? on number of people in a room on the way there.

[allenx6]

We just returned from WDW last week and we drove 20 hours to get there. I don't know where you are coming from, but I found on www.hotelshotels.com an Amerisuites hotel in Columbia, SC that allowed me to book all 6 of us in one room. We survived the night, after all it was only a pit stop for rest and unwinding for the kids. One the way home we wanted to drive straight through but ran into terrible fog in WV. We stopped at 1:20am at a Comfort Inn on Route 19 and snuck 6 of us into one room. I didn't feel guilty because we only stopped for 5 hours and we were the ones who had to deal with the small space. We all managed to crash on the two beds and two chairs that were provided in the room.

Try www.freetrip.com to map your trip and it gives you the option to show the hotels on your route too to get ideas of costs and availablity.

Hope this helps. Have fun!!

 

[lisajl]

We too, are a family of five and stopped in Savannah on the way last December.

The place did not even ask my DH how many people would be in the room. They did not seem to care. We did not have it planned out as that is where we would stop.

As luck would have it, the place was less than half full.
We got the room, two queen beds...for $45 a night.

Not bad for all of us. We got there around 10:00 and left at 6:30 am....had to get to the MK!!

Good luck on your trip, you will find a place, and they don't need to know how many are in your room.

Lisajl

 

[laceemouse]

We have 4 kids and usually drive to vacations also. I don't like the driving all night thing at all. My hubby is a zoombie when tired and I am not much better. I just don't think it is safe for anyone to drive exhausted. We usually try to find a suite type room. We don't like to lie, and also like to partake in the free breakfasts. We stay mostly at Marriots, hubby has a frequent stay program from them due to work travel. At any rate, I highly caution against taking off with no reservations. Coming home from Florida last year we had a NIGHTMARE. We had made revervations in north Ga., but when we got there we decided to cancel and try to drive further. When it got late we started pulling off at exits looking for a room. Three or four times we heard "No room in the inn." Who could have guessed that places like Paducah,Ky. would have every room booked solid!!!! We ended up having to sleep in a smoking room(YUCK) three to a bed! Calling ahead an hour may help, but don't plan on it. We will never travel again without reservations, and we will keep the ones we make!!! The voice of experience...Lacee

 

[momofoneplustwins]

I'm getting the feeling from my dh that he wants to try and drive till he gets tired and just see what happens. He said we'd stay somewhere Sun. night. Our reservations are for Mon with check out on Fri (Not a bunch of time for the mouse with four pks and a plus op however we're going too get the majic). We'll be coming from North MS. Mapquest says we need to go east towards Birmingham, then down through Atlanta (oh horrors ) and straight down too Orlando. I'm thinking we need to stay not more than an hour or two away so the next mourning we can check in and do something before our room is ready. That looks as if it would be around Ocala. We don't have a cc to book a room (we had to use fil's and pay him back the dep. for wdw rm). He doesn't want us using his cc for everything. There's the issue I mentioned about dh just winging it (I'm the planner). I have been researching the route. There don't seem to be as many suite hotels as the others. That would be ideal as long as it's less than 80.00/90.00 (any hope in that). I'm going to keep looking and trying to get a clue out of dh! Thank you everyone

 

[safetymom]

As someone else suggested see if you can get a Visa or Mastercard debit card at your bank. To the motel it looks like a credit card. It allows you to make reservations but the money comes out of your checking acct.

This would be better than trying to find something when your husband gets tired. By having something lined up you can feel you are getting closer by knowing the final stop for the night.

 

[pamlet]

Aren't your kids pretty little?

A LOT of the chain hotels just say - kids under 16 or 18 free if using available bedding - also most couldn't care less when it's little kids.

While the free continental breakfast thing can be good - it only is if you use it... (we usually do - but then I've got two teenage boys and we also stop early for lunch )

You'll do fine - if the kids are bigger - just bring a sleeping bag and have one of them camp out on the floor!)

Now - as far as winging it w/o reservations - my husband and I used to do that when we were young - and could keep going if we couldn't find anything - not anymore!! We just about always make reservations.

Do you have a cell phone? If so, pick up every piece of info you can w/hotels along the way - and as y'all start getting tired start calling ahead to see what's available. If no cell phone - then plot what you can and call chains that have 800# -

We've done it ALL w/car trips just about all over the US - it can be done - just know what you are in for and be prepared!!

 

[mom2smjn]

We just did this in Dec driving from upstate NY and we did not have any trouble finding inexpensive rooms(down was $40) and I was honest and asked at the desk if it was ok for us to get 1 room and they said ok! It was late we were tired and had no trouble, they even gave us our AAA discount.
On the way back we stayed at a days suites ($70) and it slept 6!

We drove until we strated getting tired and then looked for a place. I used the I-95 book you can get from their website it is was PRICELESS! told where food,reststops,lodging,gas,radio stations etc it was great!!!!