are there any reasonable hotels/motels u can stay at that give drivers a break on the rooms? and is there any that offer a yearly or monthly rate and u can stay as many times as u like? i know thats probaly unlikely but u never know.....i used to have truck and would sleep in the sleeper but with the van i would rather get a room than sleep in my seat...thanks for any advice or help.
Hotels?
- Thread starter RDC
- Start date
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
See the bottom of my post for the CLC card, membership is discounted if you use someones's number
I bought the catalog of hotel's, motel's, holiday inns
think it was aroung 10 bucks, but well worth it
http://www.corplodging.com/
I'm sorry to say though if you plan on getting a room everynight in a van your gonna go broke. Maybe if you did it once a week or so it would be okay, I am sure others will agree
I bought the catalog of hotel's, motel's, holiday inns
think it was aroung 10 bucks, but well worth it
http://www.corplodging.com/
I'm sorry to say though if you plan on getting a room everynight in a van your gonna go broke. Maybe if you did it once a week or so it would be okay, I am sure others will agree
Last edited:
I absolutely agree! It's just going to eat up way too much of your profit.
Actually I have no problem sleeping in my seat
Maybe I fit? even as big as I am...My sleeping seems as good as laying flat, which sometimes over-rated..
Maybe I fit? even as big as I am...My sleeping seems as good as laying flat, which sometimes over-rated..
One should never sleep in the driver's seat. Psychologically it conditions the subconscious to believe it is acceptable to sleep in the driver's seat, increasing the potential of falling asleep at the wheel. If one must sleep in the seat it should be the passenger seat not the driver's.
Yeah, it would. Not so much the posting of discussions of limiting van drivers, but when put in practice, drivers who are limited get used to running for a certain time or mileage limit. It becomes comfortable. I know that if you sit around a lot and/or have a lot of short runs for a long period of time, when you suddenly get a really long one you're not physically and mentally prepared to run it. But if you run a lot of long loads on a routine basis, another one doesn't bother you as much.
If you aren't comfortable out here in a van, then you're not going to want to spend any time in it. You'll want to get motels and/or go home a lot, both of which will cost you dearly.
If you aren't comfortable out here in a van, then you're not going to want to spend any time in it. You'll want to get motels and/or go home a lot, both of which will cost you dearly.
ebsprintin
Veteran Expediter
If someone is making so much money in a van that they can stay in a hotel for air conditioning and tv, it is unlikely they will share that secret. The most I've stayed in a hotel was 3 nights in a month, and these days, I haven't been in a hotel in over a year. That being said, it can't hurt to have something like a checkinn card, or know where to find the savings for times like breakdowns and away-from-home rest breaks. I haven't had much luck with the checkinn card, but I have one just in case. It's good to learn how to make internet searches for places in the area you're staying.
Your brain adapts to finding shade in the summer. Cruising into any parking lot my brain is automatically scanning the direction of slope, the direction the sun is moving, the heavy traffic lanes, and shade. If riding with a non-over-the-road driver, I'm squirming in my seat as they drive towards "unsuitable" parking situations.
Your time would be better served in researching how to live in your vehicle as opposed to out of it. One thing you find me doing during peak uncomfortable weather is parking at a local library, bookstore or mall.
eb
Your brain adapts to finding shade in the summer. Cruising into any parking lot my brain is automatically scanning the direction of slope, the direction the sun is moving, the heavy traffic lanes, and shade. If riding with a non-over-the-road driver, I'm squirming in my seat as they drive towards "unsuitable" parking situations.
Your time would be better served in researching how to live in your vehicle as opposed to out of it. One thing you find me doing during peak uncomfortable weather is parking at a local library, bookstore or mall.
eb
Last edited:
EB is spot on: make the van comfortable enough to avoid motels. While you're saving up for the 'big ticket' items [tv, inverter, Espar, whatever], utilise [I know it's misspelled, but the correct key is stuck!] the freebies: park in the shade, or get out of the van & into someplace with AC for most of the day.
Research the archives here for threads on the subject - there's a lot of info posted over the past few years on the subject of living in a van.
Research the archives here for threads on the subject - there's a lot of info posted over the past few years on the subject of living in a van.
Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
find a place with a/c. starbucks or panera for free wi-fi. maybe barnes and noble for wi-fi also. you can sit in the drivers lounge all dy in most places, unless you don't smoke then head for the restaurant. most ts restaurants are not so busy you can't sit most of the day with a purchase.
using corp lodging card watch out for super 8 motels. they are individually owned and we have found many that know they accept the card but do not understand the contract. many places we have left unhappy with being rousted at 11 am when the room rental sb until much later.
DannyD
Veteran Expediter
I have a little bit different opinion on the room. I'm not disagreeing w/ those who have the set up to be in their van for a few days. For those that don't though, getting a room in moderation is an ok thing to do. Then ya can save some $$ for a better vehicle along w/ getting a hotel.
I think a couple of times/week is ok. This will depend on the price of the room. If a room can be got for $30, that would be about $35 after tax. I'd get one every other day provided I could check in at 6PM.
My logic is if a shower is $10, ya can get 2 days worth of showers out of it if you're willing to take your shower a bit later on the day ya get the room. Then ya have wi-fi which is $5/day. That's for a 24 hour period though. What it comes out to is 2 showers + wifi = $25. I'd pay $10 more to just get a room. I know ya can get shower credits, but they expire & a J isn't always right there handy.
Along the way here I'm saving up for a better van. I agree that's the way to go if possible. Since my van isn't set up for any comforts, this is allowing me to stay out longer. A room is also cheaper than DH home.
So yes I think a hotel every nite isn't the best thing. At the same time if ya do it a couple of times a week ya might end up making more in the long run because ya can stay out longer.
I've found that a good place to get coupons is at the rest stops in each state. They have those coupon books for motels & those tend to have some good prices in em.
Off the subject a bit here, but Turtle you make some great points in your post. My comfort level used to be the 3-400 mile runs. Now I seem to like the 6-800 mile runs better. I did this job for about 5 years back in the 90s. It was mostly midwest runs. I'd never been to Texas for expediting until this year & barely went west of the Mississippi. In very few runs this time around, I've had by far my furthest runs in terms of distance. It took awhile to get used to, but now I enjoy em more than the little ones.
I think a couple of times/week is ok. This will depend on the price of the room. If a room can be got for $30, that would be about $35 after tax. I'd get one every other day provided I could check in at 6PM.
My logic is if a shower is $10, ya can get 2 days worth of showers out of it if you're willing to take your shower a bit later on the day ya get the room. Then ya have wi-fi which is $5/day. That's for a 24 hour period though. What it comes out to is 2 showers + wifi = $25. I'd pay $10 more to just get a room. I know ya can get shower credits, but they expire & a J isn't always right there handy.
Along the way here I'm saving up for a better van. I agree that's the way to go if possible. Since my van isn't set up for any comforts, this is allowing me to stay out longer. A room is also cheaper than DH home.
So yes I think a hotel every nite isn't the best thing. At the same time if ya do it a couple of times a week ya might end up making more in the long run because ya can stay out longer.
I've found that a good place to get coupons is at the rest stops in each state. They have those coupon books for motels & those tend to have some good prices in em.
Off the subject a bit here, but Turtle you make some great points in your post. My comfort level used to be the 3-400 mile runs. Now I seem to like the 6-800 mile runs better. I did this job for about 5 years back in the 90s. It was mostly midwest runs. I'd never been to Texas for expediting until this year & barely went west of the Mississippi. In very few runs this time around, I've had by far my furthest runs in terms of distance. It took awhile to get used to, but now I enjoy em more than the little ones.
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
What is the rule for checkout times in a motel using the corp lodging card? Is it 24 hours from check in?