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                                                                   EXHIBIT 23(a)
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors
La Quinta Inns, Inc.:
 
     We consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the
prospectus and to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement
on Form S-3 of La Quinta Inns, Inc. of our report dated January 31, 1997, except
for note 16, which is as of February 26, 1997, with respect to the combined
balance sheets of La Quinta Inns, Inc. as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
related combined statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows
for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which
report is included in the annual report on Form 10-K of La Quinta Inns, Inc. for
the year ended December 31, 1996.
 
                                                   KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
San Antonio, Texas
August 15, 1997