Chicago round trip

[AZBuck]

Just a couple of thoughts as you continue to plan. First and foremost, if you're cutting up sites and drives into small chunks (hours) and fitting in as many as you can, you're trying to do too much. I agree with Michael about the size of your container and the amount of goods you want to put into it. Time can get tight quickly especially if you've made all your lodging reservations ahead of time. You will be pressed for time on such a trip and will end up overstressed or regretful that you had to skip something you were planning on.

I have never had any issue with any car I have rented from any company. I have found that you can save significant amounts of money by renting from an off-airport location. Often such sites are less than a mile from the airport, have free shuttle service, and allow you to return the car to the airport.

[Ram4]

Hi everyone - this is my first post.

I also agree with Midwest Michael on you may be doing a bit much for your schedule. Live and learn, right?

Just a thought that was touched on before by Midwest Michael and AZBuck. I don't usually like booking lodging ahead of time on road trips if I can help it. I remember one time I was in western North Dakota at Teddy Roosevelt National Park and had foolishly booked a room in Fargo that night. I should have followed my own advice and waited to book because I was forced to travel 6 hours late in the day across the entire state when I wasn't ready. On the flip side I was in Amarillo and was going to book in Albuquerque but this time I held off. I was smart to do so as I arrived around 2pm (far earlier than I expected) and since I didn't need to spend time in that area, I kept driving another 4 hours until I reached the Wigwam in Holbrook, AZ which in turn helped me now have a couple hours to hike in Petrified Forest National Park the next morning.

If you are flexible with not having rooms booked ahead of time (when possible) your trip will unfold naturally rather than feeling forced or boxed in. I have had multiple trips when I stayed days longer than planned or left extra early from a place I was not having fun in. Don't forget the weather and one of you being tired or sick could dramatically change your plans as well. Try not to book ahead and if you have already, consider canceling them to give you some wiggle room. There are countless hotels and motels along your routes that can be booked last minute (and maybe you can negotiate a deal). You might even stumble across an amazing B&B to stay at.

The true American road trip is finding your room at the end of each day. You know, like in Psycho!

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Ram4 and welcome to RTA !

Thanks for your input, it's always nice when new members bring fresh views and share experiences so it's much appreciated. Apologies for the delay in getting your post 'Live', it got held up by our Spywear. Enjoy RTA !

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

Booking ahead or not is always a personal decision. Pros and cons of both have been pointed out. My husband and I have had the experience of booking ahead and then not being able to get there for one reason or another. Most of the time, a call direct to the lodging place will be a little easier and more personable when explaining your sudden change of plans.

BTW, the above experience is because we ONLY book through either the website of the hotel/hotel chain, or by phone. We do not use third-party bookings (Expedia, Hotels.com, booking.com, etc) if we can help it. It is WAY too difficult to change your plans mid-stream through a third-party, who typical sell hotel rooms that they may not have filled otherwise.

Another reason not to use a third party: upgrades. On our recent trip, my husband and I were engaged in a conversation with a BW manager. He gave us priority in rooms on request, because we had been members of the BW Rewards Program for a few years. (We like first floor rooms in properties with no elevators mentioned on their website, though the photo shows two stories.) He stated, "I'll go out of my way to upgrade a Rewards member and honor their simple requests, because they're obviously a long-term customer of the company. Those who use third parties are out for the cheap rooms, and we've had issues not being respectful of our property."


Donna

[Mark Sedenquist]

BTW, the above experience is because we ONLY book through either the website of the hotel/hotel chain, or by phone. We do not use third-party bookings (Expedia, Hotels.com, booking.com, etc) if we can help it. It is WAY too difficult to change your plans mid-stream through a third-party, who typical sell hotel rooms that they may not have filled otherwise.

Speaking as a "third-party provider" of lodging and rentals--sometimes the pricing you can find through sites like ROADTRIP AMERICA are better than you can get from the primary sites. I use both methods -- but since we pay the bills around here (in-part from the lodging application) I hope that Donna isn't suggesting that you never use RTA's booking service.

Mark

[BillyGr]

Speaking as a "third-party provider" of lodging and rentals--sometimes the pricing you can find through sites like ROADTRIP AMERICA are better than you can get from the primary sites. I use both methods -- but since we pay the bills around here (in-part from the lodging application) I hope that Donna isn't suggesting that you never use RTA's booking service.

Mark

Sounds like Donna may be concerned that some options offer less flexibility.
Not certain if that is the case with this, but just looking, if I were to book a room via your service, it had the free cancellation button. However, that only worked (on that reservation) through 7/16, when the room was booked for 7/18-20. Via the hotel's site, you had until 3pm on 7/17, and after that would be charged for only one night (not both).

Many hotels will (or always did) offer you the option to cancel a reservation until the day of (usually 4pm or so) when you call them (or their national phone #).

So that type of thing could be an issue for some, if they wanted to be able to change plans on the spur of the moment.

[DonnaR57]

Using the RTA booking service is just one of many options that one has for reserving hotel rooms. So I wouldn't say, don't use it, just be aware when you book a room (in any way) of the terms and conditions.

For the record, we find that even booking through the hotel or chain website, they've put a 24 or 48 hour cancellation in place. The places that offer a "same day cancellation" probably aren't in an area of great demand. That was the case for 3 properties we booked. The other places were in high demand and one had a 48-hour notice to cancel plan in place.

If you are trying to accrue points in a certain brand (or chains) rewards system, you may or may not be awarded said points if you book through a third party. Same with using coupons found in advertising booklets or online, you may or may not get the points. Over the years we have earned a number of free nights with our points, most recent being our final night on the road a couple of weeks ago. We know that points have their rules, too -- expiring, can't use them in certain areas or at certain times for an individual property.

I just say...buyer beware. Read the rules, terms, conditions, etc., so that you don't get surprised.


Donna

[Mark Sedenquist]

If you are trying to accrue points in a certain brand (or chains) rewards system, you may or may not be awarded said points if you book through a third party.

When booking through RTA, one can always ask to have the chain affinity number applied when one checks in. I have done that a number of times.

Generally, if one books through the primary chain's site -- the location is generally better (for instance nearer the elevator) -- but pricing is much more fluid.

Mark

[Ram4]

When booking through RTA, one can always ask to have the chain affinity number applied when one checks in. I have done that a number of times.

Generally, if one books through the primary chain's site -- the location is generally better (for instance nearer the elevator) -- but pricing is much more fluid.

Mark

I have gotten dozens of hotel rooms for free in recent years so I tend to book through the hotel's app/site to take advantage of that. Loyalty also means preferential treatment when you have any issues. When I have to pay for a room then I will consider all my options.

Another quirky travel "hack" is that my girlfriend likes to gamble enough that we get free rooms through casinos and plan roadtrips around those. For example last year we were on the road for a month and able to stay at Caesars Atlantic City for two separate five day/four night comped stays (with ocean view rooms) during the peak summer season. We made Atlantic City our home base on a few days and went elsewhere on the Jersey Shore rather than only stay in Atlantic City which in my opinion is kind of a dump. In between those two stays we spend three nights in Manhattan. The best part (and what many don't realize) is that you don't have to be a big time player to get those comps. Mark, you should be well aware of this living in Vegas (not that you may gamble though).

[stuarta]

Hi guys, getting close to my trip and we have a leg from Slidell to Cullman which is just a bed for the night.

At the moment I see Google takes me up the I59I20 but are there any suggestions of roads to take or places to visit rather than a 5hr stint on the interstate?

Toss up between I59/20 or US11 or I10/65

Many thanks

(Mod note) Please keep all questions with regards to this trip in one Thread. Thanks)