The Pros and Cons of Living in Hotels.

We share five years of our hotel living experience and what you should know.

Photo by Ph B on Unsplash

When we started traveling full-time in 2020, we chose an unconventional approach to road life—living in hotels rather than buying an expensive travel van or a large RV.

Understandably, most people would choose the other route, yet there were several reasons we believed hotels and resorts would be a better fit, and what it really came down to was the following:

1. Not wanting to deal with maintenance issues. After 15 years of home ownership, we were ready to be free of these hassles and expenses.

2. Not wanting to haul anything behind us. The high stress of driving a big rig on mountain roads or in high winds would definitely kill us.

Avoiding these two problems would allow us to have a happier, safer experience as we explore the world. So, was it worth it?

The Hotel Living Experience

After a long day of traveling and exploring, it’s wonderful to walk into a hotel room, set down your gear, and unwind. There’s no setup or teardown, and depending on which hotel chain you choose, you can enjoy several great amenities like happy hour and breakfast at no extra charge.

We’ve been in some amazing places that provide more benefits than we could ever get or use at most RV parks, and because we racked up a ton of points and achieved the highest level for guest status, we’ve received some fantastic perks and many free stays.

Overall, we loved it, and it makes the adventure travel so easy.

But it’s far from perfect.

The post-pandemic revenge pricing and price gouging for hotel rooms in specific locations are totally absurd. You’ll pay more on weekends or three times the amount if you’re close to a National Park or other desirable venue.

Then there are the shitty hotel guests who think they’re the center of the universe and care nothing about other guests. Screaming children, partying neighbors, and door slammers can push you into a murderous rage.

Sometimes the WiFi and food sucks, or you get an occasional cockroach for a visit.

That said, we’ve had mostly good experiences, and I think this is a worthwhile solution for traveling full-time. Now that we live in a camper van, though, I believe this is the best way to go for anyone wanting to live on the road.

The Pros of Living in Hotels

• Less stress: Book the room, park your car, unload your belongings, walk in, and relax after a long day of driving or exploring. It’s that simple.

• Free perks: Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee, breakfast, exercise rooms, swimming pools, and other amenities — but not always.

• Better safety: Rest easier knowing you can deadbolt your door, have some level of security and fire alarms, and also be safer from severe weather.

• Rewards programs: Earn extra rewards and free nights based on the hotel brand or services offered.

The Cons of Living in Hotels

• Stupid and rude guests: Dealing with jackasses who think they’re the center of the universe and don’t care about your feelings.

• Ridiculous pricing: Paying more than you should for what you get, especially on weekends or during special events in town.

• Lack of services: Losing out on amenities thanks to corporate greed or because there’s no workforce to offer them anymore.

Photo by runnyrem on Unsplash

What Advice Do We Have?

If you’re considering traveling full-time and feel like living in hotels is a better option for your lifestyle, here are some valuable tips for having the best experience possible.

1. Choose the top floor. You won’t have to listen to obnoxious people above you, and it seems there are fewer problems the higher you go.

2. Avoid rooms by the elevator. These areas are the noisiest in the hotel and can be constantly busy.

3. Get a room with a kitchen. In-room kitchens are rare these days, but if you can find one, you will save money by cooking in rather than going out.

4. Book rooms during the week. If you book your stay Monday through Thursday, the rate is better — even if you stay through the weekend.

5. Ask for a room with a view. Having a better view than concrete and plenty of sunlight will be great for your psyche.

6. Bring an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku. If you love watching your favorite shows, you’ll want to have one of these, but they don’t always work.

7. Consider a WiFi hotspot. Most hotels have free and consistent internet, but there are places like Sedona where it sucks. WiFi hotspots can help with this.

8. Negotiate on pricing in person. This isn’t as easy now due to online booking options, but it’s still worth trying, especially if you’re good at flirting.

9. Decorate your room. When we stay in a place for a week or more, we decorate with a few items to make the room feel a little more like home.

10. Check behind dressers or under the beds. This has less to do with finding yucky stuff, but sometimes you do find money.

11. Sign up for rewards programs. Most hotels offer horrible rewards programs, but some great ones make it worthwhile, like Choice Hotels.

12. Treat staff members with respect. Kindness goes a LONG way! Some of these people work really hard for little money. Being nice doesn’t take much effort and makes their day.

Of course, there are other things like packing light in case the elevator is broken or avoiding any motel in the middle of a cornfield, but these ideas will be a great start.

If you’re considering living in hotels and have any questions, let us know. We’d be glad to share more as we can!