Hotels when Driving

[Mrs Potts]

This is going to be our first time driving instead of flying. Since we can't leave until mid-day, we're planning on stopping somewhere overnight. Same thing on the return trip - some park time early morning, then start the drive home.

For those of you who have done this, do you pre-book hotels along the way and plan when you're going to stop? Or do you just go until you poop out and then look for a place? I've already booked a hotel for the trip going there because I have a good idea of what time we will be leaving and how long it takes to get to certain stopping points. The trip home is a bit trickier. I'm not sure when we're going to hit the road, so I don't know how far we can expect to get the first part of the trip.

So I just thought I'd just see what others had to say.

 

[ArielLover]

I always book ahead of time. We like the Hampton Inn. A little more expensive than some but never had a bad room.

 

[lostpro9het]

We book ahead too. You can save on some really nice hotels by booking and paying ahead of time plus there can be some long stretches of road with only sketchy accommodations available.

 

[Figgy1]

We usually drive straight through but this trip we are stopping on the way down, and booked a room. But for the way home we are going to wing it! We're not sure what time we'll want to stop and how far we'll get!

 

[Mrs Potts]

We book ahead too. You can save on some really nice hotels by booking and paying ahead of time plus there can be some long stretches of road with only sketchy accommodations available.

My thoughts exactly. But since we've never driven before, I don't know where the sketchy parts would be.

 

[Mrs Potts]

We usually drive straight through but this trip we are stopping on the way down, and booked a room. But for the way home we are going to wing it! We're not sure what time we'll want to stop and how far we'll get!

For us on the drive home, it's mostly that we don't know what time we're going to leave, but it's the same thing - how far will we get before we want to stop. I guess we can get a feel for things on the way down, then book something before we leave. We will have our laptop (I think).

 

[Figgy1]

For us on the drive home, it's mostly that we don't know what time we're going to leave, but it's the same thing - how far will we get before we want to stop. I guess we can get a feel for things on the way down, then book something before we leave. We will have our laptop (I think).

I'm printing out a list of places along the way between the 2 places we think we'll stop. I'll call once we have a general idea!

 

[jrab0616]

We usually drive and this will be our first time flying!

We only have an eight hour drive though, so we usually leave after work and stop at the Best Western in Leesberg, FL about an hour outside of Disney. I know you might say, why not just drive the last hour? Well, it's waaayy cheaper and we don't have to pay for an extra night at Disney. Plus, by about 1:00am, we're all ready to stop for the night.

 

[pixiesteno]

We usually just drive until we know we are about done in and get a room on the road. There has only been one time this worked against us on the way home. We were in the Carolinas and there was a winter storm so rooms were at a premium. Our second stop we got the last room at the inn and the guy right behind me in line was not happy. We also love stopping at Hampton Inns, they are a reasonable price and we have never had a bad room; love the breakfast too.

 

[Susan Savia]

We stopover on our way down and on our way home. We like the Super 8 motels and have never had a bad room. Their reasonably priced and usually close to 95 for easy on and off.

 

[luv]

On weekends and holidays, I pre-book. The rest of the time, I drive until I'm ready to stop.

 

[bethymouse]

You can't go wrong w/ Hampton Inn IMHO. satisfaction 100% guaranteed!

 

[Disvillain63]

Agree with Hampton Inn...never a bad experience.

We've driven part way on a couple of trips and didn't have reservations. Once we were leaving, a day early, to avoid snow (Augusta, Georgia)...so we went until we saw no snow (Savannah, GA); another time we left and went to Jekyll Island for a day. We were traveling I-95.

Not sure about stopping along I-10.

 

[Hot Lava]

lostpro9het said: ↑

We book ahead too. You can save on some really nice hotels by booking and paying ahead of time plus there can be some long stretches of road with only sketchy accommodations available.​

My thoughts exactly. But since we've never driven before, I don't know where the sketchy parts would be.

I pretty much always plan and book ahead.
Planning ahead allows you to research areas and hotels, look at reviews, etc. At the very least, look at areas you think you might stop and have an idea of what hotels would be good to stay if you do stop there.

 

[zurgandfriend]

My only advice is, if you're coming down the eastern seaboard on I-95 whatever you do, don't stop at "South of the Border!"

 

[kfergdisney]

I've driven too many times to the World! We have never made hotel reservations on our stopoff to Walt Disney World. We tend to drive until we can't stand to drive anymore...usually end up in the middle of Georgia (from Arkansas). No matter if we plan on stopping at a particular town to shut down for the night, it doesn't happen. We have been fortunate to find hotels with vacancies...with a free breakfast. Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express are our go-to hotels for the trip down to Disney.

 

[Donal Duck]

My only advice is, if you're coming down the eastern seaboard on I-95 whatever you do, don't stop at "South of the Border!"

Why not ?

 

[Nemo14]

If you pick up one of the freebie papers in most of the rest stops, you can find coupons for substantial savings on hotels. It's usually a same-day booking required, but it's a case of they'd rather book at a discount than not book at all. We've had good luck with those when we've driven down.

 

[Disvillain63]

My only advice is, if you're coming down the eastern seaboard on I-95 whatever you do, don't stop at "South of the Border!"

Totally agree...don't have a meal here...an ice cream cone maybe...but nothing else. I'd actually keep going and just look as I pass by.

 

[Zipadeelady]

We have done both. If you just drive till your tired and get a room you will probablly pay a higher price but like @Nemo14 said if your lucky you can get a coupon book at a rest stop. Our family drives most of the time and we have figured we can go 13 hours before we start going crazy so we have been booking our hotels where we know that 13 hour window will be.