Road Trip CA, OR, WA, MT, ID, on a very tight budget $1800

[Lifemagician]

Couchsurfing is a wonderful community, and I would highly recommend them. However, there are some facts you need to be aware of.

First thing you do is join Couchsurfing, and build up a reference base. Few hosts will accept someone who does not have any references. Also get verified as quickly as possible. It is a great assurance to the other party. Two good ways to gather references is by attending Couchsurfing activities in your area, and by offering to host travellers. If you are unable to accommodate any, be available to show them around your area or take them to sights they would like to see. There's nothing like seeing a place through the eyes of a local. Anytime you spend time with another couchsurfer, you are entitled to ask them to write you a reference, just as you would write one for them. The reference system works extremely well, so long as you are honest. If you found something annoying/uncomfortable/offensive about another member, and it was integral to this person, say so. No need to be rude, just be honest and factual. Read through other people''s references, and get the ideas of what works.

It is not just a free night's accommodation. It is a community, and many hosts and hostesses appreciate something in return. I like to take my host out for a meal, at a moderately priced place of their choice. On the other hand, some people who have surfed at my place have brought me gifts, taken me out to lunch, etc. When I take a guest for a drive into the country to a requested site or place, I always appreciate it when they buy me lunch. There are also hosts who prefer that you spend some time with them, and not just use them as a place to sleep. These folk like to meet people from all over the country, all over the world and hear the travel stories.

Some things you might like to offer to do for your host is to cook them a meal, offer to do the dishes, clean the bathroom, or really anything you see you could do. It's all up to you. A bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates on arrival is often appreciated.

Point is, if you have read their profile, and the references, you quickly get some idea of what this person likes. If you correspond with the person beforehand, you can always ask what they would like.

Couchsurfing is a great community, just don't use them a a night's free accommodation. It's a give and take community.

Lifey

[alazar14]

Part of the problem is most places I am going to do not seem to have hotels for anything less than $65-75 a night. Missoula Montana (where I plan to spend a few days) is surprisingly expensive.

[Lifemagician]

Part of the problem is most places I am going to do not seem to have hotels for anything less than $65-75 a night. Missoula Montana (where I plan to spend a few days) is surprisingly expensive.

I spent four days in Missoula in 2012 and found the Budget Inn just off I-90 (can't recall the exit but I think I recorded it in my trip report) excellent. From what I recall, with the coupon, it was less than $50 per night, all inclusive. I did not book, I just turned up.

Lifey

Edit: There are 97 couchsurfing members in Missoula.

[DonnaR57]

You can do two things to find the coupon specials:

1) Look online: FreeHotelcoupons.com, travelcoupons.com, and hotelcoupons.com.

2) As you pull into each state, stop at either the state information center/state tourist center/visitor information center (often one of the first rest areas you come to as you cross a state's border), or a big truck stop/travel center such as Pilot, Flying J, or Love's. Look for little self-serve stands, as these coupons come in little booklets usually 6"x9" or thereabouts. If you don't see them in the state information centers, ask.

Montana did seem kind of pricey to us, too, but coupons were a big help. They also have a very short tourist season, which may account for the higher price for lodging. Fortunately, their restaurants were just about the same as everywhere else.


Donna

[glc]

Did you use the hotel search right here on this site?

[jwilx]

I know others have said to not sleep in your car, but its not all that bad if you do it right. There are certain scenarios where it could be beneficial. A lot has to do with timing. For instance, I will be leaving Portland and heading for Goblin Valley, UT for my first stop. I should arrive there approx 1 AM. I want to catch the early light for photo reasons. The following night we will be staying in Moab. So rather than booking 2 nights in Moab, and having to sleep for maybe 2 hours and head back up to Goblin Valley for the sunrise, I can just take a brief but refreshing enough 4 hour nap, take my photos and move on to Moab.

[Southwest Dave]

Hi jwilx and welcome to RTA !

We appreciate your input, but there is no way we would recommend anyone drive for almost 1000 miles and 17 hours without an overnight stop, never mind then sleeping in the car for a few hours before driving again. People do 'get away with it', but only in the way that a drunk driver sometimes gets away with it, but many a time accidents, some fatal, are the result of drunk driving or fatigue. The only way you should even consider this is if there are 3 of you and can rotate in the Speed run procedure. Two people need to be awake and alert to make it work, but I would still recommend you work it and stop on route to Goblin.

Have a safe trip.

[Midwest Michael]

I know others have said to not sleep in your car, but its not all that bad if you do it right.

If you do it right is the key phrase. If you are a solo traveler, with the right kind of vehicle, where it can be set up to fully lay out and get a good night of sleep, then it can be done. However, that's virtually impossible if you've got more than one person, and if you're in a rental car.

Second, doing it right does not mean napping in your car because you haven't given yourself enough time to get a reasonable amount of sleep. As Dave mentioned, the plan you've laid out of trying to drive non-stop 1000 miles (and really more like 20 hours than 17), and then "napping" for a couple of hours before driving yet another 100 miles is incredibly dangerous and will make you a danger to yourself and others. That is very much "all that bad" and is not "doing it right," and we really hope you will reconsider your plan.

[jwilx]

A little bit of overreacting I think...
10 hours driving each while the other naps is not that serious. The average person is awake for more than 10 hours a day right? So it really isnt "all that bad". Moab is only a couple hours from Goblin Valley anyway. So after a good 4 hour nap, not "a couple", driving an extra 2 hours is harmless. But thats me assuming people are smart enough to not drive so tired they feel drunk... So yes, if you do it right. And another thing, what one person deems uncomfortable, isnt exactly what another person feels. I am perfectly fine sleeping in my car. I do it every Spring over 15000 miles.

[glc]

Whether you can do that is not the issue. The longstanding policy on this forum is driving over 600 miles a day and/or sleeping in a car is not recommended. You have been told the same thing by 2 moderators, I would think that nothing else should be said.