So, many of you will have deduced that we did not spend as many nights sleeping in the RV during our trip west as we had planned.  We did do one Walmart night, several truck stop/service centre nights and two nights in the Winnebago free camping parking area in Iowa., but we also coped out a bit a did motels.  First night was due to a snow storm.  Stayed in a Comfort Inn right after we crossed the Mississippi.  I believe that was probably our most southern point on the trip - and it snowed.

As the driving got tougher and we moved away from Interstate 80 we found less and services. Up to that point the rest stops on the interstate had free dump stations, and you could even stay overnight if you needed.  There were so many big truck stops it was amazine.

We took off across country through Iowa, but stayed at Winnebago, then drove through Minnesota into South Dakota and found we could not stay in the rest stops and truck stops were not well marked or as plentiful.  Of course the traffic, especially the truck traffic, was much lighter. Thus less truck stops.  There were two things we really missed about not finding campgrounds open. Showers! And a place to fill our water tanks.  

Everyone keeps asking about heat, but we were OK with the propane furnace.  Now, in the campground, we are using a small ceramic heater and its keeps us nice and toasty warm.

We also found that the rates for the motel were quite reasonable in November and included breakfast.  So we stopped before dark (by 5), had supper from the RV, breakfast in the motel and lunch out.  So we rated the motels:

Best Western - top rating.  Everyone was comfortable, clean, wonderful beds and decent breakfast.  Nice, comfortable table and chairs.  Good TV. Good value - we would look for them again

Comfort Inn - next best.  Breakfast is a bit same old, same old.  But very clean and comfortable.

Econo Motels - will avoid in the future.  Terrible breakfast, tired and tacky.  

America’s Best Inns and Suites - will avoid.  The one we stayed in was so worn it didn’t feel clean.  No breakfast.  A couple of weird bugs.  Just second or third rate.

So there you have it.  Best Western - best value

The Watson motel rating fall 2011

We have booked into a Best Western, next to John’s apartment building for Christmas Eve and Christmas night.  Putting our mouth where our opinion is - or something.

More next time.

Julie