What's the hotel savings like with AAA & which hotel is cheap but safe for the 911?

Rufblackbird · 08-05-2004, 08:28 AM

I'm getting ready for an east to west roadtrip in about 3 weeks... I'm debating on the AAA membership, and whether or not you really save money on hotels? The roadtrip is 2 weeks long and I'm trying to budget the budget.

What hotels/motels have you all had experience with? How much would I expect to pay per night, and would I have to make reservations? A place where there's ample parking so the 911 isn't in any danger? I'm not familiar with the process at all, as there's no reason you can't make it home in Hawaii.

Thanks!

MotoSook · 08:38 AM

Get a Priority Club (with Holiday Inn) and book via the net. It's cheap and easy. Microtel rates are very cheap and they are new so most of their places are in good shape.

If you stay in places right off the highway, it's safer than in town..most people that go near an interstate hotel are travellers and they have no time to mess around.

Most hotels don't have very secure parking, but it's OK. Even the most expensive hotels with valet parking won't gaurantee your car is safe. Your best bet is to check in around 1-2 PM and get a good parking spot in the front of the hotel where the night clerk can see funny stuff that might happen at night.

gar · 08-05-2004, 08:36 AM

I've done it, and you do save on money. Budget $70 per night, so that you'll have excess budget on the nights where cheap accomodations are not available. Don't worry about parking -- I did it in a BMW filled with possessions, and it wasn't a problem.

Don't worry about the reservations, as you never know what your schedule will be like -- except for places where you certainly want to spend the night (Vegas / Tahoe / etc).

I'd suggest the book "Road Trip USA".

My route started in Fayetteville, NC and took me down I95 to Florence, and the I-20/US-80 all the way past Dallas. I then picked up US-83 and took it straight up to US-66/I-40 and took straight across to Kingman, AZ (with a side trip to the Grand Canyon). US-93 to Vegas, rest!, and then US-93 straight up to US-50, and then across to Tahoe. From Tahoe, it was US-50 down and out of the mountains to I-80 at Sacramento to I680 and down into the East Bay here outside of SF.

Phew!

MotoSook · 08:54 AM

Forgot..never had AAA in my life, and I have an US Atlas with yellow highlights of all the places I have driving through..it's a yellow map now

AAA maps are not that great. Stop at every welcome center and get a free state map when you cross into the state. If it's late and the Rest Stop or Welcome center is closed..no maps. Get them before you travel is good. All states have travel beurau (crap..mind freeze..SIC), so contact them and they'll send you maps free. You won't see the welcome centers if you take the small roads...recommended. Interstates are boring...esp if you are in a 911. Small state and county routes offer more and you'll really experience and see America.

Your insurance should offer towing coverage...add it to your policy before the trip.

So maps and towing covered...makes AAA a no-need.

If you ask Ron in Long Beach..he'd tell you to sleep in a tent. I might too if I had two weeks to drive around. Most times it's fastest from A to B.

vash · vash's Garage

on road trips, i am a cheap bastard. i always stay at the lamest motels. motel 6 has a special place in my heart. the trick, you gotta get a room on the ground floor. actually, i dont know why, if my car alarm off went off, and i saw thieves at work, what am i going to do, kick their butts? at least it makes me feel better. i park right in front of my room. and i take the time to take everything out of my car. remove temptation. have fun! sounds like a blast.

cliff

RoninLB · 08-05-2004, 10:50 AM

The AAA hustler was telling me about the towing advantage..
" No kidding. They will tow my car home from any Part of the country?"..... " No "

Sleep in a tent.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Yes, sleep in a tent.

Can you say Sooooo Weeeeeee ?

Westy · 08-05-2004, 11:22 AM

OK Jeff. We use our AAA car and usually get about ten % off. 70 dollar room, seven bucks saved. You do the math. Everything equates to beer. Thats an American twelve pack on sale at Circle K, or a nice six-pac of Mexican beer.

OK, now that being said, if you want to save a whole lot of money try this. As you enter the state you think you'll be staying in that night, go to the tourism welcome center. There always just off the freeway, and signs tell you they're there. Go inside and get this book. It's usually green (Old age, can't remember the name of the book) and has all kinds of ads in it. The hotels, motels, tourist attractions, and restaurants advertise in this book to get your business. I stayed in a brand new hotel in Fort Lauderdale for 40 bucks with their coupon. The book is amazing. We saved hundreds using them, and they'tre free.

Have fun,

Brian W.

porschenut · 08-05-2004, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rufblackbird
A place where there's ample parking so the 911 isn't in any danger?

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! ROTFLMAO

Rufblackbird · 08-05-2004, 11:29 AM

Thanks guys... There's many states that I'm skipping for the cost factor, which is basically close to all the eastern states. My plan is go from here to the Recaro factory in Michigan, then head southwest to a buddy's place in Oklahoma. After that it hasn't been decided yet, but from a previous post I know I have to drive though Colorado and Montana. I also need to stop in San Fran and SoCal as friends and relatives live there. Then it's up to NorCal to visit another buddy, up through Orygun to visit Paul (pwd72s), then up to WA for the 1000km event rdane has posted about.

For the boring states I plan to just zip by on the Interstate, and pull over to a hotel/motel when I just can't stay awake anymore. I'm pretty much looking for a place that's pretty cheap (yea I'm a cheap bastard too, all the money goes to the car), and does not require reservations.

I have towing coverage on my insurance...so I guess I don't need AAA anymore...that's good

Thanks Brian! I'll keep that in mind.

I'm not too sure where I'd be "safe" sleeping in a tent? I'm not that courageous...

RickM · RickM's Garage

I think the ground floor room with your car near the door is the best advice regarding car security.

RoninLB · 08-05-2004, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rufblackbird

I have towing coverage on my insurance...so I guess I don't need AAA anymore...that's good

...

is it insurance to tow your car to Bubba's Complete Auto and Tractor Service or to a dealer, which could be hundreds of miles away ?

look 171 · 08-05-2004, 12:10 PM

Hey Jeff, Sounds like a blast driving across the country in that wide body. If you're concern about people messing w/ your car, get a car cover. My friend used to do this. What they don't see, they will not touch. The bad guys don't have the time to undo a car cover. Good luck and have a blast. Jeff

RoninLB · 08-05-2004, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by look 171

If you're concern about people messing w/ your car, get a car cover.

ditto

Rufblackbird · 08-05-2004, 12:18 PM

I've got a car cover...it came with the car but I have yet attempted to take it out and evaluate it...not a bad idea though!

I'm not too sure what my towing coverage from my insurance covers...let me find out...

I just checked the Motel 6 website, and apparently different locations have different rates. What's usually the cheapest? Close to populated areas cheaper than one in the middle of nowhere?

84porsche · 84porsche's Garage

Stay in places with lights and stay relatively close to major highways. If you do that, you can get some nice major hotels. But it is all a matter of how much you are going to spend and how far you are going to drive in a day. You can probably make it from MD to Chicago in one day about 10-12 hours of driving. The next day you can make it from Chicago to say Oklahoma or New Mexico and day 3 to California. You can find 2 major hotels in these cities and it shouldn't cost you more than $300 for 2 nights. You may even want to stop in Vegas and attempt to get your money back.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Also try Days Inn or Super 8 and request their "Best Rate". It's a program designed to beat any competitors price....and much lower than rack rate.

john70t · 08-05-2004, 07:08 PM

Call the local PCAs near the route for shop/parts recommendations and take the basic tools(tire stuff, multimeter, wrenchs etc...) for easy fixes.
Get a prepaid cell with total coverage for emergencys.
If you sleep in national/state parks and rent truck stop showers most of the time, that's an extra chunk of money to go towards having fun and eating very well in town. Added bonus is sleeping within feet of the car.
Have fun and plan 10 hours for good rest. Most dangerous thing is other drivers, not ruffians.

RoninLB · 08-05-2004, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
Yes, sleep in a tent.

Can you say Sooooo Weeeeeee ?

Sooooo Weeeeeee
About 1973 when I was 25yrs old. I'm overlooking a Rocky Mt valley that had the highest UFO sightings in the US. I'm staying in the surrounding foothills where hot springs bubble out from. That dog was a companion 24/7 365/365 for 10yrs.

Sleep in a tent.

look 171 · 08-06-2004, 09:46 PM

Jeff, Have you ever try KOA campgrounds. All of them have showers and cabins you can rent. Some go for $35 per night, the cabins. The bad guys will not go there. There's a host that live there full time. It is full of RVs and are usually in places that are really safe, in the middle of nowhere. Lots near National Parks. It is not like camping at all. Think of it like this, drive your RV and spend the night in it in some place full of retired people who are travelling across the country. Some stay for days there. Lots and lots nice folks there.