Hotel Rates are CRAZY

They say inflation is very mild but from what I've been seeing in hotel/motel rates you can't prove it by me. I mean it is getting crazy out there. Now in my younger (and poorer) days we stayed in some really cheap places. But mama won't tolerate that now (and neither will I, lol) so we stay in name brand chain properties where we think the level of service, comfort and location will be acceptable . . . and for the most part it is. Typically Hampton Inns, Holiday Inns and Holiday Inn Express and sometimes Best Western and perhaps one of the Choice Hotel properties. I mean if you're going to pay these rates might as well get the points, right.

But anymore you can hardly find anything decent for under $100+ per night and on our upcoming trip to the UP of Michigan and then on to Nova Scotia I'm having trouble finding accommodations that are what I consider reasonable. Many are in the $150 per night range and one in Bar Harbor, Maine, is $255 per night and that's a Holiday Inn and the other chains were either sold out are much higher.

What the heck is going on?

Off my soap box now.

ultrafxr said:

They say inflation is very mild but from what I've been seeing in hotel/motel rates you can't prove it by me. I mean it is getting crazy out there. Now in my younger (and poorer) days we stayed in some really cheap places. But mama won't tolerate that now (and neither will I, lol) so we stay in name brand chain properties where we think the level of service, comfort and location will be acceptable . . . and for the most part it is. Typically Hampton Inns, Holiday Inns and Holiday Inn Express and sometimes Best Western and perhaps one of the Choice Hotel properties. I mean if you're going to pay these rates might as well get the points, right.

But anymore you can hardly find anything decent for under $100+ per night and on our upcoming trip to the UP of Michigan and then on to Nova Scotia I'm having trouble finding accommodations that are what I consider reasonable. Many are in the $150 per night range and one in Bar Harbor, Maine, is $255 per night and that's a Holiday Inn and the other chains were either sold out are much higher.

What the heck is going on?

Off my soap box now.

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That why I like to go to Mesquite .. I get a "clean" room for $27 a night. (well, I can gamble and the food costs are really low ... ). There's good winter riding there. Summer, not so much ... HOT.

But hotels are getting high. When I "Meander", I stay in Mom and Pop hotels/motels ... Sometimes they don't even take credit cards .. cash only. Last November I stayed in one for $18 a night ... very clean, not fancy and No Credit Cards, it's how they keep their cost down. I kind of like motels, I can park right in front of my room .. not as important now with the new knees, but, nice to keep an eye on the ride.

I am looking at the same thing. We are leaving San Diego in late August to make it to Maggie Valley for the gathering and from there go up to Richmond Va. to drop my trailer and bike at my sisters house. From there we are going up to Lake George, NY to see my wife's sister and brother, then back down to Richmond, VA. to see my brother and one sister. from there back to my home town in southwest VA to see my other sister and attend my 55th High School reunion and from there back home. All in all just over 3 weeks and hotel room will cost us about 4 grand. Three nights in Lake George, NY around $700. Still tourist season there. Going to ride the tail of the Dragon in North Carolina and the back of the Dragon in Virginia.

Rmitchell55 said:

I am looking at the same thing. We are leaving San Diego in late August to make it to Maggie Valley for the gathering and from there go up to Richmond Va. to drop my trailer and bike at my sisters house. From there we are going up to Lake George, NY to see my wife's sister and brother, then back down to Richmond, VA. to see my brother and one sister. from there back to my home town in southwest VA to see my other sister and attend my 55th High School reunion and from there back home. All in all just over 3 weeks and hotel room will cost us about 4 grand. Three nights in Lake George, NY around $700. Still tourist season there. Going to ride the tail of the Dragon in North Carolina and the back of the Dragon in Virginia.

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Wheeew ... your gonna need a big suit case ... I love to get away ... but ... that's a long trip ... good luck.

This is why we have pulled a camper for the last 5 years to our vacation destinations. Even a NICE camper that we go out in for 5-6 weeks a year to nice places, the payments for the whole year are less than what we would pay for condos or houses (yeah, my family is a little more picky on where they stay, only hotels in a pinch).

The biggest bonus to a glamper is you know exactly who has been staying there, and exactly how nasty they are...

I just made a trip to Florida and back to Ct last week and along Rt 81 and Rt 95 you can find areas where the rates are much lower. Not that the places are bad, just if there are several hotels in one area, they are competing with each other. Going down we stayed at a Red Roof Inn which I don't consider to be the best and it was around $80.00 but it didn't include much other than coffee in the small office area, no breakfast, coming back I stayed at two Best Western that were much nicer and only a few bucks more. Both offered hot breakfast but one charged my card three times for two rooms. It took calls to Best Western corporate to complain and never once did the manager call me. It finally was resolved but I would stay away from the Best Western in Rock Hill, SC.

The hotels in Maine make their money in the summer, but if you visit after Labor Day or before Memorial Day the rates are much better. This holds true of any area where tourism is the main money maker.

It is all about location and season. Unfortunately it seems everyone else wants to go where I go and at the same time. Or maybe it’s vice versa,lol.

Last October I stopped outside of Spokane for the night. On the last leg of my round-way, transcontinental run. The "economy" lodging was $150. No breakfast. Crying baby all night, so I decided to roll early, despite subfreezing temps. But not to be. They'd turned a sprinkler on the trike all night and it was encased in ice at 6:am. By the time it thawed out it was past checkout time and I was being charged another day.

I did laundry while I waited -- all my grease rags. Fragrant!

I'd gladly pay those rates just to be able to travel again. I can go as far as I want as long as I'm home to sleep in my own bed. I'm happy to have survived cancer, but it does come with baggage.

Sidecarbill said:

I'd gladly pay those rates just to be able to travel again. I can go as far as I want as long as I'm home to sleep in my own bed. I'm happy to have survived cancer, but it does come with baggage.

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I hear you Bill and you are so right. We are all so blessed to be able to ride and enjoy our freedom. Thanks for putting it in perspective.

Try Texas - Ouch

So when I was booking rooms for my trip to Eureka Springs I looked at rates in Lubbock. The range for anything above a Motel 6 started at 300+ and went as high as 560 at the Holiday Inn Express for Friday night. I found a little place about an hour farther for $50. The reason for price gouging in Lubbock was college graduation. I had covered parking 5 feet from my door.

Kurt

Hotel rates

As someone who is on the road quite often this is what I found - Join the rewards / loyalty clubs for the major chains. I pretty much stick to Hilton or Marriott products. I'm at the point in my life that clean and comfy are important! Use any discount they offer, AAA,AARP,AMAC,AMA,Senior,etc. I found in some cases senior discount beats out the chains loyalty card member rates.Check all the different hotels in the major chain. One is always cheaper than the other. Days of the week matter as well as any big event in the area you are traveling. (eg-Americade, Rolling Thunder, Cherry Blossom Weekend,College Graduation,soccer tournaments, etc)

It may take a little effort but doing that as well as direct booking is the best. I've found that booking services online have never ever worked to my advantage.

Hope that little bit of advice is helpful.

Yep, Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express’ and the occasional Comfort Inn. All what I usually stay at while I travel for work. Gives me plenty of points, so a ride to and from Tucson last month cost me ZERO DOLLARS. As long as breakfast is included, I’m happy. I have noticed the prices creeping up lately also. Unfortunately, you usually get what you pay for these days. Heading back past NYC last week. Didn’t feel like rush hour, so I stopped at a Holiday Inn a 1/2 hr from bridge. $112 for the night. No refrigerator (for my Red Bull) and no breakfast. But was leaving at 4:30am so didn’t care.

Best I ever did? North Platte, NE in 1990. No name hotel with covered parking for my bike (on way to Sturgis), kitchenette and a b&w tv that had The Bozo Show on in the morning. $17 for the night. But really priceless.

H

Tadgh45 said:

As someone who is on the road quite often this is what I found - Join the rewards / loyalty clubs for the major chains. I pretty much stick to Hilton or Marriott products. I'm at the point in my life that clean and comfy are important! Use any discount they offer, AAA,AARP,AMAC,AMA,Senior,etc. I found in some cases senior discount beats out the chains loyalty card member rates.Check all the different hotels in the major chain. One is always cheaper than the other. Days of the week matter as well as any big event in the area you are traveling. (eg-Americade, Rolling Thunder, Cherry Blossom Weekend,College Graduation,soccer tournaments, etc)

It may take a little effort but doing that as well as direct booking is the best. I've found that booking services online have never ever worked to my advantage.

Hope that little bit of advice is helpful.

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Agree and I do all the above. Sometimes though you find areas and/or circumstances that cause discounts to not be available. But it’s all good.

Online Reviews

I have used Trip Advisor on my trip to Eureka Springs. I wanted to be able to park by my door. The big chains aren't usually set up that way. I look at ratings and photos. I haven't been steered wrong yet. I have been very happy with my accommodations and the prices have beaten the chains and I like supporting small businesses.

Kurt