Introduction

Motel Chains in the USA and Canada

All the motel chains issue free directories and have central reservation facilities, mostly on 1-800 toll free phone numbers available throughout the USA and often also in Canada.

The rates quoted in motel chain directories exclude sales tax.

In June it is wise to use the central reservation system run by each motel chain to keep booked up a few days ahead, bearing in mind that you can always cancel before the cut-off time without charge if necessary. Finding accommodation at popular destinations and on Friday and Saturday nights everywhere can be difficult, especially towards the end of June. We would imagine that during July and August the accommodation situation is more difficult, whereas earlier or later in the season it would generally be easier, except during holiday periods such as Christmas and Easter.

Most rooms in chain motels have one double bed, two single beds or two double beds. Independent motels can vary, but most offer the same options, perhaps with some additional options such as beds in separate rooms connected by an internal door. Some independent motels also offer "efficiencies" - kitchen facilities.

Many chain motels have connecting doors between pairs of adjacent rooms, for the benefit of families and other parties occupying two rooms. These doors can always be locked from either of the two rooms that they connect. Sometimes there are two doors, one from each side; both need to be opened in order to get from one room to the other.

Many motels offer free coffee in the morning, usually available from the office or lobby area. Some motels offer free continental breakfast. Almost all motels have machines which dispense ice cubes - usually there is no charge. Almost all motels have vending machines which dispense soft drink cans, but these can be purchased much more cheaply at supermarkets. Most chain motels and some independent motels also have vending machines which dispense sweets and snacks - again, supermarkets are much cheaper sources for these items.

Budget motels and small privately run motels ("mom and pop" establishments) tend not to usually have a restaurant on site. Distances to restaurants vary considerably, from right next door to a drive of several miles. Although it might strike you as somewhat peculiar to drive somewhere for breakfast you soon get used to the idea and we often check out and then drive a hundred miles or more before stopping to eat.

The larger the town, the less friendly the service can sometimes be in motels, as well as generally in restaurants, etc. The same applies in some tourist towns, especially skiing resort towns, where both jobs and customers are readily available. We have found a small number of motels near large cities, catering mainly for business travellers, to be considerably less than friendly. No such problems are encountered in the majority of medium sized towns in the USA and Canada, however.

The budget motel chains are less commonly found in New England and Canada than in America.