A couple of days ago I posted about my quick road trip to South Dakota & back. I thought a little more about my comments about the prices prohibiting a lot of travel and wanted to add a bit more; the high prices are not just fuel when traveling.

I had to get a hotel on Monday night – wasn’t sleeping in my truck (too old for that shit). I was trying to avoid the Quality Inn in Spearfish that I stayed at the last few times because the place had gone downhill. I went to the Hampton Inn next door – a nice hotel and I had not stayed in that particular one. I went in and the best price for this medium-tier hotel was $182!!! For late shoulder season!!! I did the ol’ “You said how much?!”. He said “$182” and I said “No” and he pointed next door so I ended up back at the Quality Inn. WTH?! A hotel at nearly $200 better be a 5-star, major hotel with some serious ass-kissing luxury, especially in a smaller town. I told them I wasn’t paying that and Price was $88, which was about the same as the last time I stayed there, but the place is just getting worse.

The “Quality” Inn needs a lot of upgrades, but more importantly, repair work. The rooms are being “renovated” but it is not for the better. and it is obviously a real tiny budget remodel. The room lights are all being replaced with LEDs that are so dim and horrible that you cannot read unless you are right under the light (seriously). It is like living in a grow light in a black room. Fiberglass shower pod (it is fully enclosed like a big phone booth) from days of old not replaced. Took forever for hot water to get ti my sink.

The next morning I discovered that the washcloth I sleepily washed my face with the previous night was worn out; it had holes in it and was yellow. I showed the front desk and she said it looked like a cleaning cloth from housekeeping! At least it had been washed. Peeling paint, old fixtures, beat up walls…you get the idea. I will not be staying there again – I’d rather sleep in my car. So if in Spearfish, SD I would avoid the Quality Inn, but bring a fat wallet. Better yet, I would check in Rapid City or go farther west into Wyoming and it may be cheaper since Spearfish is kind of a touristy area with the college and things to see & do in the area.

I mention this because I find it horrendous that these shoddy places are open and places like a Hampton Inn are getting nearly $200 a night in an area where they should be half that for a good hotel. Even if you DO decide to splurge for the gas money and take a road trip to get away, finding an affordable place to sleep for a night can get expensive or you will get stuck in a dump. You would be VERY wise to do a lot of lodging research when planning your trip and I think with things the way they are do what you can to save money yet still have a good time.

I really think as the fuel stays expensive or gets even higher, the people that are still traveling will be looking for more free things to do and sleeping in their vehicles more or perhaps start car camping so they can still afford to go places. Probably many more are hauling coolers with sandwich materials, chips & snacks, drinks…whatever your preferences are. There is nothing wrong with that at all – people gotta do what they gotta do – and I love to travel cheap so I can get to camp in more remote places for free and go more often. I miss those days, nights and memories of tent camping sometimes. I started camping with friends around 11-12 years old back in the field and we had a lot of fun playing hide ‘n’ seek all night and sitting by the fire. When I got older, it was so much fun when my family & friends and I would go car camping locally wherever I was living, out to Colorado & Wyoming, or south to Missouri. We would sit up all night by a crackling fire, roasting hot dogs, corn on the cob, and s’mores, Maybe even have a beverage while talking and looking at the stars overhead.

But, when I rented an RV in Alaska camping changed for me. I just cannot sleep on the cold, hard ground these days and haven’t since 2009. Basically my RV is just a big fiberglass tent – I still spend a lot of time outdoors. I just have a warmer, drier, more comfy tent with a toilet and tub & shower, oven, stove, air conditioning, solar, and a TV. I do try to find my own spot but sometimes you gotta stay a night or two in a campground to fill or empty tanks, shower, re-supply and maybe sit and relax & trip plan.

The price I paid at Quality Inn was about what I paid last time as I remember but with more horrible tradeoffs. That $182 at Hampton Inn can get a lot of gas to get home. The savings in cooking in my trailer over dining out is huge – if you spent $50 a day for meals (for just one person) that is a $232 day for a room and food. That is for just one day! Knowing these prices now really reinforces the fact that my trailer has gotten to be a real money-saver for traveling. There is no way I could afford to dine out and get a hotel during my road trips. If you did that expense for a week it would be $1,624…and that is without fuel and for only one person. I really do not know how families can do that right now, and that amount also does not include any incidentals, extras or activities.

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It was nice yesterday but it has gotten progressively cooler all day today, and it will be cooler overall the next several days & nights. I need to check the propane tomorrow or Monday to see if I need a refill yet since I have had the furnace on. As I type this tonight at 22:20, it is 36° F. I really like having the two-tank propane setup and the auto-switch to the full tank when one goes dead. I filled them both about 10 days ago but have not really used it much – I am trying to conserve my resources so I put on an extra blanket and leave the thermostat a few degrees cooler to cut back on use (and spending). I checked them yesterday and the first tank was still good. When it is colder or if I am on the road I always fill a tank as soon as it runs out. Much like fuel for your vehicle, I always keep things full as possible so I do not run into a shortage.

That is all for this post. I wanted to pass along a little travel math because I was shocked at the lodging costs and if you are planning a trip maybe my experiences will help you.

See ya next time!

Shawn