Lodging choices

[DonnaR57]

We've used Costco Travel for car rentals a few times. The first one was out of St Louis, and they saved us about $150 for a 6 day rental. Another one was here at home, and it saved us about the same on an 8 day rental. The third time will also be out of St Louis, and after some price checks all over, it looks like it is saving us well over $225 for a 13 day rental.

Motel 6 website still has "Accor" on it, near the bottom, I think. And my points are still on Choice.


Donna

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA!

One great way to find lodging is to look to the right side of this page. There's a motel finder provided by RTA. I believe there are all price ranges, so you may have a good choice. Monterey has a lot of the "big names" in lodging, plus a lot of independently owned "mom and pop" places. The big names include Hyatt, Best Western Plus, Comfort Inn, America's Best Value Inn, Super 8, Holiday Inn Express, and more. Lots of smaller places too.



Donna

[DonnaR57]

In a related question....other than the extended-stay chains such as Extended Stay America, Candlewood Suites, etc., has anyone found a listing for lodging with kitchenettes that is for the whole US (similar to the Truck-stop lists)?

One of the things that started this research about hotels and grocery chains was my own desire to do more cooking while we are out on the road. As my hubby and I age, we are each fighting health issues, and restaurants don't help. The sodium count, fat and carbs, and portion size are ridiculous. Even the Senior and "Fit Fare" plates with reasonable nutritional counts are limited in selection. Besides, after about a week on the road, going out for a meal has become, "ho hum, what now?"

After this past trip, where it was difficult to find room in the motel to cook (or the place had requests posted, "please don't cook in the room"), we are trying to look for alternatives. Places with kitchenettes or full kitchens, or even those that might allow one to use the breakfast room to cook your own meal, are in our plans now. Yet, we don't want to mess with the cleaning deposits and other things required for airbnb, VRBO, and similar.




Donna

[landmariner]

Many of the "suites" have some form of kitchen but the kitchenware can be hit or miss. Time shares can be one option and looking for "hybrid" places via Trip Advisor aka some B&B places. VRBO are tough unless you are staying for a week or more due to the added fees (cleaning, service, etc.).

[glc]

Timeshares generally can't be had for only one night - the ones I have are minimum 2 days to a week.

[Lifemagician]

As my hubby and I age, we are each fighting health issues, and restaurants don't help. The sodium count, fat and carbs, and portion size are ridiculous.

The main complaint about food in an unregulated society.

My favourite meals are the ready made salads, with maybe a couple of slices of ham/corned beef or such. If the contents of the salad dressing create a health concern, buy the salads available in the containers, which do not have the dressing mixed with them. Then carry your own favourite dressing. That together with a tub of yohgurt does me for a meal. Proper yoghurt that is. Yoghurt with a minimum of sugar and with pro biotics, not the cheap mass produced so readily available, which are full of sugar and do not contain the proper yoghurt (pro biotics) culture. It does not involve any cooking, is healthy and satisfying (and cheap!).

Though as the years pass, I tend to stick very much to my normal diet - so long as I do not have to eat typical American food. Sodium and things like fat no longer bother me. No one is dependent on me any more. I have surviived cancer and a stroke. The day I die my pain will die as well. Living with pain 24/7 is wearing me down.

Lifey

[GIBBS]

Thank you.... this is very good information!!

[Lifemagician]

Hi and Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.

Glad you found this thread helpful. There are many more threads full of helpful hints for roadtrippers. You might also like to peruse the rest of this website, where there are mmany articles with information for roadtrippers.

Happy travelling.

Lifey

[DonnaR57]

I am starting to answer some of my own questions. That's a wee bit scary. (grin)

Online, I found a listing of a lot of "extended stay hotel chains" and their amenities. The intended audience for this article was the business traveler, but if one is planning to get to a place like NYC, DC, LA, and hunker down for a long sightseeing stay (or needs a place to stay until ones home or apartment is ready), this might be a starting place to check:

Extended Stay Hotel Chain Comparison Chart: this link compares places like ESA, Homewood Suites, TownePlace Suites, Candlewood Suites, and many more. Following some of the links from that page helped me decipher that ESA is in the "budget" category and TownePlace Suites is in the mid-price, for instance.



Donna

[DonnaR57]

Back to the lodging chain points here -- just got an email from Marriott Rewards. (We joined them because of plans for this summer to include one of their places with a kitchen.)

In August, Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and SPG will become one program. To quote their website:

In August we’ll become one powerful program with separate names; we’ll consolidate everything else into one set of benefits to give you easier access and more opportunities.

If you are already a member, they'll want you to combine your accounts in August, make sure your email address is correct, member titles will be changing, and more.


Donna