Maximize your experience

Focus on areas best seen by car, places that you are unlikely to experience during your usual travels, especially if you normally travel by air. In other words, get out into nature.

Pick your highways in part by their scenic potential. Don’t let a Google Maps tell you each route to go. It doesn’t care about what you see.

For example, the I-80 through Wyoming shows you mostly a few mountains in the distance–much of this road is remarkably flat–but the I-70 through Colorado takes you into the heart of the Rockies.

National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways, 3d Ed, a favorite of mine, and other guides help with route selection.

Also, include as many national parks and great provincial and state parks away from cities as possible, such as Humboldt Redwoods State Park in California.

Seriously consider buying a U.S. national park pass for $80 that covers the pass holder plus three adults in the same personal vehicle. Children under 16 are free. If 62 or over, you get the best rate of all, $10 for a lifetime.

Mix it up

Mix road types. An all-Interstate highway trip in the States can be deadly to the soul—and to the stomach.

Mix scenery. For example, you could drive from Minneapolis to Padre Island with only subtle changes in landscape, but why not travel one-way via a lake or wild river in the Ozarks?

To maximize your time at the best spots, have what some Canadians call “haul arse days” on less interesting roads, days that you drive with just minimal breaks for safety and refreshment.

Balance these with days with little driving, stopping in an afternoon, for example, at a water park or taking a hike.

So many people divide the miles they must travel into the same amount each day. Don’t do that!

Pad your trip

Pad your itinerary. Plan days that you can easily skip if you lose time due to a vehicle breakdown or feel ill.

In any case, schedule time for relaxation.

It’s so easy to over plan and include more than you will end up wanting to do. Most of us don’t go on road trips in order to come back exhausted.

Driver fatigue and well being

Be realistic about mileage.

Three drivers can easily do 12 – 14 hours, excluding stops, but everyone soon tires of that routine if done every day.

Keep in mind driver safety. No one should drive more than 2.5 hours without a break of some type. And, no one should drive so much each day that he or she becomes drowsy. That becomes a significant safety risk, with reduced reaction time and perception.

Schedule time each day for exercise, hiking, swimming, running, or whatever. Not only will drivers stay fresher, but also the digestion of everyone should stay healthier on long trips.

Accommodation

Stay two or more nights in some places, instead of moving on all the time. You’ll feel so much more relaxed at the end of a road trip.

Especially at peak travel times such as school holidays, plan your itinerary well enough so that you can reserve places to sleep in advance at the busiest spots.

You are simply not likely to find a last-minute camping space or hotel room in Yosemite and other such places at peak times. The U.S. has more than 300,000,000 people. It adds nearly 3,000,000 per year.

However, favor motels or camping spots that have liberal cancellation policies. You want to be able to cancel up to 6:00 p.m. local time on the day of intended arrival without penalty, not 72 hours or whatever in advance. I realize that this may not be possible at popular places like the Grand Canyon.

If traveling in the western U.S., consider camping some nights. This gives you a fresh experience of natural environments that you may not get any other way.

Along the California coast, for instance, you’ll encounter nearly no rain in summer and seldom a mosquito. In fact, I’ve never experienced one of those pests while hiking or camping near the coast in either the U.S. or southwestern British Columbia.

Dining on the road

Avoid eating heavily on long travel days, and have your larger meal at lunch. Save the “big deal” meals for days when you are not sitting in your ride most of the time, and also have these at lunch.

This routine helps you fall asleep more easily and soundly.

I have a rule on any long trip—national chain food only if I have to. Sometimes that means I look for quality regional chains like Culver’s. Mostly, I seek out local independent favorites except where there are no convenient alternatives.

Dining well, with variety, makes travelling so much more interesting.

Roadfood.com

Roadfood.com helps you find the places locals love to dine. Check out its restaurant tab.

Reviewers include Michael Stern, the co-founder of Roadfood with his wife Jane, who until recently wrote a monthly column for now defunct Gourmet Magazine.

You’ll find a lively forum on Roadfood. Of special interest are its “Where should I eat” and “Trip Reports” sections.

Keep your children involved

Consider the feelings of your children, who may not be as interested in the drive as you.

Bring in your kids to help plan the trip from the very start. Seek their input for changes while traveling. Help them prioritize the various options in a way fair to everyone.

All this creates ownership and interest and helps them learn to make wise choices.

Have activities and materials to keep them busy. My parents staged contests, e.g., who would be first to notice a car with an Alaskan or Newfoundland license plate or a certain type of vehicle.

Hook up a satellite radio

On long trips, I cannot recommend enough a satellite radio network like Sirius (available both in Canada and the U.S.).

You will be amazed at the lack of reception and abysmal selection of stations still found in extensive areas of North America.

With Sirius, you’ll have perfect reception except under overpasses and in tunnels. (If not, try hooking Sirius into the auxiliary slot on your car radio/CD system, in order to avoid interference.)

One-way vehicles

Especially travelers from outside of North America should consider a one-way road trip. Overseas travelers can easily set up air tickets to fly into one coast and out of the other.

Most of us have no other reason to cross the Great Plains twice on the same trip other than we want to keep the vehicle we are using.

If that is not the case, you have choices.

You may find “auto drive away” companies that provide cars for free, sometimes with a gas allowance if the ride is a guzzler, but these very severely restrict the time and mileage allowed. You are not given time for much sightseeing, unless you can somehow negotiate this.

Instead, some travelers buy a pre-owned vehicle at, let’s say, a Southern California hostel, after having it checked by a mechanic, and then sell it once they reach Orlando or another place across the country. Obviously, this works best for people not on set schedules.

In addition, some rental car companies charge no drop off fee if they need cars moved. This May, for example, Alamo and National offered $10 per day one-way rentals from Florida to parts of the U.S. more popular in summer.

That was a deal! And one not that uncommon as rental car companies adjust inventories.

Next post: A sample road trip itinerary that uses these tips

With these, travelers find comfort in dependable quality, not in distinctive features.

However, the Courtyard by Marriott in Avondale, Arizona (actually just across the line in southwest Phoenix) stands out.

Location

This Courtyard is one of the closest hotels to University of Phoenix Stadium. A Super Bowl was played just up the road.

It lies at the intersection of the I-10 and 101 loop freeways, which makes it very convenient to get around. (As a consequence, request a front room for more quiet.)

People

What stuck me most about this place was the exceptional friendliness of its staff. Everyone was so helpful and kind.

A special shout out goes to Tanya at check in and to the wise manager who hired her and the others.

I even enjoyed joking with the breakfast chef. How he can be from Tampa and not place black beans and yellow rice on the menu is beyond me!

Negatives

The same manager who hired all those wonderful people should worry about the elevator and hallway rugs. Shockingly for a Marriott, these are skid road flophouse-like worn and filthy at best, especially in the elevators.

Otherwise, everything was usual Courtyard by Marriott quality.

Directions

As one desk clerk said, we opened 2 years ago, but a Google satellite has not yet passed overhead. This impacts even the map used on Marriott’s reservation site.

Instead, use Yahoo maps.

Some 25 years ago, The Plaza in New York broke the $100 for a standard (regular) room barrier for the first time I believe in the U.S. Now, per Hotels.com, these rooms cost $725. One can only imagine what this rate would be if we were not in a recession.

During the last 25 years, few Americans have seen purchasing power increase seven times in conjunction with that New York hotel price. For many, it has decreased.

So, what can you do about NYC hotel rates?

If already using Hotwire.com and Priceline.com, you have a great start. However, there are additional ways to reduce hotel costs.

On this page you find a way that can work on weekends and holidays. I have already posted a technique for weeknight stays.

Think Lower Manhattan – Downtown

The severe price crunch comes in Midtown Manhattan. That’s where most people want to stay, especially on weekends. Nevertheless, as I’ve as asked before, how many Broadway shows will you attend each day?

Once Friday comes, 3- and 4-star business-oriented hotels in Lower Manhattan (“downtown,” as New Yorkers say) clear out, in contrast to Midtown hotels, which fill up. That means bargains downtown.

You may already plan to spend time in Lower Manhattan. After all, this area includes Chinatown, Little Italy, Wall Street, ferries to Staten Island, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty, awesome views of New York Harbor from Battery Park, and the trendy shops and restaurants of SoHo and Tribeca.

And, of course, Lower Manhattan has Ground Zero, including the not-to-be-missed Tribute WTC Visitor Center, with its temporary museum. Various walking tours lead you through this area.

Convenient transportation

You will not be isolated in Lower Manhattan.

Numerous subway lines connect downtown to Midtown, with frequent service. And, because a number of these start and end downtown, you can often sit instead of stand, especially on weekends.

Depending on the line and station, it takes around 13 to 20 minutes to reach 42nd Street. Not bad.

New York’s main subway lines run 24/7 and, outside of weekday rush hours, are generally not overcrowded to or from Lower Manhattan, especially if you use trains such as the “E” ones that do not also serve Brooklyn.

Trains and stations are well patrolled and at least in Manhattan are generally considered safe. (However, do get in cars with–and on station stairs walk with–as many other passengers as possible. Avoid situations where you are nearly the only person around, as you should in any urban situation.)

From your hotel downtown, Chinatown and Little Italy are only one to three subway stops away and Greenwich Village just two stops beyond that.

Both the “A” and “E” lines bring you to the JFK Airport AirTrain that connects to all terminals. And for $14, Super Shuttle vans take you from your hotel to LaGuardia. Taxis generally charge $25 – 40.00 depending on traffic.

For your convenience, consider buying an unlimited ride MTA pass (1-Day Fun Pass or MetroCard) valid for both subways and NYC buses. These are sold for 1, 7, 14, or 30 day periods.

Quality hotels

There are fewer hotels in Lower Manhattan than in Midtown, but some very good ones.

As an example, Priceline uses the 4-star Millenium Hilton. (That’s its spelling.)

Depending on its location, your room looks out either toward the East River and Brooklyn Bridge or toward the Hudson. Some rooms look down upon Ground Zero. You are just steps from the “E” line and within easy walking distance of many sights, including the church next door that George Washington attended on his first inauguration day.

Other hotels include the New York Marriott Downtown, Club Quarters, and Embassy Suites.

Bidding tips

Always start by checking current retail prices. Sometimes you’ll stumble upon a great special:

New York City Hotels from $75!

Then, check the average winning bids Priceline posts for New York City:

See Winning Hotel bids in Top Cities from $28 per night!

I always bid under these prices. If rejected, submit a higher bid for the same neighborhood, dates, and star quality 24 hours later.

However, it’s easy to re-bid immediately if start bidding with the highest star level.

That means you can bid rightaway by going down a star. (You can’t re-bid immediately by going up a star. If you bid for 2-star hotels, Priceline counts that bid toward everything 2-stars and above.)

You can also re-bid immediately by adding a neighborhood, such as adding “Times Square” to “Lower Manhattan.” This new bid counts toward both neighborhoods.

Always make sure your Priceline bid is lower than the Hotwire price for the same neighborhood and star quality:

4-star hotels. 2-star prices. Save up to 55% with low Hotwire Hot-Rates!

These techniques increase your chances to save. Enjoy New York!

However, finding a value-priced, but very good hotel for your NYC visit is not as hopeless as it may seem. Sometimes you get lucky with this:

New York City Hotels from $75!

Sometimes not.

The crunch comes in Midtown Manhattan. Apparently nearly everyone wants to be in or near the Theatre District, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center. One question, of course, is how much time you’ll actually spend at these? After all, most of us are not attending Broadway plays all day long.

Using Priceline.com, two reasonably convenient alternatives have worked well for me. Here’s one of them, with the second to follow in day or so.

Jersey City – Weeknights

No, I’m not nuts—well, at least not in this case. Just across the Hudson, Jersey City sits one subway stop away from Manhattan. Its waterfront has been revitalized with new commercial, condo, and apartment complexes—and new hotels.

The Hyatt Regency

Can you guess what I paid for the fine 4-star Hyatt Regency Jersey City during the week prior to Labor Day weekend this year?

Seventy-eight dollars. Yes, $78 per night plus taxes and fees with Priceline, and I might have seized it for a little less if I’d had more time for re-bids.

What did I get for that—a mop storage room?

My Hyatt-perfect standard (that means I wasn’t upgraded) second floor room offered clear views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Hudson River, and the skyline of Lower Manhattan. As if these were not enough, Hyatt provided a reasonable sized flat screen television. The bed and furnishings were as comfortable and the staff as friendly and professional as could be.

What about other rooms in this hotel?

Hyatt built its hotel on a pier that sticks out into the river. Rooms on the other side look north along the Hudson toward the Empire State Building and the Midtown skyline. However, I am not sure how far out on the pier you have to be to have a full water view from that direction.

Ground floor guest rooms could also be a problem, as these directly adjoin the walkway that follows the Jersey City waterfront. On the other hand, my room was immediately above these with no noise problems.

Other hotels

ALL the 3- and 4-star hotels that Priceline uses in Jersey City are on or across the street from the waterfront. Although the equivalent of a block away, the 3-star Doubletree hotel room I stayed in on a previous visit also looked out at the Hudson.

Of course, not all hotels are nearly as spectacular as the Hyatt, but all 3- and 4-star hotels in Jersey City have been built in recent years and are well located.

Excellent Manhattan access

ALL of these hotels have convenient PATH subway access to Manhattan, either to the Wall Street area or to New York Penn Station via Greenwich Village and Chelsea. PATH also runs to Newark Penn Station for connections to Newark Airport and to Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains.

On weekdays, NY Waterway ferries sail from docks near the hotels to either Midtown Manhattan, with free bus transfers along major streets in Midtown, or to one of two docks in the Financial District. These fast boats offer a scenic and uplifting way to access Manhattan for $6.00. This is the company whose crews saved the lives of many on US Airways flight 1549 that crashed in the Hudson River.

How to bid

HINT: Bid on 4-star hotels first.

If fail, you can immediately bid on 3-star ones. Avoid lower star hotels in Jersey City, as you may not be near a convenient Manhattan transfer.

You can try bidding for weekends, but word as gotten out. You’ll also miss the NY Waterway transfers on weekends.

There’s no guarantee of cheap rates. There are not a lot of 3- and 4-star hotels in Jersey City.

Why so low?

Why so inexpensive compared to New York City just across the river?

As Wall Street boomed in the 1980’s and 90’s, companies looked to the Jersey City waterfront to expand. Real estate cost less and taxes were cheaper. As an example of new construction, the Goldman Sachs tower a block from the Hyatt Regency became the tallest building in New Jersey.

First-class and deluxe hotels followed these companies, but with the extreme cutbacks in the financial sector since 9/11, Jersey City hotels beg for business on many weeknights.

You’d think with the recession prices would be more moderate, but no. Here are the main reasons why and more. I know these won’t really ease the pain!

1.

Even after 9/11, British and European travelers flocked to New York due to exceptionally favorable exchange rates. Besides, New York City was “in” with American travelers and still is. These factors helped keep hotel prices considerably higher than elsewhere, as seen by examples from Hotels.com below.

Las Vegas Hilton $45.95
Hilton Washington, $171.74
Hilton Chicago, $138.60 – $242.10
Hilton New York $399.00

2.

New York City has long been constrained by geography. It can no longer simply expand out onto large tracks of thinly populated and very inexpensive land as can a Phoenix.

3.

Nevertheless, even when there are opportunities, the city has failed to appreciate and act upon the economic harm—meals, entertainment, tours, and retail items not purchased–caused by prospective visitors either reducing the number of nights they stay or not coming at all because of lack of affordable hotel choices. Tourism generates huge auxiliary revenue, and New York is not getting its share.

Adding New York City’s hotel tax of 5.875% to a combined city and state sales and use tax of 8.875% does not help a bad situation.

More importantly, even though Manhattan may lack land and building stock inexpensive enough for budget hotel development, there are underutilized neighborhoods such as immediately across the East River in the Long Island City that could be made attractive with better streets, landscaping, and transit options for tourists, along with powerful tax incentives for developers of budget hotel accommodation.

4.

New York’s real estate boom of the 1980’s and 1990’s decimated the stock of small and moderate cost hotels. These “cashed out” to convert to expensive condos and high-level commercial uses, a trend that also impacted 4-star hotels. In addition, huge prospective rent increases forced out many restaurants favored by travelers, such as the Second Avenue Deli (now happily reopened elsewhere) and the former Zen Palette on Union Square.

As a result, there is not one inexpensive (by NYC standards) hotel left in Manhattan that I feel fully comfortable recommending. You pay significantly more than in other American cities for a so-called 1-, 2-, and sometimes even a 3-star hotel and still often end up with an uncomfortably-sized inferior room with serious maintenance issues that may even smell.

You are considerably safer with 3.5- and higher hotels, especially 4-star ones, but even Hotwire and Priceline can have problems helping with the high rates for these.

Not hopeless

There is hope, however.

Soon, I’ll give special NYC booking and bidding tips to help you save.

Also, with real estate prices declining, we may be seeing the beginning of “spend thrifty” hotel upgrades, such as the new fantastic seeming Pod Hotel conversion in Midtown that I have not yet visited.

At a time when even 4-star hotels cut back in ever more ways that impact guests, this Comfort Inn chooses to sparkle.

No, I didn’t find Shangri La by the Pacific. After all, this is a moderate cost (budget on weekdays) motel. Moreover, Santa Cruz isn’t like Florida. Like nearly all the California coast, you’ll find no luxury resorts directly on the beach.

Positives

I shout out because everything works, everything shines, the staff smiles, and the little touches you appreciate are there, such as an offer to provide toiletries that you may have forgotten. You would hardly call this motel beautiful, but it lacks the absence of curb appeal—the bunker look–that characterizes some Comfort Inns.

Staying at numerous 4-star hotels, I am still surprised by how many have not replaced clunker big box televisions that do not work well. Not this Comfort Inn. The television in my standard room was flat screen perfect, with a humongous channel selection.

Very appreciated also were a choice of free wireless or high-speed Internet, as well as a comfortable desk and chair with a convenient electrical plug—the convenience sometimes missing in hotel rooms.

Negatives

Are there any concerns? Yes.

Even though not directly on the Highway 1 freeway, ask for an east or north facing room to help avoid traffic noise.

Although I didn’t mind, the location on its one-way street makes it unusually awkward to drive back in the other direction. Wind around until you can cross Ocean Avenue with a light. Also, I prefer to be away from the congested Santa Cruz boardwalk area, but know that you’ll be a mile and a half from the beach at this “Motel Row” location.

Finally, the complimentary breakfast sucked. Why bother serving food that poor–watery orange juice, apples that look three years old, and tasteless cheap baked goods? (The cheese was good and I didn’t use the waffle machine.) As with the rest of the motel, the dining area was spotlessly clean and well stocked and the attendant friendly, but that’s about all the positive that can be said.

Good value

Nevertheless, the Comfort Inn Santa Cruz offers a fine stay at a fair price in one of my very favorite California beach towns.

Well, yes and no.

At the rental car counter

If you’ve reserved a car or better hotel, I urge you to present its frequent traveler card or at least its number.

With the rental car, you probably won’t get points or the ability to bypass the counter, but you may receive special service with the card.

For example for a recent “Name your own price” Priceline Hertz reservation, the agent appreciated being able to use my Hertz #1 Club Gold number to pull up easily my credit card and other personal information. He then assigned me a vehicle in the #1 Club lot that was nearly new.

At hotel check in

You may find the same with hotels. You may not be upgraded from the standard room you normally receive with a “Name your own price” or Hotwire reservation, but you are unlikely to receive an inferior room last on the list to be renovated.

In addition, the guest clerk will probably try to do more to fulfill any special requests you may have. (See “Hints to help your hotel stay go smoothly” below.)

Dressing for success

I also believe that you should dress appropriately for these interactions. Like it or not, the people who monitor the gateways to the best establishments judge us by our appearance.

That does not mean that you need to dress in a business suit to check into the New York Hilton, but you shouldn’t arrive looking as if you just hiked the Appalachian Trail—for 10 days.

Even Ewan McGregor, the actor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in three Star Wars films, insists he was turned away from a Holiday Inn Express in Oklahoma because it didn’t recognize him in dirty motorcycle garb. If he can be treated like that, what about the rest of us hoping for a little more comfort as we travel?

Presenting a “power” credit card

The credit card you present represents you. An American Express card, the Citibank AAdvantage® MasterCard, or similar card indicates, rightly or wrongly, that you are a frequent traveler who will likely return if satisfied.

See additional tips, such as how to get a free upgrade, at “Hints to help your hotel stay go smoothly.”

The person was really asking what’s best, the Fremont Street area or the central and especially southern Las Vegas Strip? The airport sits just off the Strip near the Luxor and Mandalay Bay hotels, which are not in its flight path.

The answer has to vary with each person, because the demographics and environments of these areas differ so much.

The Strip

Everyone knows about the Strip, but may not know how affordable it has become.

Typically, Strip hotels appeal more to those who want a total casino resort experience, with nice pools, upscale restaurants, top entertainment, etc.

This is especially true of the central and northern Strip, where until recently you didn’t find truly budget prices. More on how prices have changed below.

Fremont Street – Downtown

Traditionally, Fremont Street has appealed to slot and poker players who don’t want to shell out a lot for rooms and food. This area near the Greyhound Station has always been known for incredibly inexpensive hotels.

Now, you’ll find downtown rooms cheaper than they’ve been in decades.

On Hotels.com, you can actually find Fremont Street-area hotels going for under $10 with an even larger selection for under $20. These prices do go up on weekends.

Of course, I’m generalizing. You can also find a few more expensive hotels like the Golden Nugget downtown & a few cheaper ones on or near the Vegas Strip.

Budget lines becoming blurred

Although you won’t find any $10 hotels on the Strip, prices keep plummeting to levels not seen in years.

The current economy, which has hit Las Vegas hotels very hard (not in terms of the number of visitors but instead in the prices they pay), has made most 3- and 4-star Strip or near Strip hotels very affordable for budget travelers. Some of these better hotels are cheaper than a nearby Motel 6 on weekdays!

For example, a quick search of Hotels.com for 3- and 4-star hotels for several dates in August 2009 found

• Luxor $50
• Harrah’s $45
• Las Vegas Hilton $39.95
• Excalibur $33
• Bally’s $44
• Palms $49.50 (one of my favorites near Strip)
• New York New York $62.49
• Monte Carlo $49.95

And, if you book with Hotwire or Priceline, 3- or 4-star Strip or near Strip hotels like these become even cheaper on weekdays.

Fremont Street history and its exciting vibe

Younger travelers especially love the excitement of downtown’s Fremont Street light show (opens with music used with permission) and Times Square vibe.

The downtown area also appeals to those who want to feel the history of Las Vegas. You can still glimpse history on the Strip, such as the Rat Pack favorite Sahara Hotel & Casino, whose 1950’s and 60’s flavor remains, but while downtown you’re surrounded by it. This is the Las Vegas that built up to serve workers on the nearby massive Hoover Dam construction project during the 1930’s.

(How that dam first became called Hoover Dam, then Boulder Dam, and then again Hoover Dam has a fascinating history. Let’s just say President Hoover, who initiated the project while Secretary of Commerce during the early 1920’s, wasn’t very popular during the Great Depression to put it mildly.)

If you do book downtown, know that you may not feel comfortable on streets away from Fremont after dark. And, if you want to book the Strip, know that the northern Strip (the portion north of the Encore Hotel) lacks the upscale vibe of its central and southern portions. Except for the Sahara Hotel & Casino, none of the hotels mentioned here are located on the northern Strip.

I’ve written an article about the advantages and disadvantages of Motel 6.

This should help you decide if the least expensive national chain is for you. Please click on the link to access.

These cancellations mean that Las Vegas first class and deluxe hotels–especially those near the convention center such as the Las Vegas Hilton–are hurting for business. That means incrediable potential values for you.

Actually, the number of visitors to Las Vegas remains rather stable per the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, with fewer arriving by air but more by car, yet without the convention business, the prices they are paying are incredibly low.

Using a link like Last-Minute Hotel Deals at Expedia.com, check weeknight prices at the Las Vegas Hilton and others. Last I checked, $39 plus tax per night for the Hilton–and this is not even a “name your own price” rate.

The Convention Center area puts you close to most Las Vegas attractions and has two stations on the monorail at the Convention Center and at the Las Vegas Hilton.