Best way to find cheap hotels on short notice in Colorado?

[zer0netgain]

I know about momandpopmotels.com

The problem is that I've planned a trip.  My stops are not really negotiable.  The problem is that I picked affordable places for the night based on Hotels.com.  A handy way to see what places charge, but I looked up my stops to track the price changes (if any) and a few are no longer available.

The problem is that I can't reserve a room without having to pay for it now.  I can cancel, but many places may charge a 1 night fee (which means I'm out in either case), and I can't justify plunking down hotel fees now when there is always the possibility that I won't be able to make the trip at all or that something might happen and I'm forced to end it early.

I'm afraid that when I do the trip, the night before could result in only places costing over $150/night is all that remains, and I can't bear costs like that.  I either need a more reliable way to lock in a hotel room the night before (or two days out) and get a real good price or rethink my trip.  Most of the problem is that this is Colorado and the few places with hotels are tourist attractions...not helping with room availability.  

So you know what I'm dealing with, my planned stop locations and dates....

GEORGETOWN, CO - 6/16 & 17)
Naturita, CO - 6/18
GRAND JUNCTION, CO - 6/19
Gunnison, CO  - 6/20
Canon City, CO - 6/21

Alternate Stops....

DURANGO, CO - 6/19
SAGUACHE, CO - 6/20
SALIDA, CO - 6/21
WALSENBURG, CO - 6/21

[jbs80106]

IMO hotels.com is rubbish.  Have to book the room ahead of time as you say, and in my experience impossible/difficult to change your reservation.  i've always had great luck and great telephone support with expeida.  Once in Vegas need to find room for few extra nights, no laptop (so typically can't get internet only rates) but called up 800 number for Expedia, they did the search for me, booked me in with the internet rate, easy.  Also, they have a decent cancellation/change policy, so long as you have a cell phone you have access.

On to your questions....Only 1 hotel I am aware of in Georgetown, the rest are mostly bed and breakfasts.  A little more difficult to find them all listed in one location.  Probably they don't really offer web-discounts, etc.  If you're not hard on staying in Georgetown itself, probably more options further towards Denver...Idaho Springs.

Gunnison will probably be hard to find a cheap hotel in late June.  Might try looking at camp grounds that offer cabin rentals.  


Sallida is slim pickings too (just looked there for this past weekend with company in town).  Depending on your route, Nathrop/Mt Princeton is a nice area to look at and has the hot springs too!

[spd2918]

I know about momandpopmotels.com

I did not, but now it is bookmarked.  Thanks.

[kevin_stevens]

+1 on hotels.com sucking.  They charged me a $5.00 "administration fee" last time which was pretty cunningly disguised up to the actual point of payment.

I've never been anywhere that I couldn't have found a cheaper/better (in some combination) hotel by riding down the street.  I'm just anal about having rooms booked in advance.  The other thing you can try is a consumer service like Yelp!, you'll see things pop there that the travel sites don't carry.

KeS

[Eric308]

I would call the hotel ahead and direct. I did a 5K trip all over the Rockies last summer and was able to book the room with only my credit card number. Most places allow a 24 hour cancellation notice. I was out three weeks and never had a problem. I even stayed a little Mom&Pop in Naturita, CO called the Ray Motel. No problem with booking over the phone. Just google the town and add "lodging".

[jbs80106]

Are you riding out here from the East?

Wondering about your plans between Gunnison and Canon City, some good riding between Canon City/Walsenburg.....

[zer0netgain]

Are you riding out here from the East?

Wondering about your plans between Gunnison and Canon City, some good riding between Canon City/Walsenburg.....

SR-135 & CR-12 - Gunnison to SR-133
SR-133 - to Carbondale
SR-82 - Carbondale to US-24
US-24 to Salida
US-50 to Sargents and back to Salida
US-50 to Canon City

[zer0netgain]

Well, didn't do so bad.  Managed to reserve rooms for the trip (all but the last leg which remains open to change until the last minute, but it's the "going home" leg).  Averages out to about $60 night more or less.  At least I know I have stuff locked in.  A couple places have 3-day notice requirements to cancel, but if I have to cancel anything that early on, I'll have bigger issues to deal with.

[jbs80106]

Glad you got sorted out.

Now we'll see if we can get the temps above 50 degrees when you're here!

[BillL]

SR-135 & CR-12 - Gunnison to SR-133

Interesting.  I did some of these roads last summer.  Is CR-12 paved?

[zer0netgain]

Interesting.  I did some of these roads last summer.  Is CR-12 paved?

Not 100%, but I hear the unpaved part is in good condition.  I don't have much of an option in working out my ride plan, but I figured it was worth it.

[martys]

I'll be in Colorado the last two weeks of June as well. I usually don't like booking rooms too far in advance as it takes the spontaneity out of the ride.  Last year on an 11 day ride through Cal, Nev, Utah and others I only reserved one night outside of Bryce Canyon (Ruby's) and we just looked around in every other stop and found rooms at either the first or second hotel/motel picked by outside appearance as we rode through town. Only once did we skip a town entirely (Bishop, CA) because we didn't know there was something called Mule Days opening the day we got there and the whole town was sold out so we had to ride 40 miles to the next town with a room.

I guess it depends how big your group is whether advanced reservations are worth doing.

[Justin]

Interesting.  I did some of these roads last summer.  Is CR-12 paved?

Cr-12 is not paved - but not a bad dirt road by any means. Well the Crested Butte end is for a few miles. Some pics and a vid on the link below - very scenic route.

http://www.takemytrip.com/10utco/08n_19a.htm

[zer0netgain]

I'll be in Colorado the last two weeks of June as well. I usually don't like booking rooms too far in advance as it takes the spontaneity out of the ride. 

I feel the same way, and I'm not keen about having to reserve rooms this far out....

HOWEVER, I don't like getting raped for a room because all the cheap ones were booked or taken when I roll in and the next town will be 2 or more hours down the road.  

This is the first trip I've ever had to book rooms for every night in advance, mostly because in Colorado most everyplace I will be is secluded and a tourist spot with few lodging options.

[jbs80106]

FYSA....

Back to winter here in CO, especially in the mountains for the next 24-36 hours...then spring is supposed to return.

Outside it is currently about 40 degs, rain/snow/thunder for through tomorrow with a high closer to 50.



Georgetown.....currently 19 degrees...

Today: Windy. Snow this morning will give way to a mixture of rain and wet snow this afternoon. Thunder possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Snow accumulating 2 to 4 inches.
Tonight: Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Thunder possible. Low 28F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 5 to 8 inches of snow expected.


Plan on having some gear with you when you ride through the mountain area.  Springs snows are not uncommon...

[Thundergod]

 instead of durango....stay in Pagosa Springs. Pagosa Springs INN - not the best hotel...but they have 15+ mineral springs hottubs (various temps) --24 hour access with your room key.

WORTH EVERY PENNY. -- pools flow from spring, into each other and then into the river....always new water coming into the pools...Not recycled tub water.

[zer0netgain]

 instead of durango....stay in Pagosa Springs. Pagosa Springs INN - not the best hotel...but they have 15+ mineral springs hottubs (various temps) --24 hour access with your room key.

WORTH EVERY PENNY. -- pools flow from spring, into each other and then into the river....always new water coming into the pools...Not recycled tub water.

Sounds nice, but that means stopping mid-day and really buggering my schedule for getting home on time.

If I end up rethinking my plan....

[MotoCommuter]

The wife and I are oing a two week trip in June 10 - 25, hitting NM 2 CO 2 WY 2 SD and then back to GA. Making no reservations, just going to wing it. What I have been doing is getting on Google Maps, typing in Hotel or Motel, it will display the hotels/motels on the map and you can put your mouse over it and it will display the information including link if available and any reviews. I've been just looking at my prospective route and seeing what is there.

Also, if you have a smart phone, you can download some apps like Tripadvisor, places, yelp, etc. which can help locate places to stay. I've posted here for recommendations for hotels but only received a few.

Instead of staying Durango, look at Mancos, there is a hotel/motel there called The Enchanted Mesa Motel http://www.enchantedmesamotel.com looks to be MC friendly and the rates look reasonable.

If you find any good hotels/motels, let me know.