After paying far too much for hotel rooms in Canada, we knew something had to give for the nights that camping just wasn't an option. Don't get me wrong, I actually love sleeping in our tents. My sleeping bag walls have multiple inches of downy-awesomeness and the thermarest-ridgerest double whammy is better than most hotel beds. Our travel schedule results in single night camping at dozens of different campgrounds and parks. Eventually, you just don't want to set up a tent for the millionth time, stuff a gigantic sleeping bag in a very small sack, or scrounge up quarters for a tepid shower full of mosquitos. Additionally, many of these campgrounds charge upwards of thirty dollars!
So, we decided to exercise our right to hotel bidding. Well, naming our price actually, and praying for a sweet room. Priceline.com works by allowing you to select an area or region, a star level, and entering a price. They work with numerous hotel chains and independents, so if one of these hotels is interested in your offer, they give you the room. Sure, you don't know exactly where you will be staying that night (and yes, you get better deals if you wait until the day of to book), but that's part of the fun, especially in a new town or city!
Our first big score was outside of Seattle. We bid $38 a night on a 2 and a half star room, and got the Guesthouse Inn and Suites. We had a kitchen, hot tub, they sold bottles of wine at reasonable prices at the front desk, and there was an REI less than a mile away! It was so awesome, we added an extra night at the same price (they give you the option if you like your hotel). Since then, we have been alternating camping and Priceline-ing. We have gotten a 3-star (The Radisson, which, by the way had a Sleep Number bed) for $48, a 2.5 star Courtyard Marriott for $41, and following our climb up Mt. Adams are rewarding ourselves in the Marriott Fairfield Inn for 3 nights at a whopping $45 a night.
(Fairfield Inn in Portland)
To think, we were paying $80+ a night for a crappy room in the local Super 8 or Motel 6 across Montana and Canada! This is just one of the many reasons we are loving our no-strings-attached lifestyle. The room prices and layout are set for 2 people, and definitely require flexibility... so this wouldn't be possible if we had kids, pets, or any other issues. By the time you add the price of camping, breakfast, showers, it really doesn't save us that much money if we can keep our hotel cost under $50 a night (and this generally includes breakfast and coffee).
In conclusion, embrace The Shatner and take control of your comfort and your wallet! : )
Summer i have always been nervous about the priceline thing but maybe soon i will take the plunge myself. Sounds like you guys have hit the jackpot!
ReplyDeleteThat Fairfield looks suspiciously like the one in North Carolina...
ReplyDeletehaha, yes it does... the lime green fabric business is doing well, thanks to Fairfield... although our room doesn't have the sweet couch/tv area... or the extensive breakfast!
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