Do I need to book accomodation in Canada in August

Hi,

If I were to take an impromptu fly/drive trip to Canada in August,
would I need to pre-book accommodation for my route or could
I just turn up in a town and find somewhere each day. Would it
depend upon what time of day I arrived or is booking the day
before going to be necessary?

As yet, I haven't decided which part to tour so interested in all
regions. Would be looking for 'simple' motel accomodation
but would go for the mid-price chains if that's going to make
life easier. Do they provide a book ahead service at their
motels (I'm not sure that my mobile phone will work in
Canada)?

Sorry, I'm normally more organsied than this, but I am
moving out of my house this weekend and have no new
place to go to (hence the reason why I am free to travel
at zero notice) so my stack of US motel guides (some of
which will have Canadian location) have gone off in a crate!

TIA

tim

In article ,
"tim \(back at home\)" wrote:

Hi,

If I were to take an impromptu fly/drive trip to Canada in August,
would I need to pre-book accommodation for my route or could
I just turn up in a town and find somewhere each day. Would it
depend upon what time of day I arrived or is booking the day
before going to be necessary?

As yet, I haven't decided which part to tour so interested in all
regions. Would be looking for 'simple' motel accomodation
but would go for the mid-price chains if that's going to make
life easier. Do they provide a book ahead service at their
motels (I'm not sure that my mobile phone will work in
Canada)?

Sorry, I'm normally more organsied than this, but I am
moving out of my house this weekend and have no new
place to go to (hence the reason why I am free to travel
at zero notice) so my stack of US motel guides (some of
which will have Canadian location) have gone off in a crate!

How do you want to spend your time on this trip? Looking for a hotel or
enjoying yourself? Its always better to book hotel rooms a head of time,
for the simple reason that it puts you in a position where you can shop
around for the most reasonable room rates.

"Shawn Hirn" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"tim \(back at home\)" wrote:

Hi,

If I were to take an impromptu fly/drive trip to Canada in August,
would I need to pre-book accommodation for my route or could
I just turn up in a town and find somewhere each day. Would it
depend upon what time of day I arrived or is booking the day
before going to be necessary?

As yet, I haven't decided which part to tour so interested in all
regions. Would be looking for 'simple' motel accomodation
but would go for the mid-price chains if that's going to make
life easier. Do they provide a book ahead service at their
motels (I'm not sure that my mobile phone will work in
Canada)?

Sorry, I'm normally more organsied than this, but I am
moving out of my house this weekend and have no new
place to go to (hence the reason why I am free to travel
at zero notice) so my stack of US motel guides (some of
which will have Canadian location) have gone off in a crate!

How do you want to spend your time on this trip? Looking for a hotel or
enjoying yourself? Its always better to book hotel rooms a head of time,
for the simple reason that it puts you in a position where you can shop
around for the most reasonable room rates.

Experience tells me that if I plan and book a route before I
arrive, I get it wrong and get some days with too much time
for that day's drive and attractions and end up with nothing
to do for part of that day, and other days with not enough
time for that day's drive and attractions and have to skip
some, probably forever.

So no, I do not get an enjoyable holiday by preplanning
and booking ahead.

Thus my question is, if I just turn up and go, in an attempt
to make the most of my short, once in a lifetime trip to the
region, will I be able to find accomodation on the fly in
August or should I leave the trip until I am free in a less
busy period?
Do I assume correctly that August is the busy period?

I've waited 20 years to do this destination, I suppose
that it can wait a few more.

tim

tim (back at home) wrote:
Hi,

If I were to take an impromptu fly/drive trip to Canada in August,
would I need to pre-book accommodation for my route or could
I just turn up in a town and find somewhere each day. Would it
depend upon what time of day I arrived or is booking the day
before going to be necessary?

As yet, I haven't decided which part to tour so interested in all
regions. Would be looking for 'simple' motel accomodation
but would go for the mid-price chains if that's going to make
life easier. Do they provide a book ahead service at their
motels (I'm not sure that my mobile phone will work in
Canada)?

Sorry, I'm normally more organsied than this, but I am
moving out of my house this weekend and have no new
place to go to (hence the reason why I am free to travel
at zero notice) so my stack of US motel guides (some of
which will have Canadian location) have gone off in a crate!


canada is a rather large country. It would depends on where. Big
cities, I am sure you can find some place at the last minute. Smaller
more touristy places, not so easy.


TIA

tim

If I were to take an impromptu fly/drive trip to Canada in August,
would I need to pre-book accommodation for my route or could
I just turn up in a town and find somewhere each day.

First, remember Motel 6 and Red Roof Inns, members of the same
corporate group, Accor Hotels, that owns Ibis. Both provide cheap
and basic (2*) accommodation. Breakfast is not only not included,
it is not even available. Super 8 Motels and Econo Lodge are also
usually reasonably-priced 2* hotel chains. Econo Lodge's corporate
parent, Choice Hotels, has other chains that seem to be a little more
expensive (all of their hotels can be referenced through Choice Hotels).

Assuming you do not arrive in a city during a major festival, you should
be able to find a hotel/motel. During August, business-class hotels
might offer discount rates on weekends.


Casey

"Casey" wrote in message
...
If I were to take an impromptu fly/drive trip to Canada in August,
would I need to pre-book accommodation for my route or could
I just turn up in a town and find somewhere each day.

First, remember Motel 6 and Red Roof Inns, members of the same
corporate group, Accor Hotels, that owns Ibis.

There are M6 in Canada. That's interesting, I'm sure that my
directory shows nothing there.

Both provide cheap
and basic (2*) accommodation. Breakfast is not only not included,
it is not even available.

Breakfasrt is not a problem. I will be 5 hours ahead.
The usual day when I arrive in NA is to get up at 5,
drive for 4 hours to the next day's destination, find a
motel for that night and and then look around.

This gives me the option of moving on elsewhere if I
have selected a town that is full.

Though this isn't going to help me if my destination
for the day is St John's as there isn't likely to
be anywhere else to go on to.

Super 8 Motels and Econo Lodge are also
usually reasonably-priced 2* hotel chains. Econo Lodge's corporate
parent, Choice Hotels, has other chains that seem to be a little more
expensive (all of their hotels can be referenced through Choice Hotels).

Assuming you do not arrive in a city during a major festival, you should
be able to find a hotel/motel. During August, business-class hotels
might offer discount rates on weekends.

Only at weekends in August?

In Europe they offer special rates every weekend
and in many countries for all of August. But even
so they usually don't offer ideal accomodation for
someone arriving by car

Thanks for you help

tim





Casey

There are M6 in Canada. That's interesting, I'm sure that my
directory shows nothing there.

motel6.com shows quite a few, but not in every province.

Assuming you do not arrive in a city during a major festival, you
should be able to find a hotel/motel. During August, business-class
hotels might offer discount rates on weekends.

Only at weekends in August?

North America is not like Europe where business travelers take many
weeks off during the summer thereby leaving empty hotel rooms in
business class hotels. Just because Canadian residents may get more
vacation than Americans does not change the fact that Canada's
largest trading partner is the USA (and vice-versa) and so many
business travelers are still traveling during the summer. I suspect
that hotels in Canada are less crowded than ones in the USA, though.


Casey

tim (back at home) wrote:

Hi,

As yet, I haven't decided which part to tour so interested in all
regions. Would be looking for 'simple' motel accomodation
but would go for the mid-price chains if that's going to make
life easier. Do they provide a book ahead service at their
motels (I'm not sure that my mobile phone will work in
Canada)?


If you end up visiting Jasper and/or Banff in the Rockies I would
definitely book in advance. I turned up without a booking in Jasper in
September last year and had a big hassle finding a room, and had to pay
more than I wanted. I made sure not to make the same mistake when I
travelled to Banff.

tim (back at home) wrote:
Hi,

If I were to take an impromptu fly/drive trip to Canada in August,
would I need to pre-book accommodation for my route or could
I just turn up in a town and find somewhere each day. Would it
depend upon what time of day I arrived or is booking the day
before going to be necessary?

As yet, I haven't decided which part to tour so interested in all
regions. Would be looking for 'simple' motel accomodation
but would go for the mid-price chains if that's going to make
life easier. Do they provide a book ahead service at their
motels (I'm not sure that my mobile phone will work in
Canada)?

Sorry, I'm normally more organsied than this, but I am
moving out of my house this weekend and have no new
place to go to (hence the reason why I am free to travel
at zero notice) so my stack of US motel guides (some of
which will have Canadian location) have gone off in a crate!

TIA

tim




Canada is a BIG country 5 days to drive across
what part are you looking at visiting
what things do you like to see

we can only help you if you give us some facts
thanks

tim (back at home) wrote:
So no, I do not get an enjoyable holiday by preplanning
and booking ahead.

I don't like having to plan in advance either. (and generally don't,
when travelling in the U.S.) But I've found that Canada doesn't seem
to be as overbuilt with decent inexpensive motels as the U.S.; if you
don't have reservations you're more likely to either pay quite a bit
more or take your chances with a no-name place that may or may not be
much good. Travel without reservations isn't impossible but it can be
frustrating.

I usually travel in September, it's probably worse in August when
schools may not have opened yet. (and families are still travelling)
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com