How to Lodge Cheaply for a Week or less in the Northwest US?
March 3, 2017 7:42 PM Subscribe
Most of my job at certain times of year can be done online. I live in NW Montana (Missoula) and am thinking that I need to/can spend more time just leaving my town for 4-6 days to explore in Washington, Oregon, Southern Idaho and British Columbia instead doing the same work at my house.
But finding cheap and good lodging with a dog is holding me back. Some snowflakes inside.
Snowflakes:
I want a place to hunker down, work, walk the dog, work, go have a beer, work, have supper, work, have a beer. Repeat for 3-5 days. I will have time to explore museums, take a hike, etc. but I have to work.
Probably no more than 400 miles in a day, for no more than two days. I need to sit and work. I can happily stay with my brother in Spokane for a night if that is on the route.
Traveling with a dog can limit where I stay. She’s a good Siberian Husky but still a dog. Not bringing the dog is not an option. I know the rules for bringing a dog into Canada.
I need good internet access where I stay. I can do the hotspot on my phone if there is good cell coverage but I don’t want to depend on that.
I am not interested in: 1, a shared living space (have to work and I’m an introvert) 2. cheap and bad motels. Cheap and good is OK. Let’s say a budget of >$100 a night for lodging. I would appreciate suggestions for specific places to stay.
I want to walk to bars, restaurants, etc. from where I am staying.
I am happy to stay in a small town. I like small towns. (If someone were to ask me this same question of Montana I would have lots of suggestions for small towns.)
Thank you for suggestions.
Snowflakes:
I want a place to hunker down, work, walk the dog, work, go have a beer, work, have supper, work, have a beer. Repeat for 3-5 days. I will have time to explore museums, take a hike, etc. but I have to work.
Probably no more than 400 miles in a day, for no more than two days. I need to sit and work. I can happily stay with my brother in Spokane for a night if that is on the route.
Traveling with a dog can limit where I stay. She’s a good Siberian Husky but still a dog. Not bringing the dog is not an option. I know the rules for bringing a dog into Canada.
I need good internet access where I stay. I can do the hotspot on my phone if there is good cell coverage but I don’t want to depend on that.
I am not interested in: 1, a shared living space (have to work and I’m an introvert) 2. cheap and bad motels. Cheap and good is OK. Let’s say a budget of >$100 a night for lodging. I would appreciate suggestions for specific places to stay.
I want to walk to bars, restaurants, etc. from where I am staying.
I am happy to stay in a small town. I like small towns. (If someone were to ask me this same question of Montana I would have lots of suggestions for small towns.)
Thank you for suggestions.
I would start with airbnb, with a filter for "whole house/apartment", "pet friendly" and then your budget. It might take a bit of luck (or rather, a bit of searching) to find some that meet all needs. I often rent larger places (3 beds) for <$150 so I bet if you only need one bed you would find something.
posted by metahawk at 9:49 PM on March 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by metahawk at 9:49 PM on March 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
bringfido dot com. It has Air BnB listings now too and dog owner reviews. It might not hit every little town but it's pretty good.
posted by fshgrl at 10:08 PM on March 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 10:08 PM on March 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm mostly in the same situation you're in, except I work 100% remotely, but I just started going on working road trips to see more remote parts of the country. I've been car camping, maybe you could try that too?
I started doing it a while ago, some of my friends and I buy used hatchbacks or wagons so we can sleep in the back of them, with or without mattress -- a twin mattress fits perfectly into the back of an old Volvo wagon, but all I have room for in my rig is a sleeping pad/bag. We also bring tents if it's warm out and we end up at a campground.
If you're ok with rolling a bit more rugged and getting creative with your shower/laundry situation, that seems like it might suit your needs. I just got back from a trip with my partner and worked on the road the whole way, grabbing WiFi or tethering as needed. With a car, you can decide where to go with maximum freedom of choice where to stay the night, especially out away from the cities where I tend to go -- it allows you to hit up campsites and national parks if you want to work out in nature.
Aside from the car thing, the PNW in my experience (at least, Washington/Oregon) trends toward dog friendly, especially the greater Seattle area where I live. There are quite a few dog-friendly boutique hotels to consider, but unfortunately don't have any personal recommendations, these days I pretty much exclusively stay in my car, or in hostels/AirBnBs. (Anecdotally, a friend of mine hosts through AirBnB in the city & she happily hosts guests with dogs.)
Side note: If you manage to make it down this far south on your travels, hwy 33 east from Sugar City into Jackson Hole on a partly cloudy day is one of the most beautiful, harrowing drives I have ever done in my life. Make sure to stop at the top of the pass!
posted by Snacks at 10:51 PM on March 3, 2017
I started doing it a while ago, some of my friends and I buy used hatchbacks or wagons so we can sleep in the back of them, with or without mattress -- a twin mattress fits perfectly into the back of an old Volvo wagon, but all I have room for in my rig is a sleeping pad/bag. We also bring tents if it's warm out and we end up at a campground.
If you're ok with rolling a bit more rugged and getting creative with your shower/laundry situation, that seems like it might suit your needs. I just got back from a trip with my partner and worked on the road the whole way, grabbing WiFi or tethering as needed. With a car, you can decide where to go with maximum freedom of choice where to stay the night, especially out away from the cities where I tend to go -- it allows you to hit up campsites and national parks if you want to work out in nature.
Aside from the car thing, the PNW in my experience (at least, Washington/Oregon) trends toward dog friendly, especially the greater Seattle area where I live. There are quite a few dog-friendly boutique hotels to consider, but unfortunately don't have any personal recommendations, these days I pretty much exclusively stay in my car, or in hostels/AirBnBs. (Anecdotally, a friend of mine hosts through AirBnB in the city & she happily hosts guests with dogs.)
Side note: If you manage to make it down this far south on your travels, hwy 33 east from Sugar City into Jackson Hole on a partly cloudy day is one of the most beautiful, harrowing drives I have ever done in my life. Make sure to stop at the top of the pass!
posted by Snacks at 10:51 PM on March 3, 2017
I looked into (but haven't stayed at) pet-friendly rooms at the Motel 6 in Centralia, WA. $65/night. So they are out there. Usually right off the freeway though, not necessarily a short walk to the town centers. A few minutes' drive to the main drag in this case. FWIW.
Also, if you truly have a lovely, quiet, clean and well-trained pooch, it's worth saying so in a private message to those no-pet AirBnBs that you really like. Some might be ok if you make a case for three weeknights with a good dog. Expect them to ignore or say no, but some might say yes.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:40 PM on March 3, 2017
Also, if you truly have a lovely, quiet, clean and well-trained pooch, it's worth saying so in a private message to those no-pet AirBnBs that you really like. Some might be ok if you make a case for three weeknights with a good dog. Expect them to ignore or say no, but some might say yes.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:40 PM on March 3, 2017
Priest Lake, Idaho has a nice rustic dog friendly hotel.
posted by metaseeker at 8:26 AM on March 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by metaseeker at 8:26 AM on March 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Does your dog get along with other dogs? I've heard of people who travel all over the place and get free accommodations by house/pet sitting. I'm not sure how open people would be to pet visitors; but it could be worth investigating.
posted by gennessee at 12:41 PM on March 4, 2017
posted by gennessee at 12:41 PM on March 4, 2017
Response by poster: My dog gets along with other dogs quite well is very well-behaved. Kennel fees quickly add up so I want to take her with me. Five days in the kennel = two nights cheap lodging.
I don't want to drive an RV around the NW in the winter, which is when I am most interested getting away.
posted by ITravelMontana at 12:48 PM on March 4, 2017
I don't want to drive an RV around the NW in the winter, which is when I am most interested getting away.
posted by ITravelMontana at 12:48 PM on March 4, 2017
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posted by furtive_jackanapes at 9:46 PM on March 3, 2017