USA (on the road)hotel advice please

N9eav

Looking at the existing threads, they are clogged with stuff and so I am posing this thread.

I will be motoring about in the US in December visiting friends. But we will need to stay in hotels occasionally as we travel.

What's the best plan. Book in advance and travel to the hotel or stop en-route and pay at the door?

What are best and worst of the hotel groups?

Some advice would be great.... thanks

torbrex

There is little or no need to book in advance, it is only if you are going to a 'hot spot' such as Niagara, Yellowstone or Vegas and you want a particular hotel that you would need to book.
You dont say where you are going but if it is anywhwere near a tourist area you will be spoilt for choice.
Try to get someplace before 7pm as some of the night desk clerks leave you in no doubt as to why they are night desk clerks. If you are driving on the freeway there are always signs leading up to an exit telling you what motels and eateries are available. Driving on the state roads, you will usually find a motel on the road into the town or close to the centre or if the town has a particular attraction, park or beauty spot. Another tip is if you see a concentration of fast-food places there will usually be a motel not far away, not always the case but if you are stuck, stop and ask in that area.

If it just an overnight stop you want then all the roadside motels are pretty much the same, you get what you pay for:-
Super 8, Motel 6, Econolodge, Scottish Inns, Amarica's Best Inns, Comfort Inns,Days Inn, Red Roof Inns, Howard Johnson and Budjet Host
$50-100 will get you a basic room in a motel close to the freeway with either 2 queen or 1 king size beds, desk with hard chairs, there may be a coffee maker with supplies and a fridge & microwave, there will always be shower and tv though tv channels may be limited.

La Quinta, Ramada Inn, Travelodge and Hampton Inn
$100-150 will get extra comfort such as a sofa or easy chairs, tv with HBO giving extra channels to flick through, you will get coffee maker and microwave and at this price there is usually a breakfast bar of some kind included. You will still be close to the freeway with all the inherent traffic noise.

Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Marriot, Best Western and Hilton
$150 and up, now we are talking, these guys are in the process of changing their status from motel back to hotel standards and their prices are rising accordingly.
At the bottom end of this bracket you will be back away from the freeway, a sit down eggs and bacon breakfast included, basic porter room service and indoor pool. At the top end you are in a suite with a seperate sitting room and full meal room service.

AngLangS

Another thing to look out for - in most states in the US they do a brochure of hotels - I think it's called something like "On the go" or something like that - it used to be a green colour.

Find one of these (usually available free in hotels and restaurant chains) and keep it in the car - most places with hotels would have at least a couple of entries - prices are frequently cheaper than at the hotel.

Completely agree with Torbrex - don't book ahead, take your chance on the day. Ask at the desk for their best price then ask to to see the room - if you don't like it don't hesitate to say "no thank you".

Been travelling in the US for years doing this and we've had some brilliant deals

good luck

N9eav

Thanks. We have done lots of travelling over there, even living there for 18 months, but never really done hotels. Always had plenty of freinds to stay with. There is 6 of us and so we need 2 rooms. So I would rather not pay too much each night.

We are travelling from Atlanta to Tampa then later Tampa to Ozarks, Missouri and back to Atlanta. Probably need about 4 nights in total when we are not with friends.

ailuro2

Plan your route, and where you are likely to need hotels, then use tripadvisor to find the best one in the area- we did that this year and weren't disappointed- the EconoLodge we originally booked (in Canada) had been given awful reviews, but for $10 more for a family of three we found a nearby Hampton Inn which was out of EconoLodge's league. Needless to say we cancelled the EconoLodge.
Yes, it is just a bed for the night, but when travelling all day you do need a decent bed that's had the sheets changed since the last occupant.
(I kid u not!)