Lodging cost for 2011

[Jason Foster]

As I have decided to return to the plains no matter what, it's time for me to start my planning. I'm actually a tad early, but figure I can start now, and only adjust later.

Since I haven't been out for a few years, I am a little out of the loop on estimating my costs. Particularly for this thread, I want to see what folks have been paying for hotel lodging costs. I know that For almost all years I've chase the price hasn't risen much from 1997 through 2006 prices seem to start around $35 per night and little by little only worked their way up to $50 per night on average (not counting the memorial holiday weekend). I know the topic has been brought up in the past, and I have search a few of those, but I'm kinda focused on what to expect/plan for in 2011.

So discuss what you've paid for hotel rooms, the brands for the prices, and what you typically get (wifi, cont'l breakfast, etc.).

 

[JimKirkland]

I live in the Panhandle of Oklahoma and you are still correct in the fact that pricing still hasn't changed all that much. In my experience the economy has taken it's toll somewhat on the extras that I see being given out. i.e. The quality of the continental breakfast, the cable tv packages offered, etc. For the most part, these have been more noticeable in the lower end places, like the $35 a night motels.

In my hotel/motel stays I have found that if you like the nicer places, most of them have a rewards program that allow for free nights after so many paid nights. i.e. Choice Hotels, which has over 10 brand names under them, offers an amazing gratis breakfast in the morning and the Sleep Inn that I recently stayed with in Amarillo had recently been renovated, had a pool, hot tub, gym, free wifi, personal computers in the lobby, and even had a 42" LCD in the room. However it was $70.00 a night!

 

[Jason Boggs]

Myself, I almost always stay at Holiday Inn Express motels. I like everything about them...nice rooms, wifi, breakfast, etc. Most locations are around $100 a night, but to me it's worth it.

 

[John Wetter]

I'm with Jason on that one. I know I 'could' go cheaper, but I also like a consistent experience, which Holiday Inn Express has always offered me.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I generally try to find $50 hotels when I am out chasing, because it normally only means a few hours of sleep. All it really needs is a bed and shower. Found 2 hotels this year I would definitely stay at again. I slept in the car almost every other time to cut cost. When I did get a hotel, I am a big fan of rooms that you can park at your door because I have so much to carry in. It is really hard to find hotels under $50 or even near that anymore.

First is in Guymon, OK and only cost $30 with tax. Not fancy but it was clean and acceptable. Colonial Inn. No carpet in the room at all, FYI.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...UZsD0eiN0_aUifLIzH4Z1g&cbp=12,134.19,,0,-17.5

The other was in York, NE. Room was $50 including tax. Was more like an $80 room.
It is an America's Best Value now, even though the sign says best western.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...DoaWkKGpESgQOMFGUnjEQ&cbp=12,194.24,,0,-17.07

Staying in these type of hotels make the 3 and 4 stars I stay in the rest of the time (not chasing) look incredible.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

I took a trip to Yellowstone in mid-September and stayed in Wakeeny, Ks and Scottsbluff along the way. Everywhere I went (had to go to a couple of different places because I didn't want to pay too much) the rooms ranged from $70-$100 depending on the chain. I ended up staying at an Econolodge in KS for $70 (tax included) and it was $85 in Scottsbluff at a Best Western. Of course that is with two queens, continental breakfast and pool.

I think budgeting for at least $70 a night would be safe for one person.

 

[Jason Foster]

Thanks all.

Boggs: Yeah I love the H.I.Xpress too, but for personally, the expedition aspect means most, if not all, nites are spent in hotels (camping, friend's places are the only alternative). The cost can rack up very fast when looking at 12 to 28 days worth of chasing.

However, spot chasers like yourself that have a home base in the central US certainly can gain the benefit. Of course income level (chasing income or just regular income) being healthy might not make it a big deal. Sleep is critical for a chaser.

It's good to hear not too much has changed (Sean...seems you hit a bad week or something, unless it's seasonal, or more folks mention a trend. In previous years, I budgeted around $55 per night. Of course many years I was with folks too so we might have traded up a little and split the cost, so it came back down to ~$20 per person per night. I will have at least one and likely two chase partners this year (Mark Ellinwood being one) so that will help bring cost down. But I think before the split I'll factor around $60 (since hotels often charge higher for multiple occupancy).

Add:
Oh yeah....when I started in the 90s a good way to drop costs was to grab a coupon book often found in Denny's and travel plazas and stops, etc. They often were a bigger savings than clubs, loyal benefits, etc. However, I noticed it more difficult to find them in my last outing in 2006. Anyone still use them, see them? Is there anything similar that is electronic in nature (Apps for example)?

 

[Jacob Ferden]

Thanks all.

Add:
Oh yeah....when I started in the 90s a good way to drop costs was to grab a coupon book often found in Denny's and travel plazas and stops, etc. They often were a bigger savings than clubs, loyal benefits, etc. However, I noticed it more difficult to find them in my last outing in 2006. Anyone still use them, see them? Is there anything similar that is electronic in nature (Apps for example)?

The coupon books are still out there in places, the service areas on the turnpikes in OK still have them. Came in handy last year too, I once got a Ramada in SPS for $34 with a coupon.

 

[Andy Jackson]

I found some nice little dives in places like St. Francis and Belleville, KS; Sisseton, SD had one as well. These places didn't have high rates and were kind of a nice change from the Super8's, etc... I think most of the rates were under $60 and had wifi/tv. I would bring an emergency bar of soap just in case.

 

[Willoughby Owen]

I was a little surprised to see motel prices jump this year compared to when I was last there in 2008, especially at the Super8 chain as other costs like food and restaurants were stagnant and gasoline costs dropped significantly.

2007 the norm at Super8 was around $52 ex. tax for a twin room... in Midland TX earlier this year we were quoted around $80 for a twin room!! At super8?

Definitely get the coupon books at gas stations and also use http://www.roomsaver.com/

The best deal through out the plains this year was in Goodland, KS using that site... $38 per night twin share at Days Inn. (Ok, so it was the weirdest Days Inn in the world but that didn't matter.. it included breakfast) Some of these motels you have to see them to really believe them.

In the bigger cities many motels we noticed were absolutely desperate for business so you can do some talking and bring the price down.

Motel6. We were extremely satisfied with our stay in Abilene, TX... $43.99 twin share on a weeknight after the place had just been refurbished. We will certainly look for more of these on the Plains. Downside is you have to pay for a wifi card $5 IIRC, but that normally means a faster connection.

 

[Jason Foster]

Just in checking the rates online this far out...it does seem more expensive. But I can't say I ever checked them online before.

I'm hoping a little camping can be done to save a few dollars. Probably only do it a few times when I'm with the crew...as I know Ellinwood isn't a big fan. BUT I will be doing as much camping once I'm solo the second half of May. Of course I do love camping too....so maybe the 'savings' is just an excuse too...LOL.

 

[Jeff Hawkins]

I've found that online searches favor the chain hotel/motels, and if I've got a target area, I might make a reservation at one online ahead of time if I find a reasonable rate. It seems though, that the better prices are found at the family-owned hotels. So for me it's a tradeoff between peace of mind that I've got a place set, vs. getting a place locally once I'm there, to save $10 or $20.

 

[Terrence Cook]

Camping

Love the idea of camping out there, of course doing so while on a chasecation brings up the thought of not always being able to camp and the threat of storms, wind and flooding into the evening.

While the cost is unbeatable the risk of those issues has always kept me from using valuable trunk space to bring along a tent and necessary items, sleeping bag, etc.

However it would be the perfect way to spend some downtime!!

Skip has a great story about sleeping out amongst the Colorado prairie this past season, never know what you will wake up to.

 

[AndyGabrielson]

I honestly will sleep in my vehicle from time to time if I can't find a hotel. I will not spend alot of money on something when that should be going to fuel. I basically will stay at Motel 6... pay the 3 dollars for a wifi card, and end up spending aroudn $40.00... im staying for one night, not moving in, ill hit the drive thru in the morning and spare the edtra expense of a breakfest and what not...

 

[Skip Talbot]

Love the idea of camping out there, of course doing so while on a chasecation brings up the thought of not always being able to camp and the threat of storms, wind and flooding into the evening.

While the cost is unbeatable the risk of those issues has always kept me from using valuable trunk space to bring along a tent and necessary items, sleeping bag, etc.

However it would be the perfect way to spend some downtime!!

Skip has a great story about sleeping out amongst the Colorado prairie this past season, never know what you will wake up to.

I think I've been owned more times than not by squall lines in the middle of the night camping out in the van. I woke up before 7 am on July 14 to a tornado warning in Minnesota. I've thought about pitching tents, but it seems like much more hassle than its worth having to find a suitable spot to camp, putting the tent up, taking it down, and then praying you dont get blown away in the middle of the night. Sleep in your vehicle if you have the room. An suv with seats that fold flat or a van is ideal as you can put a regular bed back there. Terrence is probably referring to my amusing run in with an antelope on the morning of June 10. One night in late June I ended the chase on the KS/CO border and spent an hour just laying on top of the van watching the stars. The weather was perfect, no bugs, and the sky surreal. I like camping out in my van so much now, that I prefer it even over motel rooms.

Back on topic: I've had decent luck using Google Maps to search for Mom and Pops motels. They are usually quite cheap and I haven't found one yet that I wouldn't stay in. After all the big chain motels were booked after the Quinter event, we wound up at the Prime 8 in Russel, KS, so named because they have caged howler monkeys in the back of the motels. The place wasn't bad though, and I like the added adventure and characters you meet traveling to and staying at these local places in the Great Plains, which is a big part of chasing.