Lodging for the budget traveler

[mestizo]

Thanks Michael.

Yes, that is what i'm hoping for. I'm really looking for something similar to the following:

http://housing.london.ac.uk/cms/shor...residence.html

(which should be pretty handy for anyone coming to London on a budget who doesn't want to pay for frills they don't want).

Does anyone know of anything similar in the US please?

[traveling2u]

Budgeted trip to america, 1 week, how much need to bring??

[PNW Judy]

Sorry...I tried numerous google search terms and couldn't find anything better than this guide. And, really, it's not a lot of help but, hopefully, will point you in the right direction.

It does sound like a good idea to compile. Hmmmm....

[PNW Judy]

Budgeted trip to america, 1 week, how much need to bring??

The best I can do is direct you to this post with tips on how to create your budget. We all travel differently and have different goals, things we want to do, etc. so the cost can vary broadly.

After you've come up with your projected budget, feel free to come back here and post it so we can help you figure out if it's realistic.

Oh, and welcome to the Roadtrip America forums!

[mestizo]

Thanks loads for all the effort PNW Judy.

They estimate $55 a night which doesn't seem that cheap compared to a motel does it?

Ok, you're getting something a bit different but they suggest you need to bring your own bed linen and stuff too which reduces the value further for anyone arriving by plane.

Interesting note 5 at the end of the article:

"Don’t overlook retreat centers operated by churches or non-profit organizations. For instance, a Catholic retreat house in the college town of Flagstaff, Arizona, has individual rooms with kitchen privileges for as low as $20 per night."

Anyone had any experience of these? Or a directory of them?

[Midwest Michael]

These sorts of places are usually pretty specific to one area, and aren't really a chain type operation that is condusive to a directory. In other words, you pretty much have to inquire locally.

I have occationally seen those places included in directories with other Hostels, so that's probably your best bet for that sort of thing.

As far as $55 for college dorm rooms? That sounds a bit high, but there could be advantages, particularly in terms of location. If you've got a place thats in the heart of a city, motel rooms could be much more than that.

[Lifemagician]

"Don’t overlook retreat centers operated by churches or non-profit organizations. For instance, a Catholic retreat house in the college town of Flagstaff, Arizona, has individual rooms with kitchen privileges for as low as $20 per night."

There are two great hostels in Flagstaff. This one is my favourite, but you can check out the other here.

Am typing this from a $29.99 + tax motel (very clean, microwave, fridge, wifi, tv, etc.), with the compliments of the coupon in the Hotel Coupon Guide picked up at a rest area on 380, south of Cedar Rapids. This is only one of many publications like it available all over the USA and on the internet.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Am typing this from a $29.99 + tax motel (very clean, microwave, fridge, wifi, tv, etc.), with the compliments of the coupon in the Hotel Coupon Guide picked up at a rest area on 380, south of Cedar Rapids. This is only one of many publications like it available all over the USA and on the internet.

Excellent report from the field!

Mark

[RalphZero]

Most motel chains have a web site.
According to motel6.com, the rooms are $37.00 a night. They can get up to $43.00 a night in a big city.

[glc]

Ralph, look up the Motel 6 in Moab, UT and plug in some different dates. I think you may be unpleasantly surprised how costly that one can get.

I have not see a Motel 6 for less than $35 a night in a long time, and I frequently see them in excess of $50. Wherever you are getting your $37 to $43 info is either incorrect or you are taking it out of context.