Camping at the Hotel/Motel???

[whizbang]

My dear wife and I no longer vacation together. In our old age, our sleep cycles are not timed in sync. One of us always seems to be awake while the other is sleeping, and vice versa. We need two completely separate sleeping areas. Neither reasonably priced lodgings, nor my dinky camper, meet this need.

It occurs to me that a perfect fit would be to book my wife into a hotel/motel so she has her own room. And take my camper so I can sleep (camp) in my rig in the hotel parking lot.

Does anybody have experience doing this? Are most hotels for or against such a thing? Should I disclose my intentions up front to the hotel staff or try to stealth camp?

[Naio]

I've done this a few times, when traveling with others. Some motels are fine with it. One told me it would violate 'no sleeping in your car' ordinances, so I went to another motel and did not mention my plan, just did it. The security guard saw me but she did not say anything.

My cat hates hotel rooms (I suppose they all smell like dogs), and feels safest if I sleep in the van with him.

I cannot imagine parking being an issue. Surely you are allowed to take up one parking spot if you rent a room?

[sdianel_-acct_c]

we have done this traveling with other family members. We usually ask after we make the reservations. If their parking lot is small they may not have room. I pick hotels that have larger parking lots by using google maps. So far so good.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

What about going to a KOA and rent a KOA cabin for one of you to sleep in and park the truck camper right there at the cabin.

[whizbang]

Interesting replies.

My wife and I are going to test drive the notion with a little eight day loop from Seattle to Eugene, Sisters, Bend, Ellensburg, and back.

We will be traveling in the off season with a very, very small footprint RV. Based on your replies, I don't anticipate any problems.

Thank you for all your input.

[deltabravo]

kohldad wrote:
Another option would be to tow a small utility trailer with not much more than a bed for you. Would only weigh a couple hundred pounds and be easy to hand maneuver if you got into a tight spot.

The only trailers I've seen that would only weigh "a couple hundred pounds" are so small, that there's no way they'd be big enough or comfortable enough for a bed in them

[Bedlam]

You have some options without using a hotel:

1. Sleep in the truck while DW sleeps in the camper
2. Get a larger camper that has a king sized bed or large sized dinette as a second bed
3. Tow a trailer for a second bedroom

I prefer to not boondock at a hotel for the reasons posted, but have parked in the back 40 when looking for sleep after a full day of driving.

[Old-Biscuit]

Good grief folks.....

OP has a 2010 Truck WITH a pop-up camper



Get the wife a room, talk to front desk staff (ask for MANAGER)

Park truck in far away spot so you can POP the camper UP and use it.

Many hotels/motels allow RVs in parking lots.........finding one while renting a room should NOT be an issue.
GO for it.


I'm a night owl (been one all my life PLUS career was 'non standard' working hours)
She is a Morning person...fact is she has already gone to bed.

No reason for it to have major impact on lifestyle unless one makes it so.

[Supercharged]

whizbang wrote:
My dear wife and I no longer vacation together. In our old age, our sleep cycles are not timed in sync. One of us always seems to be awake while the other is sleeping, and vice versa. We need two completely separate sleeping areas. Neither reasonably priced lodgings, nor my dinky camper, meet this need.

It occurs to me that a perfect fit would be to book my wife into a hotel/motel so she has her own room. And take my camper so I can sleep (camp) in my rig in the hotel parking lot.

Does anybody have experience doing this? Are most hotels for or against such a thing? Should I disclose my intentions up front to the hotel staff or try to stealth camp?

sleeping pills

[RamblinAnne]

Having worked in hotels for many years (I'm actually at work right now at the front desk.. I live here.. my TC is outside in the back of the lot and I'm renovating it here. But this is a special circumstance), I can tell you that this is really a hit or miss situation and will depend on a number of factors.

1. Parking. If the lot is big enough, it shouldn't be a problem. Also, make sure it's not a covered lot where you could damage your camper. 2. Occupancy. If it's the height of summer and the parking lot is full and guests are everywhere, it's not happening. If it's the middle of the week and a quiet night, I'll allow it. 3. Personnel. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get a different answer. I'm obviously welcoming of campers and RVs but if you were to call and ask while my coworker was working, he would say no. If you have a TC and your footprint is not much bigger than your average truck, then I wouldn't even say anything and just go for it. If you're towing a trailer or 5er, best to call and check the parking situation. A nice attitude can go a long way.

[SidecarFlip]

Get yourself a full sized crew cab and make up the backseat into another bed....?

[ford_truck_guy]

We parked in a marriott's lot and booked a room when our genny let us down.. they were fine

[kohldad]

I like Photomike's idea of saying what you were doing and let them complain if they disagreed.

Another option would be to tow a small utility trailer with not much more than a bed for you. Would only weigh a couple hundred pounds and be easy to hand maneuver if you got into a tight spot.

[realter]

I asked the same question a couple years ago. Got some good suggestions. Probably the best idea was to pull a really small trailer like a tear drop. My wife does NOT like the TC, nor my snoring. Good luck.

[jimh406]

There are some hotels that also have rv spaces. You could look for one of those. Or search out an RV that has two sleeping quarters. 🙂