Bus vs Motel

[skipn]

Probably a little venting (not that there hasn't been enough today)

About three week ago My friends and were planning our trip to Fort Collins for their daughter graduation. (vet)
It was decided that it would be a lot cheaper to get a motel room than take the bus. Ok this is my fault
I backed off working on the bus to work on other things.

   There will be 11 of use down there and today I find out the rooms will be 100+ even for my family we are talking
2 rooms for 2 nights. By my math skills at 9 mpg and $3.50/gal I still would have been  better off taking the bus.

  Moral of the story: Know the real numbers before you make a decision.

Skip

[Lee Bradley]

Plus the cost of not sleeping in your own bed.

[Ncbob]

Skip, I'd be absolutely the last person in this universe to advise you of J.P. Morgans' famous comment: "If you have to ask the price...you can't afford it" because we all need to balance the pro's and con's of a trip..the number of people, milage, cost of fuel and on and on and on into tedium.

Planning is what we're supposed to be good at!  We plan the layout of our bus, the water and plumbing, the outlet locations and the breakers, etc. ad infinitum!

And you're having this little problem sorting out the best way to attend this function?

Join the club m'friend.  If there's anything I can advise you about...it's how to do things the wrong way because there...I'm a winner!  My problem parallels yours...trying to be a great Monday Morning Quarterback on Sunday!

Good Luck.....

NCbob

[JackConrad]

     Right off the bat, 2 major factors: How many people and how long. With eleven people that means several motel rooms, a lot of meals in restaurants and how many vehicles to haul that many people. Now, 1 or 2 people for a quick trip out, a day or 2 there, and a quick trip back maybe the motel route would be cheaper.
     Regardless the cost comparison, as was mentioned, sleeping in your own bed and eating what you want, when you want.  PRICELESS!    Jack

[Slow Rider]

One of my selling points to the wife for an rv/bus/motorhome/etc was the cost of hotels vs the bus.  If I used the price of $3.00 a gallon for a vehicle getting 10mpg for a trip of 800 miles, it worked out like this:

800 miles / 10 mpg =  80 gal of fuel at $3.00 =  $240.00 X 2 (down and back) =  $480.00.

Parking would be free. (we were staying at my parents house, they have room to park a bus)

The only reasonably close hotel was  $65.00 a night X 7 nights =  $455.00

If you throw in a tip for the maid we are pretty darn close to the same price.

If we add in the cost of gas for the van (approximately  $160.00) the scales definitely tilt in favor of the bus.

I understand this is only one cost analysis and there are many variables but it is a good general idea.

And yes I know I biased it towards the bus, it says SLOW Rider, not stupid. 

And since she bought off on it, that is my story and I am sticking to it!

Frank

[buswarrior]

Excellent report Slow Rider!

That has been my exact experience. The bus versus motel roughly saves you the cost of the personal vehicle transportation if you go by bus.

I'm not paying $11 for my Cheerios again.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[TomC]

When Diesel gets up to $5.00/gal in a very few years, I'll still be using my bus.  I get about 5.3 mpg, so round figures that works out to be $1.00/mile.  I would do it if it were $10.00/gal!  I can't tell you how much I hate staying in Motels or Hotels.  Packing your suitcase, lugging it into the car, lugging out of the car, go check in, find your room and hope everything works alright, perhaps you'll get a good nights sleep, or maybe you won't.  Then go out for every meal in a town that you don't know the good restaurants.  The only time I stay in a motel is for an extended stay or a week long cruise where you set up your clothes once.  Travelling in the US, I'll take the bus every time.  Good Luck, TomC

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Guy's,

The bus may even be cheaper then flying..  Just think of all the lines you can avoid too. Like having to hurry-up

and go through a security check then wait sometimes 2 hours until your plane takes off. Then, when you land you have to

wait again for your luggage. Then you will wait for transportation to the rental car Co. where you will wait in line again...

Then when you arrive at your hotel, you again will wait in line to check in.. Wait for the elevator etc...........on and on.

Sounds like some busisnesses try to turn us into Cattle.

Nick-

[Dallas]

Hi Guy's,

The bus may even be cheaper then flying.. 

Sounds like some busisnesses try to turn us into Cattle.

Nick-

MOOOOOOOOOO. MOOOOOOOOOO. MOOOOOOOOOO[/color][/size][/i][/b]

I really did not edit it Dallas. Just clicked on the wrong button. LOL, Richard

[H3Jim]

While I can't say that I did this in my bus, it does show the difference in lines etc.

I drove between a Las Vegas Hotel and a friends house in San Diego, while they flew home.  I beat them back home by an hour or so.  Shuttle to the airport, waiting in line, etc.

[WEC4104]

About three years ago, my wife approached me on the topic of taking the family to Disney World. She had seen travel packages advertised on TV for "cheap" airfares and hotel. It had been several years since we has visited there, and my wife reminded me of my promise that "just because we have a bus, it isn't going to mean that we won't take hotel vacations anymore".  I asked her to see what the total cost was going to be before I would say yes or no.

After a day or two of her research and talking to travel people, she came back to me looking sheepish. Her comment: "It's going to cost a lot more than I thought, so I have decided to bag it."   I responded back asking her if she would consider using the bus.  She agreed to consider it and we ended up comparing the costs if we were to take the bus and stay at the Fort Wilderness camprground.

--- Round trip diesel fuel (from PA) instead of five airfares - Major savings
--- Campground rates instead of two hotel rooms each night - Major savings
--- All breakfasts and some lunches in the bus instead of restaurants - Major savings
--- plus airport parking, cab or rental car, tips, snacks, etc.

We knew we would save 30-40% over what my wife had estimated for the airline/hotel approach.  We decided to take the bus and had a great time. In fact, my wife mentioned something again last month about going back to Disney. I asked her if she meant flying or taking the bus. She responded "In the bus, of course!"


     

[tekebird]

& years ago, prior to the TSA, I left Aspen Co heading West to Vegas driving while my frieds drove into Denver to Fly......

I beat them to the hotel by 45 minutes.

[cody]

We enjoy some of the casino's within a hundred mile radius, we could drive it back and forth but I feel that as long as they are giving me money I like to stay late and I don't care to drive back tired in the car, so the next alternative is to get a room there so we can drag our bags of money back to the room after cleaning them out and get some sleep, the first problem with this is the short sleep you get because of the morning check out times, for us it's much easier to take the bus and sleep as late as we want, my alarm just went off so I have to get up, well so much for the bags of money and cleaning them out, was dreaming again lol.

[WEC4104]

A few months ago, Jerry H had a post where he talked about a skiing trip he took. He dropped anchor and overnighted it in the parking lot at a ski slope in the Pocono Mountains (PA).  That sounded like a great alternative to hoteling it.  Personally, my interest in skiing is fading but my three boys have taken to it. Hanging out in the bus has more appeal than hours sitting in the noisy crowded lodge.   I still have to try that one.

[Dreamscape]

I still say it is all about the adventure not the destination. When using our coaches YOU are in control of the situation. Stopping when you want, staying as long as you want, enjoying the experience of traveling in your own ROLLING MOTEL.
I would rather take the coach then stay at some motel where you pay them rather than PAY YOURSELF.

I agree with all that has been sad.

Happy Trails.,

Paul

Dreamscape