Park in Front Motels &Trip Advisor

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nobbie48

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With a cage I don't care as much but touring with the bike I really like to have it outside the door. In the couple of times I haven't I didn't had any problems but I guess that's my paranoia. The trouble is that most new motels are either centre hallway or multi-story. Anyone got a secret list?

If you look at pictures on websites and get linked to Trip advisor some reviews are pretty bad. The trouble is that some people (Travellers) have pretty snotty ideals and some people (Motel owners) have pretty low standards. Whats the truth?
 
Trip Advisor is good but you still need to sort out the "hated it" and the "absolutely loved it" stuff. You can also private message a tripadvisor member for further questions if they are active on the site.

You might get some suggestions about motels here if you let us know what area your looking for.
 
I never give it any real thought when staying at a hotel and biking. If they are going to steal it, they are probably going to lift it into a truck or van pretty quickly and leave. Unless you are a very light sleeper, or staying guard, watching it outside your window, you probably would not notice till the morning.

I guess the ultimate security is a ground level motel that you can actually bring your bike into the room. As secure as its going to get.
 
a lot of sites that offer reviews, some people have rediculous complaints. We are currently planning a family trip in the car. Some comments we have seen:
* Parking spaces are too small
* Soda machine too far
* don't offer eggs on Sunday
* too far to go to the food service area of the hotel
* sheets were dirty
* parking lots was fuill of hookers and johns
* there was dog feces on the carpet
* the room had cockroaches and bedbugs
...plus so much more

take what you read with a grain of salt, and decide on your own needs.
As long as nothing showed the need for personal concern for my personal safety, appeared sanitary and hoepfully has no bed bugs, I am generally ok. We don't plan on staying at the hotels except to sleep, so ammentities are not a real consideration. we will need to do some laundry at some point, it would be nice for a hotel to have this available but not necessary.

If you are concerned about security of your bike, as was noted look for a place that meets your needs including outside access so you can bring the bike in or has some form of secure parking that you feel is acceptable to you.
 
When I was on my 2.5 week trip in the states, I always left the bike outside. Parking was very near to the door and I had a disc alarm + U-lock on my bike. Admittedly I was a bit nervous about leaving my bike outside but I was in sparsely populated areas most of the time.

The only time where I was real nervous was in a multistory motel where my bike was parked in the front parking but my room was on the 2nd floor facing away. Out of the 10 motels in the immediate area, I couldnt find any ground level motel with the doors facing out....must have been a Nebraska thing.
 
I always ask for a ground level room with a parking spot outside the door. I hate lugging my packs up and down stairs. Most of the older roadside motels can accommodate my request.
 
never had a problem in my travels in the US, and i've stayed in some less than desirable places.

mind you, I ride a Vstrom that I never wash. No one is going to steal that ugly thing
 
Ask for a ground level and just ride into your room.
I've seen a guy on the side of the highway in the states just taking a nap on his bike. Legs over the bars and his head in the rear.
 
Out of sight, out of mind.

A used bike cover tossed over your bike, no one will look twice at it.

Shiny bright paint job? another story...
 
I will never stay in a large chain unless with the wife. Exceptions - Knight's Inns and red Roof Inns with door side parking. So, it's always MOM and POP motels and the bike is protected by (a) it's weight, (b)a complete cover, (c) Screaming Disk Lock and it's right outside my door. Generally $50 to $65 a night.

Here are some links and some places I've stayed - all pleasant:
Mom & Pop Motels http://www.motelguide.com/
Maryville, Tenn http://princessofmaryville.com/
Emporium Pa http://www.buttonwoodmotel.com/
Tionesta, Pa http://www.mybluecanoe.com/
Tionesta, Pa http://www.mid-town-motel.com/
Coudersport, Pa http://www.paulsmotel-citgo.com/
Port Allegany, Pa http://www.portalleganymotel.com/

One other possibility, at state lines when on the slab go into the tourist welcome places and get some coupns to get some good discounts.

Part of the fun is meeting people. Sitting outside your door yakking to the neighbor in the next room - often a biker, can't happen in center hall multi story motels.
 
Wow mototrek that mom and pops link is great...thanks for this.
I too try to stay at mom and pop places.
If I stay at a chain its Americas Best.
Just about every time I have gotten a room the bike parks right out front.
And you are absolutely right.....there's something about after a long day in the saddle and sitting out front of your room with a cold one shootin the breeze with other bikers...yup doesn't get any better than that.

thanks again for the link and the state line coupon tip :)

I lock the ignition and that's about it.
I have never had a problem.
 
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This is going to be my "go to" for future mcycle trips.

https://www.airbnb.com/

Better prices and you should be able to source some good security ( garage etc )

large.jpg


$31 a night and I'm sure you can talk to the owner to tuck the bike in the garage for an example.

This is the 2nd bedroom (queen size bed) in a Large 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath house. Guest will have use of fully equiped kitchen, dining room, living room with fireplace, sunroom and use of washer and dryer in basement. The house is conveniently located in Park Forest with easy access to grocery store (Wegmans), restaurants, bars, campus and downtown. If you need another room, there is a second bedroom available (see other listing). Maximum of 2 guests per bedroom. The bedroom consists of walk in closet, dresser, desk and queen size bed. Sheets, blankets and towels are provided. Public transportation is on the same block with direct service to Penn State.
You will be sharing the house with me (a grad student in the psychology department) and my roommate (an Italian who is getting his PhD in sociology).
Click to expand...

http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/410402

Near Renovo PA right in the heart of riding country.
 
I've stayed at some super seedy places, never an issue. Only time I've ever really worried about it was last weekend. Got stuck staying at the Shoreline Hotel in Thunder Bay, take my word for it, don't even drive by it. A drunk local started asking me about my bike and where it was parked after I didn't give him a smoke, didn't have a very good rest that night.

For the most part, I'll stop at smaller motels (chain or otherwise, don't really care) that are usually in a sparsly populated area. Not much risk there. If anything I prefer parking the bike close to the room so I don't have to carry my luggage all over after a long day

If I stay at a fancy hotel, more often than not, they'll let me park the bike near the front door if I ask nicely.
 
I picked up a GPS Snitch for the motorcycle. It has a motion sensor, GPS, and GSM. It will SMS me if something happens with or around the bike. Makes staying at the inner-hallway motels a bit more relaxing.

I often stay at Motel 6's in the US, which tend to be consistently clean, park-in-front, and inexpensive. I've stayed at cheaper non-chains, but man, they can really be more miss than hit.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
I use Tripadvisor all the time and love it. Like it was said you have to read the reviews and try to understand if they are just a mad because they didn't have their butt wiped, or they have a valid complaint.
I stay at Holiday Inn chains and I love them. They most all the time let you park your bike under the front entrance that is most always covered ( if you ask nicely). Most of I have stayed in I asked for a ground level floor and would just park outside the room.
I try to stay in better parts of town just for my own piece of mind.
 
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