EXTENDED STAY CA, INC.
                         ESA MANAGEMENT, INC.
                         ESA WEST, INC.
                         ESA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                         STUDIO PLUS HOTELS, INC.
                         STUDIO PLUS PROPERTIES, INC.



                                By
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   Name:

                                   Title:

                                        On behalf of each Subsidiary
                                            Guarantor listed above

                                       7