Camping or Motel?

[WOZERD]

Here is another reason I prefer to camp. Holiday Inn has always given me the worst experience-- by far, when it comes to "Icky stuff"

http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=4925520&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1  

[Sport-Touring]

[Centaur]

I prefer camping, especially when at a decent campground.  Most of the motorcycle only campgrounds in the Smokies meet that standard for me.  They've got showers, usually open camping, shelters or cottages, and oftentimes free coffee.  I'll camp at state parks if they're not filled with RV's and, preferably, if they've got showers.  If I'm out on the road for a week or more or the weather's consistently crap, I'll spring for a cheap motel room--no more than $35 if I can help it.  And for my money, the room's got to have a working, clean shower.

[popwud]

I like my comfort now ....always hotel etc....

[Bjorn Toulouse]

I did enough camping earlier in this incarnation, motel.


Rex

[Ant]

Youth Hostel is all I've stayed at so far but I'd say camping otherwise. There is something depressing about a motel that even waking up knowing you've got to pack a tent in the rain beats. For Christmas this year I got a bunch of camping stuff that is compact for taking on a motorbike so I am going to go and do some camping sometime soon and test it out. I love camping, the whole waking up with the sun and sitting with your morning coffee is great. I just imagine combining the two to be an amazing combination  

[canyonchaser]

We try to camp every night, but we are really good at coming up with excuses to stay in a hotel.

dp

[Bad Dad]

I like to do both. We always take a backpack tent/50 degree summer bag and then we're covered. If we feel like stopping where there's no motels we'll set up camp. If it's pouring out we'll hit the motel.

[Guzzipat]

I almost always camp, I don't get people saying they would rather have a comfortable bed and a shower. Both of those are easily available camping, I have never stayed at a campsite that had no shower in Europe, and my airbed and sleeping bag are very comfortable and warm. My tent is quick erect, it goes up, including pegging, out in a couple of minutes.
Camping gear has improved so much now, it isn't a question of "roughing it" anymore. Seems to me that camping and a bike just match well.

[RexRider]

Done the camping thing, but my back really doesn't take kindly to sleeping on hard ground (even with anice Ensolite Pad), so it's cheap motels for me.  As long as the room/sheets/towels are clean and dry, I'm happy.

[GoneRacin]

I tent camp  almost always. If i cant find tene camping with a shower available or a truck stop near by to get a shower at I will go ahead and motel it. I usually stay at KOA's they al;most always have a shower available after the night in the tent.

[TBirdVI]

No, second pic is redneck moving.  

 

[PaulS927]

Cheap motels get my vote.
Less gear to carry, comfortable bed, hot shower, TV, internet and breakfast.  Also not having to worry about curious wildlife is a plus.

[Real Bad Attitude]

Voted for motel. I like a nice warm shower, cold air conditioning, and a large comfy bed. Don't see that out in the woods.

[RoadRat]

I still enjoyed camping

Carl

Nice!  

Re-reading this thread is giving me a bad case of cabin fever... there's snow outside right now.  

+1 on KOA campground showers... they beat motel showers no contest.  

I have a few good trips planned this summer... one wil be a 3000+ mile journey across the Rockies and through the Canyonlands, then south to the desert and back. I'm getting my gear together and checking it over, adding things, removing things, packing, re-packing... nothing else to do.

There's another thread going on about camping gear for anyone interested:

https://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,21137.0.html

(I originally posted camping gear stuff here, but I moved it over there to the appropriate thread.)

[traveler]

Cheap motels get my vote.
Less gear to carry, comfortable bed, hot shower, TV, internet and breakfast.  Also not having to worry about curious wildlife is a plus.

I've encountered some pretty curious wildlife in cheap motel rooms, of the bug variety. Even had the occasional dog and cat sneak into the room while I was transferring gear.

The length and location of the trip determines where I'll be staying, but I often camp and enjoy it. Longer trips mean a mix of camp and motel. There are times when I must have a shower, laundry and bar, not necessarily in that order.

[notarian]

Tent, sleeping bag, air mattress plus a tail pack, panniers? That's too much for me, I'll stick with pack, panniers and hotel or B&B's = its a lot less fuss, no worries about weather and no midgies.

Note

[GMCdriver]

For my first "tour" we all packed up camping gear and headed west into the Rockies.

There we discovered twisty roads, nice inexpensive motels w/swimming pools, steak dinners and bars with strippers.

Never bothered taking a tent again.

We score everyday to a maximum of 4 with one point each for:
Twisty Roads
A Pool or Hottub
A Nice Steak Dinner
Bar w/Strippers

So far we average about 82%

[uwecthrows]

When mosquito season is at its peak, I'm indoors.

[Global Rider]

How many fellow travelers do you meet and interact with in a motel?

Lots! Thats because the hotels/motels I stay in are usually packed with motorcycists. In fact, a riding couple I met in 2001 are best freinds of mine and I stop by there place every summer.

Motels are four walls, cheezy paintings, and a remote control.

You're definitely staying in the wrong hotels/motels.

Nothing "cheesy" in this room. Been there...


Not bad for $70 a night with a full breakfast. And the views...to die for.

[ahnerrj]

I prefer to rough it. I have a Mountain Hardware Hammerhead 3 tent which is a real palace.  Combined with my Coleman airbed, I’m set.  Of course camping in a bad location can make you want to stay in a Motel. However, a great camp site, nice fire after a great meal with your freinds drinking whatever and telling lies can't be beat!