Which is best Motel Chain for extended trip to the US.

Good morning,

My wife and I are planning a 3 month tour of the US using a rental car and
staying in motels.

I have looked at the various motel chains such as Motel 6, Motel8, Days Inn
eyc and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations at to who offers the
best deal over an extended period.

Thans

Rosemarie and Neville in Australia

Gidday Rosemarie and Neville.

Have a few clues for you, but concur very much with Alan S, (who we have
corro'd with previously re our Usa and world travels).

We have travelled throughout USA probably about 13 times, and are DIY BUDGET
travellers. (Most recently arrived back 2 weeks ago)

Motel 6 was our original choice for having some degree of security in
knowing that what you see in the book is what you get. If you know a basic
itinerary, and want to set up a budget, get the cost info on-line from their
site. Many years ago, upon request from website, they also sent a brochure
to us in OZ.

Now, Motel 6 are generally located just off Interstate Highways, so if you
want to stay a few days in a city, this is sometimes not convenient. Catch
22, 'cos if you stay smack dab in a city, hotels sometimes dont include
parking.

If we know where we want to be to keep on some kind of basic schedule, we
book for cities using Hotwire or Priceline (PL by far has been the best for
us) .. But as Aussies, if bidding, you need to use a few tricks. -- Willing
to advise and help you if needed.

Our most recent was all pre-booked, since it was was for only about 4 weeks,
and we had others with us, itwas a lot easier that way. If you take a
laptop, most hotels have wireless internet so, booking by just keeping one
day ahead is really possible.

As well as Motel6, Super8 now offers some great deals in the budget area.
(remember Web Prices change almost daily, so , if you have time, do a few
test runs over a period of time before making a booking)

If gunna rent cars, also recommend that that you do test runs for same
reason. Get a GOLD Visa with your bank if they give travel insurance as
part of the deal !!!

Rental Car LDW can cost around $25USD / day and this will normally over
residual (excess).. Also, (if over 55) Join AARP (American Association of
Retired Persons). Use thier rental companies , use the special code, then as
well as a discount rate on rental, you will then get, a maximum liability
of $5,000 for damage to the rental car.. (As a member, you also get 10%
discount from many motels).. With your extended trip, you will get your
investment back many times over.

You may have been asking about package for staying in one particular chain
of motel/hotels. Most chains have a schemes of gaining credits for each
stay. check the websites, but up the lower end of the scale, (Super8 etc),
have a look at getting a triprewards card. You CANT use this if you have
booked and prepaid a deal thru providers such as hotwire or priceline..

Hope that helps..


(and gidday Alan)

--
Have a great day today, and an even better day tomorrow.
Regards,
BIG KEV - Melbourne Australia
-- to email drop the last s in travsubs --
TRAVEL DIARY & Photos from 2009 at this link
http://www.cute.com.au/PHIL/travel


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"Neville MADDEN" wrote in message
news

Good morning,

My wife and I are planning a 3 month tour of the US using a rental car and
staying in motels.

I have looked at the various motel chains such as Motel 6, Motel8, Days
Inn
eyc and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations at to who offers
the
best deal over an extended period.

Thans

Rosemarie and Neville in Australia

"Neville MADDEN" wrote in message
news

Good morning,

My wife and I are planning a 3 month tour of the US using a rental car and
staying in motels.

I have looked at the various motel chains such as Motel 6, Motel8, Days
Inn
eyc and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations at to who offers
the
best deal over an extended period.

Thanks

Rosemarie and Neville in Australia

Are you hoping to find a deal like: stay in " Motel 6 for $75/night for 21
nights" and then travel the country using that quote ?

If so, MOST ( not all) motels are independently owned - not part of a
conglomerate. As such , each has their own rate. So if you want 21 different
motels, usually there are 21 different transactions. I've done a lot of
driving trips on both coasts and my opinion: stay FAR,FAR away from Super8.
I have stayed at a few - when there was NO other place around and the
weather was bad. In the last one, the floors were SO dirty we left our shoes
on at all times - even middle of night - to go to bathroom.

In general, the chain I choose depends on my plans. If you enjoy going out
for a leisurely breakfast then don't pay extra for the ones that include a
breakfast area in the morning ( like ChoiceHotels.com). We prefer to just
have the coffee/juice/cereal/toast at the Comfort Inns. You get to meet a
few other travelers there and swap stories about where you've been and get
perhaps a tip that .... for this weekend only at 'xxx' there's a special
occasion, or more important - " AVOID 'that place' because it's under
repair this week ". Might save you a trip.

http://www.choicehotels.com/

If you have a laptop computer, free internet is another consideration. I
often use the PC for research and to book my next night. You usually get
much better rate booking online than walking up to the front desk. In a few
places that I HAVE stayed and wanted to stay another night, I have checked
at the desk to be told that "tonight is $125", when I know that online it is
$49.When I ask and they say insist that it's $125, I say nothing and just
go back to the room and book it online / return again that night. ( Light
packers, we bring in just a small bag for the night so 'checking out not a
big deal)

I usually drive up/down the east coast several times per year and at some
spots I like that have free wireless internet I have pulled into the parking
lot, made a reservation, gone down the street for coffee , back and THEN
walked into lobby - they pull up my online reservation - and I pay $49 !
Again - depends on how you travel: very structured and we will be - here,
here , here on THESE nights. Or "spending a few days over here, then
depending upon 'the weather' we'll spend 2 days here " etc.

One thing I would mention is that there is a restaurant chain called "
Cracker Barrel" and whether or not you like the "home-style" food there, I
always pay attention to their road signs to see the location of the next
one. Whenever I am hungry I'll see a sign for one of their restaurants " 17
miles Ahead". It teases you to go a bit further than 'getting off here and
eating at Burger King. But the BIG reason for looking for their signs is
that they are ALWAYS right in the middle of a group of hotel/motels. So even
if not hungry, you'll know that when you see one there will be a Days Inn,
Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, Marriot etc within a mile. That's why Cracker
Barrel located there - they don't waste money putting a restaurant where
there are no people. So on a long drive, I'll note their road signs knowing
that when I get there, there will be competitive motel rates.

Give us more details on your 'big picture' - what do you want/plan to see ?
How far to travel per day ? Or you are 'gonna drive until tired' ? Going
from " LA to Miami Beach "... I know 3 months and maybe not all laid out,
but - in general - what part of country , objectives.
Might check US auto club - AAA - ( they do have international associations).
I belong and have stopped a few times at an office to talk to locals, pick
up a regional book about what to do/see. I just picked a zipcode here - look
around.
http://www.aaaorid.com/?zip=97201&x=...S3yzAMacdp56aw

who offers the best deal over an extended period.

Are you planning to pick the one with the lowest price, or are you
asking which of those low-budget hotels is the nicest?

James

Neville MADDEN wrote:
Good morning,

My wife and I are planning a 3 month tour of the US using a rental car and
staying in motels.

I have looked at the various motel chains such as Motel 6, Motel8, Days Inn
eyc and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations at to who offers the
best deal over an extended period.

Thans

Rosemarie and Neville in Australia
Ok I would register for triprewards at
http://www.wyndhamrewards.com/

from there you have a choice of hotel/motels I prefer Motel8 and
Super8Motel where you can get 10% off with the card.

other offer points toward gifts

hope this helps
Smiles

On Jun 16, 6:22*pm, (Neville MADDEN) wrote:
Good morning,

My wife and I are planning a 3 month tour of the US using a rental car and
staying in motels.

I have looked at the various motel chains such as Motel 6, Motel8, Days Inn
eyc and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations at to who offers the
best deal over an extended period.

Thans

Rosemarie and Neville in Australia

We like Best Western a lot.

"Neville MADDEN" wrote in message
news

Good morning,

My wife and I are planning a 3 month tour of the US using a rental car and
staying in motels.

I have looked at the various motel chains such as Motel 6, Motel8, Days
Inn
eyc and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations at to who offers
the
best deal over an extended period.

Thans

Rosemarie and Neville in Australia

Are you planning to visit any National Parks particularly in the west (e.g.
Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite)? All of the accommodation *in* each
park is run by a single company and (in my experience) never by a chain.
The chains are usually to be found just outside the park entrance (but not
always - I seem to remember Lassen doesn't have that) and my memory is that
you usually get Best Western level motels in such groupings. I prefer to
stay inside the parks but then you need to book in advance (and in many
cases that means months (even many months) not weeks or days).

"- Bobb -" wrote in message
...

"Neville MADDEN" wrote in message
news

Good morning,

My wife and I are planning a 3 month tour of the US using a rental car
and
staying in motels.

I have looked at the various motel chains such as Motel 6, Motel8, Days
Inn
eyc and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations at to who offers
the
best deal over an extended period.

Thanks

Rosemarie and Neville in Australia

Are you hoping to find a deal like: stay in " Motel 6 for $75/night for 21
nights" and then travel the country using that quote ?

If so, MOST ( not all) motels are independently owned - not part of a
conglomerate. As such , each has their own rate. So if you want 21
different motels, usually there are 21 different transactions. I've done a
lot of driving trips on both coasts and my opinion: stay FAR,FAR away from
Super8. I have stayed at a few - when there was NO other place around and
the weather was bad. In the last one, the floors were SO dirty we left our
shoes on at all times - even middle of night - to go to bathroom.

I think that you were unlucky

On the few occasions that I have stayed in a Super8 the quality has been
streets ahead of the other budget chains.

tim

In article , "Graham Harrison" wrote:



Are you planning to visit any National Parks particularly in the west (e.g.
Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite)? All of the accommodation *in* each
park is run by a single company and (in my experience) never by a chain.
The chains are usually to be found just outside the park entrance (but not
always - I seem to remember Lassen doesn't have that) and my memory is that
you usually get Best Western level motels in such groupings. I prefer to
stay inside the parks but then you need to book in advance (and in many
cases that means months (even many months) not weeks or days).

Good morning,

Yes, with the itinerary we have planned (3rd trip so I know where I don't want
to go) all the National Parks will be included. But,as you say, accommodation
inside the park is limited but by purchasing a long term park ticket it gives
us the flexibility to come and go when we want and stay outside at the cheaper
rates.

Neville

In article , JamesStep wrote:
who offers the best deal over an extended period.

Are you planning to pick the one with the lowest price, or are you
asking which of those low-budget hotels is the nicest?

James



Good morning ,
Both. Looks like the way to go is the "book ahead via the internet". Will
look into this later on today.

Thanks

Neville