To Book or not to Book
So far, we have travelled between the months of November and April. Even in Florida during these months we have never booked ahead. There are some instances where it may be wise to do so. We did book ahead for Las Vegas. Obviously if you want to stay in a Disney hotel in Orlando, you should book, but for just overnight stops along the road, it usually isn’t necessary. The only other time where this might be a problem is if there is a big convention in town (ie. Tucson during the January Gem Show or Carlisle PA during the car shows.) Florida Note: These days you can get rooms near Orlando in Kissimmee without booking, even in season. We have done this twice and there are lots of empty rooms – sad in a way, but it does make it easier to be spontaneous.
CAMPING :
We only camp occasionally and only in the south, as we are not travelling at the warmest time of the year. However, tenting is a great and inexpensive option. One of our best experiences was camping at St. Joe’s Penninsula State Park near Port St. Joe in Florida in December. Our tent was nestled in the pines and we and about 10 other people had the glorious stretch of white sand and shells to ourselves. Have a look here.
There are so many beautiful state parks and national parks along the way, you’re hardly ever without an option in this department. I prefer parks because you more or less know what you will get and the surroundings are wonderful, but there are always private campgrounds as well. Some parks also have cabins and yurts if you prefer not to tent.
Camping is obviously more effort than a hotel room, but keep it simple. Choose an easy to set up dome tent. Carry a good thick airbed with an electric pump preferably. Add at least a bottom sheet, a warm duvet and even your pillow from home if you are picky about soft cosy comfort as I am. You will already have any food necessary and the dishes etc. to eat with. You may also want a kettle and anything else you need for a hot drink if that is important to you. Matches and a newspaper also come in handy here if you have an opportunity for a fire. If you have room, I would also throw in an extra blanket for putting underneath the bottom sheet, just to keep the damp away. Oh yes, always a reliable flashlight of some sort.
HOTEL / MOTELS – COUPONS A MUST
Most of the time we stay in motels / hotels as we are using hotel coupons. The lowest range in coupons is from 29.99 to 49.99. My ratings below refer to hotels available within that budget. You can get coupon booklets at rest areas in some states, or almost always at the state information centres which are usually combined with the first rest stop as you cross state borders on the major roads. Also larger gas stations and truck stops often have them. Two common ones are Room Saver and Hotel Coupons. You can also print out coupons on their websites, www.roomsaver.com and www.hotelcoupons.com. I usually do this before we leave on the trip just to cover the first couple of nights until we can pick up a booklet. Coupons eliminate that awkward bit of not knowing what the price will be and having to bargain for the best rate etc. when you walk up to the desk. As far as I can tell, they also get you the cheapest price available. You may get as cheap with other discounts, but no cheaper. If anybody out there knows differently, please leave a comment! We usually go for the cheapest coupon for the area, but you could always choose the Hampton Inn and be happy to get it for the cheapest rate if you prefer.
Make sure to check the small print on the coupon. Often the price quoted is for Sun.- Thurs. with added fees for weekends. Also pay attention to the number of people included , ie when the price is especially low, it is often for one person with an extra person fee. You also can’t book ahead with a coupon – they are walk in only, but we have yet to be turned away. The coupon pretty much always lists amenities, so you know ahead of time if you will get in room coffee or a guest laundry. I haven’t been in a hotel or motel lately that doesn’ t have wifi, so that’s a given.
The other thing you have from a coupon is directions. Our routine is to choose a coupon from the book once we have a destination, or alter our destination slightly according to coupon availability, then as we get close, I enter the address (which is on the coupon) into the GPS. If you don’t have a Gps, there are directions on the coupon as well. I recommend a Gps – the cheapest model will do – it’s a godsend when trying to find a hotel in an unfamiliar area in the dark, and saves you hours of ‘driving around looking for things’ time on a road trip. In fact, put motel coupons and a Gps together and you have probably the most efficient and worry free way of finding a place to stay every night.
As far as quality, for the most part we have found the coupon rooms to be just fine. They are usually clean. Sometimes they are the ones that haven’t been renovated, or a couple of the lamps don’t work or they may need painting, but mostly they are like any other motel room and often come with fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Coupons save us $25 to $40 per day, so it’s worth it, especially when it’s really just a place to sleep at the end of a driving day.
HOTEL CHAIN RATINGS (WITHIN OUR BUDGET)
THE GOOD
Microtel – my favorite in general. I love the cosy rooms, the beds and pillows are amazingly comfortable and they have an extensive free breakfast, usually with waffles. No fridge or microwave in rooms, but free coffee at the desk.
America’s Best Inn and Suites-Nice rooms, bright and clean, good free breakfast, often with waffles and the Lincoln City Oregon one has a lovely breakfast room.
Rodeway Inn – the two we have stayed at are older, but adequate rooms and a good breakfast with waffles as well. It’s all about the waffles it seems!
Best Western– is great, but usually above our budget. We stayed in one in Williams, Arizona and really liked it.
|We have stayed at other independent motels and they have been okay. The one thing that puts them above my ‘Okay’ category is that they often they have a fridge, microwave and in room coffee. I really like to have my own hot water and tea / coffee in the room and since we carry or food, it is convenient to have a fridge to keep things cool. The continental breakfast in this type of hotel is almost always a packaged cheap brand of pastries and muffins, or donuts.
THE OKAY
Super 8 – they are okay – they have in room coffee and a continental breakfast including sugary cereal. They are similar to Microtel in that you have to park and use the main entrance to lug your stuff through the lobby (all your food boxes and cooler and beer and maps and computer etc.) – but they just aren’t as special.
Motel 6 – very clean and sparse rooms, free coffee in the hall and that’s all you get. Usually the cheapest price though, which is often advertised out on their road sign. Though they are not my favorite for atmosphere or extras, one did save our bacon one evening during a snowstorm in Nebraska. Also, there’s always one around.
Econolodge– also okay. Quality varies by location.
THE BAD
The worst place we have stayed was in Travelodge in San Antonio. The room and the hotel itself was dirty, the lamps and other things were broken and they overcharged my visa. They did have waffles, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the shortcomings!
The other worst place was the Budget Inn Express in Joliet, just west of Chicago. It has many bad reviews on Tipadvisor.com
Knights Inn in Norcross, Georgia – falling apart. We’ve never stayed in another one.
That’s all for accommodation for now. If I think of anything else, I will add it. Read my Food, What to Pack and Gas and Driving tips as well.
Have Van, Will Travel 