Inexpensive lodging and wild camping

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Debade

Über Member
Location
Connecticut, USA
The tips and suggestions for camping and routes have been great. Very much appreciated. From time to time, we like to have a real bed and a private space. In the US, we might go to a chain called Motel 6, Red Roof Inn or Super 8 that offers fairly basic accommodations with few frills (like pools for example).

We also stay at even less expensive places where it seems people from India have reopened 1950 vintage motels in small towns which were once successfully located on roads that were outdated with the introduction of the US freeway system. Motorists now go past these small towns on the highway vs. through them. On our bikes, we often pass these properties. They are old, small and TVs that often barely function but they are clean and the management friendly and helpful. They will be about 25%+ cheaper than the budget motel chains that are on the highway and small towns.

With this kind of description in mind for chain type budget hotels and these 'unique' independents, is there something like either of these on the other side of the pond?
 

_aD

Do not touch suspicious objects
I may be telling you something you already know, but there are many people who rent out rooms of their house as a business called "Bed and breakfast", where you pay for a night's lodgings and breakfast, sometimes an evening meal. You should have no problem finding listings of them online and they will often have signs outside their houses advertising if they have spaces. Not sure if you have the same thing over the pond or if it's called something different - but this is another option.

p.s. An advance welcome to the UK!
 
OP
OP
D

Debade

Über Member
Location
Connecticut, USA
I may be telling you something you already know, but there are many people who rent out rooms of their house as a business called "Bed and breakfast", where you pay for a night's lodgings and breakfast, sometimes an evening meal. You should have no problem finding listings of them online and they will often have signs outside their houses advertising if they have spaces. Not sure if you have the same thing over the pond or if it's called something different - but this is another option.

p.s. An advance welcome to the UK!
This comes as new information. Thanks and thanks for the welcome. I have a warm spot since my Dad served with the Canadian army stationed in Aldershot during WW2. Looking forward to our trip!
 

jay clock

Massive member
Location
Hampshire UK
B&B in the US tends to be a posher quaint cutesy experience compared to the UK. They do exist in the UK, but fewer frills.

B&Bs often charge double for 2 people, in which case Premier Inn can be good as that is a fixed room price. Market driven so book ahead online, and although I have paid £19 once tends to be a lot more than the US due to property, labour and energy prices
 

Gravity Aided

Legendary Member
Location
Land of Lincoln
We have Travelodge over here in the States as well, but in my town, there's Motel 6, which garners a lot of cyclists. I'm usually going past about off-the-road time, and I often see laden tourers arriving, or give directions to it while riding. I'm about 20 miles or so south of the Northern Tier Route at Wenona, but it would be worth the ride if you didn't want to camp. B&B over here can be quite precious, but many are run as an adjunct of another commercial enterprise, like a restaurant. Sometimes quite like a hotel.
 

Brains

Legendary Member
Location
Greenwich
B&B's tend to be in places people want to go, so anywhere with tourists will have them, but places without tourists tend not to, but they can be found. Not all are listed in books or on websites and the standard (and costs) can vary enormously, from something equivalent to a 3 star hotel to something not as good as a youth Hostel
A lot of pubs offer B&B as well, but as they may only have one or two rooms dont make a big issues of it.

Wild Camping: Is certainly possible in the UK, but you tend to be talking about woods and moorland
Stealth Camping: Iis also possible, you need to be discreet, and careful of where you camp, but I've camped in some amazing places, such as the garden of the health clinic, overlooking the Thames, we just had to be gone before they opened in the morning.
Fly-Camping: When you just ask around before resorting to Stealth or Wild, the best places to ask are the local pub, I've spend many a night camping in a pub garden, and a few more on local fields and other gardens for people in the pub.

Youth Hostels are worth looking at

Cheap hotels: There are a few chains, all mentioned by others above, they are not particularly cheap, nor particularly good. A B&B would typically offer a better place for a better price (Which is probably why in the UK we have a relatively few chain hotels when compared to the USA)

Camp Sites: In the UK,like B&B's they vary enoumously in price and quality and tend to be found in the same sorts of paces, wherever tourists stop.
In places like France they have a much better 'Camping Municipal' system.







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_aD

Do not touch suspicious objects
UKCampsite is looking a bit retro these days but still has detailed listings and frequent camp site reviews.
 

HelenD123

Legendary Member
Location
York
Tripadvisor might also throw up some accommodation suggestions. If you can get online and book ahead you should get a better price, but then it can also work just turning up at a hotel and negotiating directly with the receptionist. If they're having a slow night they try to fill the room at any cost.
 
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