Hotel/motel vs camping

[SaemiVald]

It looks like I'm the odd man out; But I love credit card touring. I like eating out and sleeping in clean sheets after a hot shower. Also I like to ride with very little weight. I can cover about 80 to 100 miles and the difference in the cost of ($100/day) can be made up with longer rides in fewer days. I don't feel like I'm going too fast with my head down but I also don't feel like I'm plodding along. For me it's the only way to go.

You are not alone I plan on riding TransAmerica this summer with my wife and we plan on staying at hotels and eating at restaurants. We realize this will probably be more expensive than camping and cooking food but on the other hand we will travel much lighter and therefore cover more ground. Fewer days -> less cost.
We have thought about bringing a tent and sleeping bags for the first part of the trip and when the heat becomes misearable to send the camping stuff off to a friend on the east coast. This might be a best-of-both-worlds approach.

[fcoulter]

Is it even possible to ride the entire Southern Tier without camping?  I would have thought that there would be stretches out west (once you get away from the Pacific Ocean) that are just empty.

[aggie]

Is it even possible to ride the entire Southern Tier without camping?  I would have thought that there would be stretches out west (once you get away from the Pacific Ocean) that are just empty.

It is possible.  Just be prepared for some long days in a few places.  It may also require some rerouting to insure there is a motel /hotel available.  I went off the route and rode from Del Rio, TX to San Antonio along Hwy 90.  I rejoined the route in Bastrop, TX.

[zzzz]

If you are willing/able to do some long days (and remember you may be facing a head wind all day) it's been my experience you can tour in the US w/o camping. Conversely, there are some days you will look at the map and do a much shorter day then you like because theres a hotel at 35-40 miles and then the next one is another 90 miles.

I've never done the ST but my first 3 tours were the WE and picked up the TransAM in Co and on to Va., Great Parks North & South bridged by the TransAm route between and the Sierra Cascades route. For those 100± days on the road I camped a total of 1 night when a storm blew in when I was going over a pass. But there is 3 or 4 days mixed in to those trips where I really felt I was in trouble, still out 30 - 40 miles from the next town and I was already completely beat. And I made it   1.....pedal.....stroke.....at.....a..... time.

For those first 3 trips I just carried an emergency bivy. Now I carry the lightest tent & sleeping bag I could find. I still rarely use them but the weight penalty has been worth the peace of mind.

Also, someone else mentioned a budget of a $100 a day and I believe them but I've never been able to do that on any of my trips, I'm probably at 150. The caveat is I consider these trips as a treat and if I go into a town and there's a nice restaurant & a Subway, I eat at the nice restaurant. Or there's 2 hotels and 1 looks pretty frayed, I'll stay at the nicer one.

One last thing, do some homework about whats going on ahead where you plan to stop. At the end of a 100+ mile day I pulled into Brea Ky on the Friday night start of the Brea Bread Spoon Festival(?). Every room in town was booked. I finally found a room in one of the worst places I ever stayed in.

Pete

[Pat Lamb]

Am I the only one who noticed this is an 11 year old thread that was revived by a 1-post new user with a username that matches the web site (s)he's pushing?

It would be nice if the moderators could take care of us and filter out all this kind of stuff.  But realistically, it's incumbent on us all to pay a little bit of attention.

Anybody want to bet this is yet another post linking a cute but empty site thrown up by "hobo with a bike?"

[John Nelson]

Am I the only one who noticed this is an 11 year old thread that was revived by a 1-post new user with a username that matches the web site (s)he's pushing?

It's an interesting discussion anyway. I did report that spam post to the moderator yesterday, but (so far) they have left it there.

[Ty0604]

In my opinion, camping is a HUGE part of what makes the bike touring experience special. I believe that it really connects you with the land that you are riding through, and it FULLY ENGULFS you in the bike touring experience. Plus, camping is makes the bike tour more difficult, which helps you grow through those difficult situations.

+1 - Couldn't have said it any better myself.

[hikerjer]

I always go the camping route. That  doesn't mean that I don't use hotels/motels/hostels on occasion when it's appropriate which is usually weather related or when I just want to get cleaned up.  And then there is stealth camping which can be pretty enjoyable and convenient once you get used to it. And don't forget the opportunity presented by Warm Shower hosts. The hotel/motel route can get pretty expensive if you're on a multi-week trip. Besides, I like meeting people in campgrounds and cooking-my own meals.  And then there is the snob appeal. I feel infinitely superior, rightfully or not, to the hotel/motel crowd. Kind of a rugged  individual type thing - at least in my own twisted mind. But that's just me.    Bottom line is to do whatever you can afford and what appeals to you the most. We're all different.

[BikeliciousBabe]

And then the is the snob  appeal. I feel infinitely superior, rightfully or not, to the hotel/motel crowd. Kind of a rugged  individual type thing - at least in my own twisted mind. But that's just me.

You're not alone in that regard. 

[rayed]

I like the combination of both. Camping for couple of days and then a day or two in a nice hotel

[ray b]

Am I the only one who noticed this is an 11 year old thread that was revived....

OK - now a 16 y-old thread.

I guess it's an interesting question.

To a certain extent, it's the old line - "The answer is money.... What was your question?"

For what it's worth, even on a short hotel trip, I never travel without at least a down comforter and bivuoac sack - just in case.

[Westinghouse]

Some motels may be less expensive in the western states.  Van Horn TX had rooms for $25.00.  Small, clean, AC, heat.  Saw a good deal discount in El Paso.  A hotel in EL Paso was / is a hostel.   On my last tour I stayed in the Red Lion  (I think it was) in Tucson, The Hilton Double Tree in El Paso, the Alexandre in New Orleans, some overpriced rat hole in Perry FL and the Days Inn in Stuart FL.

[Westinghouse]

Best of luck to you on your touring adventure!

Of course comfort levels will always depend on the person in question.  You don't see India on everyone's list of "must see" touring destinations do you? 

For Nancy and I, as well as most of our experienced touring pals.  We all carry camping gear and it varies as to how much we use it.  Hotels are much more expensive but sometimes hotels can put you right where you can't get pitching a tent.  Sometimes pitching a tent can put you right where you want to be, or with who you've met along the way.

You'll meet more fellow CTC tourers in the campgrounds.  You'll see more of the towns by staying in hotels.  Blend the two together in a fashion that suits you.

Cheers,

No, and it is likely you will not see India on the must do list for cyclists. Read "Miles From Nowhere" by Barbara Savage.  You will find out why. When they landed at the airport in India, and got their bicycles ready for the road, a man approached them.  He advised then NOT to cycle the Indo-Gangetic plane. He told  them, "India is a bizarre and dangerous country."  They went anyway.  The trip there was not good.

[BikeliciousBabe]

To a certain extent, it's the old line - "The answer is money.... What was your question?"

I like that.   

[Alessa3322]

Some motels may be less expensive in the western states.  Van Horn TX had rooms for $25.00.  Small, clean, AC, heat.  Saw a good deal discount in El Paso.  A hotel in EL Paso was / is a hostel.   On my last tour I stayed in the Red Lion  (I think it was) in Tucson, The Hilton Double Tree in El Paso, the Alexandre in New Orleans, some overpriced rat hole in Perry FL and the Days Inn in Stuart FL.

It seems to be a great option. Thanks for sharing! I was going to choose camping at least for a couple of days, and book hotel rooms on the other days. I checked the Riu reviews here and liked the prices and conditions. But I'll keep Van Horn TX in mind for sure.