Booking roadtrip hotel ahead?

[swilshire]

For years we didn't prebook, picking up the green hotel books at rest stops and looking for deals. After we had trouble finding a room a couple of times, or wound up paying way more than we had planned, we started prebooking.

You're right that schedule delays can make it difficult to get to the hotel at our desired time, and sometimes we get there earlier than we would really like to stop. It is still a great comfort to know that you have a bed waiting for you when you reach your destination.

Our June trip to the Cape is a good example. We always stay in the same Residence Inn, but I must have booked earlier. Everything in the area is sold out, so I've spent a couple of days trying to find something along the route that will meet our needs.

I've used Priceline in the past with good luck, but our March Priceline stay was a disappointment. Not sure I'll go that route again.

Sheila

 

[capegirl]

Gone are the days when DH and I used to wing it up and down I 95. I no longer want to play 'hotel roulette'...I've grown too picky in my old age. We always prebook using our AAA discount, and after reading plenty of reviews on Trip Advisor. Like some PP's, I also want the flexibility of canceling on the same should the need arise.

 

[B.B. Sots]

We always Drive and I tend to pick the town we are going to stay at but rarely the hotel.

When we are traveling, I am not 100% of the areas that the hotels are in and if it seems a little too 'sketchy' we hop back on the road for another exit.

The only thing that we DO pre-book is staying at the Holiday Inn in Ocala the day before we check in as we like to be rested and have a tradition of eating at the Cracker barrell the night before.

As I have a family of 6, we try to find as many discounts as we can.. but feeling safe is more important. God forbid that I book at a hotel that has great ratings, but when we arrive it is behind locked gates for 'guest safety.'