Adventuresome Accommodations
- davisnika
- May 9
- 4 min read
I have mad respect for those who ride and camp, but these bones stopped seeing the ground in my 30s. I make the very most out of every trip, and that includes accommodations. My husband travels a good portion of the year with work. Therefore, we benefit from hotel points, so at least there is a silver lining to all that away time.
For our 2-3 week-long trips, we use those hotel points as much as possible, but also throw in some experiences! This includes historical and haunted hotels, not your ordinary Airbnbs, as well as cabins in national parks, and every once in a while, a 4 or 5-star hotel (although those experiences have been more disappointing than not).
Our really out-there experiences have been a bubble, a yurt, and a hexapod. Both the bubble and yurt were in Terlingua, outside of Big Bend National Park, and the hexapod was just outside Joshua Tree National Park.
The bubble was an experience to remember. In my article, "Precious Cargo," I talked about the road to our lodging—two miles of sand and hills—but it was worth it. The bubble was a one-room dome with a king bed and bathroom. We could literally lie in bed and look at the stars. When we were there, it was a full moon and honestly quite bright. Both heat and air are in the bubble, and both were used during our trip—cool nights and hot days.
The yurt was in the same area, although closer to the entrance to Big Bend National Park, and most of the road was paved. The yurt also had a king bed, but the space was far more luxurious and also came with a large telescope! When we return, it will be here!
The hexapod outside of Joshua Tree National Park was a gem. Again, a dirt road was involved, but it was worth it. Our hexapod came complete with a kitchen, living room, king bedroom, bathroom, and a washer and dryer. One side of the unit was all sliders, and the view was gorgeous.
Our disappointments have been the 4 and 5-star hotels. Riding up on the Harley, we were judged. In Key West, we waited quite some time for check-in, and we were hot after the three-hour ride on the bridge. Other customers were catered to while we were not.
Our worst experience came from Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa in Dana Point, California. We pulled up, and the valet couldn’t figure out what to do. My husband said, “You can’t ride it; tell me where to park.” We were pointed in the direction of the garage, and inside, another worker tried to tell us we couldn’t park there. Well, we did… but it gets worse. With our helmets in hand at the check-in desk, the guest service agent informed us about the restaurants on site as she looked me up and down and said, “But you don’t have to wear a dress!” I was furious at how we were treated. We checked in, took a shower, I turned a swimsuit cover-up into a dress, and refused to eat at any of the restaurants on site.
I want to give a shout-out to the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing in Branson, Missouri. We have stayed there twice, and both times we were not judged for our motorcycle attire. The valet was very helpful in providing assistance on where to park and even asked questions about the bike and our ride.
We have had great experiences in cabins at national parks. However, be prepared for no TV and little to no internet. The views more than made up for the lack of amenities. I enjoyed both Crater Lake National Park and Mesa Verde National Park cabins. There was only one restaurant, but again... the view was breathtaking.
I'm a fan of unique, haunted, and historical hotels. In Hot Springs, Arkansas, we stayed at the Arlington, which has a vibe reminiscent of The Shining. In San Luis Obispo, California, we visited the Madonna Inn, known for its abundance of pink, rock-walled rooms, and a men's urinal with a waterfall (see my article "Compromising Trips" for more on the Madonna Inn). In Gallup, New Mexico, we stayed at the historic El Rancho Hotel, where each room is linked to famous actors and features an elevator with a caged door. In Fort Davis, we chose a hotel that was once a drugstore. As I mentioned, I enjoy unique places.
Strategically, we book lodging with a washer and dryer about every 4th or 5th day of our trip or when we have a home base. This summer, that will occur at Yellowstone National Park, Whitefish (outside of Glacier National Park), and Rapid City. We have one historic hotel booked, Hotel Eklund, in Clayton, New Mexico.
We do a fair share of Super 8s as well. Fun fact: Super 8 got its name from its original room rate of $8.88 when it made its debut in 1974! Sometimes, we stay in whatever we can find. I have to admit, that creates an experience too! If you have any unique lodging experiences, please share. I am always looking for something outside the box.
The Blonde Backpack
Comments