Cheap motels in the US?
 

Hi,
An easy question here; I'm taking a short trip from Reno NE to Santa Fe NM and back in late Sept/early Oct and although I don't expect any specifics, I could do with some pointers as to cheap motel chains here in the states. I live in an RV at the moment so I don't use motels) I know most of the big chains but I'm not fussy so am prepared to slum it as long as the places are safe. (Wi-fi would be grest too)
Thanks
Chris

I usally look for a "down and out", not what it sounds like, but a mom & pop
operation that the doors open to the outside and ground level. Go in with
a smile on your face, and make some small talk, a lot of times it'll get you a better price than advertised. I avoid the big chain outfits that the doors open to the inside. With these, if it wasn't for the window glass you could reach out
and touch the bike, but you have to walk an 1/8 of mile to get to it!
Hope this helps, enjoy your trip.

Harold

Motel 6 is one of the more popular national chains offering relatively inexpensive rooms, averaging mid $30 range before any taxes.

I think you are in Reno, NV because I could not find a Reno, NE (Nebraska).
It depends on how far you want to go per day.
Tonopah, NV has the Clown Motel and another one close to it that are cheap.
Beatty, NV has a Motel 6 and the Stage coach.
If you want to go further don't stop in Las Vegas go on to Kingman, AZ.
Most of the time Wi-fi and cheap don't mix.

Yep, the Clown. Each room is a tad different....:)
I like the Burro in Beatty and they give riders a get small discount over the already low rates.
There's the Silver Queen (or slipper...or something..:) in Kingman that's a good deal. Off of Andy Devine, I think. Stayed at that Motel 6, too.
The cheapest rooms in the US of A are in Laughlin and Primm, NV, if you book online. Like $15-17 per...seriously. Try travelworm.com.

The last time I was in Beatty the Burro Inn was closed.
The owner of the Stagecoach bought it. I have heard it is being rebuilt, but that would mean higher rates when it reopens.

My wife and I once stayed in a Motel 6 in Porterville, California, that we could just have imagined had the words, "As seen in COPS..." emblazoned on the marquee

cheap motels in the USA
 

If you happen to be travelling along the interstates do make a point of stopping at the tourist info equiped rest areas and the welcome centers at state lines and fast food restaurants ,gas stations or truck stops so that you can pick up the various motel discount coupon books. These will be unfamiliar to Europeans but offer substantial savings for many of the independent and chain motels in the vicinity of those interstate highways often covering a whole group of states. Read the fine print about limitations . Clip the coupon and present it at the registration desk. Do keep your eyes peeled for advertised specials at the different hotels marquees which may beat the price of the coupon hotel you were thinking of.
Generally the chain hotels are more expensive than the mom and pops

Good info, S B.
These travel coupon booklets are at most interstate exit biz's. Sometimes there are 2 or 3 of em.

Chris:

What Harold already said - "...a mom & pop operation where the doors open to the outside and ground level." is really, really good advice. The trick, of course, is finding them.

One place where you will find this type of motels is on the secondary highways (sometimes called 'National Byways") in the United States. These are the highways that were the primary routes back before the Eisenhower Interestate system was built, for example, Route 2 across the top of the USA, or Route 66 across the middle.

The best place to look is just on the outskirts of small towns along these routes. Because these small, independent motels were built (for the most part) in the 40s and 50s, you will find them on the secondary highways, not along the interstates. Any that were along the interstates have either been demolished (the land underneath them was more valuable for other uses), or if they are still in operation, they are just as expensive as whatever else is available.

So, stay off the interstates, stay on the secondary highways, and focus your search on the outskirts of towns between 10,000 and 50,000 in population. I've found quite a few of these little gems this way - typically, they cost about $25 to $35 a night. As for Wi-Fi - forget it, you ain't gonna find that there, unless the owner's kid has set up an unsecured router in the office... :)

Michael

We rode from San Fran to NYC in late 2004 and after camping for 2 weeks decided to stay in motels as was getting a bit 'nippy'. We found that the Econo Lodge's were great. V cheap, clean and tidy and much to my girl friends delight had a nightly showing of Law & Order SVU on satelite TV, what more could a girl want.

Super 8 motels have exterior doors. It was my prefered chain when I traveled inspecting utilties. I could back up to the door and work on my stuff in the room.

Get a backside room and push your bike in the room.:innocent:

I've just come back from a 3-month 15,000mile US motorcycle trip and stayed in lots of Motel 6 motels. Always very clean and the cheapest of the big chains. I stayed in a number of Mom & Pop places too and didn't get any of the bed bugs I'd been warned about. If you ever get to Vegas, prices are rock bottom during the week yet rocket at weekends.

I hope you enjoyed your trip.

The Motel 6s are predictable.
Booking online can easily get you decent rooms in Lauglin or Primm for under $20 - sometimes as low as $15.

Super 8s are not all the same. Some with outside doors, some inside.

Most of the so-called cheap Mom & Pops in the US would be considered as very comfortable in other countries.

Another way to save money is to ask for a 'Senior Rate'. Now I'm 59 and the senior rate seems to vary depending on the whim of the staff, the locality (it's 50 in some places, 55, 60 and 65 in others, and also whether the Motel 6 is owned by the company or is a franchise. I almost always asked and got it most times but not others. Using those vouchers found in gas stations was also useful although I tended to search for the Motel 6s as I knew what I was getting.
When I arrived in Crossville TN, I discovered that the longest yardsale was taking place alongside the main road and through three states, and that motel rates had sky-rocketed to $130+. Gulp!