Where do you stop for the night?

[m.hony]

Never.
Defeats the point of having a trailer...


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[Sjcjr]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Never.
Defeats the point of having a trailer...


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I totally agree with you in safe areas or once you've reached your travel destination. But during the journey and in remote areas, safety is a concern when traveling with only your spouse (and loaded Smith and Wesson of course). It only takes one overnight parking mistake for something serious to go wrong. (I know it can happen anywhere!) I haven't done it but wonder if others have. I'll bet others with similar concerns have done so at times. If so, I would like to hear from them.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

I know it's expensive but does anyone stay at the Hampton Inn or similar roadside hotel for the evening on long journeys?

Sure, there are times in a long journey when stopping at a hotel/motel for one night, with the trailer hitched up and ready-to-go in the morning, makes perfect sense IMO.

The circumstances for pausing for the night are so plentiful that it doesn't make sense to speculate . . .

Never say never . . .

[PKI]

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

I know it's expensive but does anyone stay at the Hampton Inn or similar roadside hotel for the evening on long journeys?

We have given it some thought, but the trailer has worked out so well, we have not been inclined to stay at a hotel/motel. We stay at the La Quinta motel chain when without the trailer, because they are very dog friendly.

We have threatened to stay at a motel when it's less expensive than an RV park, but that's not going to be a Hampton. More likely an econospecial.

Pat

[xrvr]

If we ever have to park the trailer at a motel, we will sell it when we get home.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by avionstream

If we ever have to park the trailer at a motel, we will sell it when we get home.

Seems a bit extreme IMO.

There are absolutely no circumstances under which it might make sense?

Zero? An unforeseen blizzard for instance? A medical emergency?

Sometimes plain old exhaustion on a long trip with an arrival deadline can justify a stop for a night in a motel IMO, with an early morning start to make time . . .

Simple logic.

Perhaps you might consider softening your line so that Sjcjr, a relative newcomer, might appreciate the range of possibilities?

[Airtandem]

There is a nice motel in Wisconsin on Lake Michigan that has camping. One gets to use the motel facilities. There is laundry, pool, hot tubs, exercise room and restaurant. I would stay there.

[Will_Brule]

No.

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

I totally agree with you in safe areas or once you've reached your travel destination. But during the journey and in remote areas, safety is a concern when traveling with only your spouse (and loaded Smith and Wesson of course). It only takes one overnight parking mistake for something serious to go wrong. (I know it can happen anywhere!) I haven't done it but wonder if others have. I'll bet others with similar concerns have done so at times. If so, I would like to hear from them.

I've always been able to find a campground-
Proper prior planning prevents...


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[m.hony]

Originally Posted by avionstream

If we ever have to park the trailer at a motel, we will sell it when we get home.

I agree.
When I drive by a hotel and see an RV in the parking lot I just shake my head.


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[fogmonkey]

Well boys...I've stayed in a hotel with our airstream in the parking lot a couple times. It gives me a chance to "color my hair" without messing up my perfect airstream. lol

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by m.hony

When I drive by a hotel and see an RV in the parking lot I just shake my head.

It's a perfectly viable option for a Northerner en route to warmer climes with a winterized RV that won't get un-winterized until it reaches its destination. Especially in a part of the country where all of the campgrounds are closed for the winter…

[xrvr]

Yes, but i was talking aboutME, not someone else.

[Wingeezer]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

It's a perfectly viable option for a Northerner en route to warmer climes with a winterized RV that won't get un-winterized until it reaches its destination. Especially in a part of the country where all of the campgrounds are closed for the winter…

Yes I agree,

I keep all options open just depending on what circumstances we run into on the road

I think we have only stopped at a motel once in 18 years when pulling our trailer south for our annual winter getaway.

Just a combination of bad road conditions that prevented us reaching the destination I had planned for the night, plus getting quite late and dark in cold snowy weather, plus feeling tired, then coming across a half decent looking economical motel with a huge carpark - just seemed the thing to do!

I would do exactly the same thing again in a similar situation - why the
heck not?! Nothing to be ashamed of - just a sensible decision under the circumstances IMHO!

Brian.

[kb0zke]

Recently we were at Babler State Park, near St. Louis, and were headed to Cypress, TX, NW of Houston. First I asked the map program to route me from one to the other. Obviously that is FAR more miles than anyone would want to drive in one stretch. Once I had the general route, though, I broke it down to comfortable daily drives (200-250 miles per leg). Then I looked for COE or State parks at appropriate locations. That method actually took me a few miles more than the absolute direct route, but gave me two nights at no cost (I visited the Foretravel factory for a minor repair).

So far we've not had to boondock and have stayed in commercial parks only a couple of times.

Works for us

[Will_Brule]

I plan, and then make a contingency plan. If I come to the point, or place, where I am to afraid to be locked inside my AS at night, I will just go home, sell my rig, and lock myself in my house... where, by the way, I am probably no safer, just in a more familiar place.

[rmkrum]

Paraphrasing the old aviation saying, it's better to be parked wishing you are on the road, rather than on the road wishing you were parked....

It's not unreasonable to stay in s hotel in bad circumstances that would be dangerous staying in an AS.

Never say 'never'. Stuff happens while you make other plans....


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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Will_Brule

I plan, and then make a contingency plan.

I do things differently. I make a Plan A and a Plan B. Then I throw away Plan A without even trying it, and go straight to Plan B.

Anyone who has ever watched an action-adventure movie knows that Plan A never works. By skipping Plan A and going straight to Plan B I save myself so much aggravation…

[rmkrum]

Unless you get to Plan Z😄😄😄

(SpongeBob square pants reference...)


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[Tater]

We decide on our evening destination and make reservations at a Campground enroute. We decide on a location and Google campgrounds in the area. We don't stay on parking lots for security reasons and don't mind paying for electrical hookup and water. If we are in a really big hurry for early departure we have just parked hooked up and left without hooking up to Campground utilities.