Hotels vs. Airbnb

When traveling should you choose a hotel or Airbnb?   In many respects, such as price, the two are almost evenly matched. And as with most decisions, where you stay totally depends on your personal situation. But from my own experience let me share the positives and negatives of each.  I will keep it short and sweet, but feel free to email me with questions.

The hotel:  My kids love swimming pools!  Usually the pools are indoors so the weather is not a factor and often there is a hot tub for the adults as well.  Both feel great after a long day of traveling (and especially after camping).  The pillows in most newer hotels are so comfortable, often down feathers, and four to six per bed.  Blackout shades keep light out and often the continental breakfast is filling with both healthy and unhealthy choices. 

Hotels also provide services as well.  Besides the basics in the rooms like cable TV, Wi-Fi, coffee and usually a small fridge, a person can ask favors from the front desk if necessary.  Need something printed?  Laundry cleaned?  Directions?  Most hotels offer several services that the average person doesn’t even think about when staying the night.   

Notice I am not speaking about a hole in the wall road side motel, but there are plenty of options out there for around a $100 per night, depending on location. I go with the Choice Hotels program.  Like any reward program you build points and it may take several stays before you earn enough to get a free night.  But there are other perks: a late checkout when requested, easy booking with an app that comes in very helpful while on the road, and, from my experience, cheaper rates than other hotel search engines. 

Now Airbnb:  It always depends on what we are looking for, but this is our go to for longer stays.  Most Airbnb rentals are people’s homes and apartments.  If I can find a decently priced home in a good location then I can skip the pool and hot tub.  No matter how much I like trying the local cuisine (pizza shops and breweries), there is nothing like a home cooked meal.  Plus, it saves dinero in the long run. Also, sometimes the host can be obliging when it comes to discovering and exploring an area.  No one really knows a town better than a local. 

If you are staying for any significant amount of time, then even a home away from home can begin to feel comfortable.  Book 28 nights or more, and most hosts will give you a significant discount.  Be sure to always ask the host plenty of questions before you book.  Some rentals do not have amenities that we take for granted, like a TV, but we have yet to rent a bad place. 

So in a nut shell, for a few nights or less, especially if I am jumping from city to city, I would go with a hotel room.  I like the comfort and ease of relaxing, getting breakfast, and being able to leave without much packing.  Otherwise, for the long-term it’s Airbnb. Give me a place I can make comfy and homelike, cook a delicious meal, and stock the fridge.

The Road to Missoula #2

When we arrived in Iowa City a local fair was happening and the area was lively, almost as if the city was welcoming us.  We bypassed the fair but had the opportunity to try Big Grove Brewing.  Besides good beer, the pizza and salads were delicious.  I have come to realize that my favorite part of traveling is trying new food and beverages in each place we visit.  Only one problem - it gets expensive!  After I tallied our expenditures food accounted for almost half of the total, even more than lodging!

            My favorites to try are usually pizza places and breweries.  With two children pizza is an obvious choice but the breweries often have homemade root beer, which my girls love, and a kid’s menu.  I’ve asked Sofiah to create a blog about the ‘Best Macaroni and Cheese’, because she orders it almost everywhere we go and she even created a rating system.  We will see if the blog materializes.

The next state we visited, Minnesota, was a pleasant surprise.  We had no expectations and our time there was again a ‘scenic’ route and unplanned.  First, to appease out daughters, we stopped at the Mall of American in Minneapolis.  For some reason, I let slip about the largest mall being in Minneapolis where we would be passing through and of course they wanted to go.

Amazingly we were there maybe 2-3 hours at most.  Parking wasn’t difficult, and the crowd either.  Sofiah immediately wanted to go to a bookstore.  I love that girl!  And Kaia, she was hoping to find a toy store with Beanie Boos.  They had no interest in the large amusement park or the American Girl Store.  “I am raising them so well,” I thought to myself.

On to Duluth, a city we really enjoyed, and I became ecstatic when I learned it was the home of Bob Dylan. Somewhere I had heard it before, but it was a fact forgotten or hidden deep in my mind.  For the next two days we drove up Northshore Drive (Highway 61) playing Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited.  We visited his childhood home, not a museum but inhabited by some unknown family who probably gets random people stopping all the time. 

Lake Superior is akin to driving up the coast of an ocean; huge waves and the other side cannot be seen.  The cliffs and rocks are reminiscent of HWY 1 in California, not quite as steep and jagged, but nevertheless impressive and beautiful.   A two-hour drive turned in to at least double the time because the girls wanted to stop often and put their feet in the water.  Too cold to swim, but wading gave them just as much joy.  If we can promise water during a trip, especially a hike, then the girls are appeased. 

So close to the Canadian border, we had to make a visit…

Ask My Daughters...

Ask my daughters, Sofiah and Kaia, what they love most about traveling and without hesitation they will reply,

“The hotels with swimming pools and free breakfasts!” 

It’s true, they are seeing some of the most majestic sites this country offers and sometimes they are impressed, but when it comes down to it, jumping from bed to bed and a continental breakfast with sausage and three types of cereal to choose from cannot be beat.  Kids do not appreciate the same things as adults.

Yet traveling opens their minds and gives them firsthand experiences that cannot be measured, at least immediately.  So often my wife and I spit out facts or tell them a story or interrupt their play to show them a breathtaking piece of scenery.  They respond with a nod or an “OK” or even with a frustrated remark.  Then we get irritated, of course, because we cannot believe they are missing out on something that in our mind is so important.  How could they?

Because they are children.  Once upon a time we all were and we had other things on our mind as well.  I didn’t have the opportunity to travel as frequently, but I remember my mother trying to ‘educate’ me about my surroundings and pointing out this and that.  I could have cared less if it didn’t relate to Star Wars or Spider-Man. Yet looking back, I remember quite a bit of what my parents said to me, more than I care to admit sometimes. 

And suddenly one of my daughters will make a comment or regurgitate something I told them when I thought they weren’t listening.  It may be while they are playing.  It may be when a ranger speaks to them or sometimes just out of the blue.  What I love even more is when they discuss things they picked up on their own: differences in weather, people, landscapes or sometimes things I haven’t noticed.  

Kids seem to soak up information like a sponge.  Their minds are naturally curious and passionate to learn.  So whether I think they are listening or not, I will continue to ‘educate’ them. Even if they take just a fraction of what they learn with them into the future, I think they will appreciate and respect the world and others around them.

The Road to Missoula

The four of us and all we would carry for the next year or more were packed into the new automobile with a cargo carrier on top.  Our destination was Montana, Missoula to be exact, because the city is located between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.  The valley has long been a hub for the outdoors.  Lewis and Clark were supposedly the first US settlers to inhabit the area.  We had a bit more than two weeks to arrive and so time did not seem to be an issue, although we planned to spend most of our time in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 

Five states in less than a day: MS, TN, AR, MO, and IA.  Except for Iowa we had lived or visited the others a number of times. I tell myself and the girls it doesn’t matter how many states we visit but how much time and experience we get out of them.  Still, I often tell myself, “I’ve been to 45 states now and my daughters have been to 15.”  It just sounds cool. 

            So much to explore in our country and we felt we had plenty of time.  One ‘scenic route’ led to another.

“Hey, we’ve never been to Iowa.  How about we drive along the Mississippi River?”  Beautiful, yes, and if time allowed we would take every scenic route.  The interstates look too similar.  Not the landscapes necessarily, but every exit has that same gas station, maybe a Subway, Wal-Mart, Home Depot or other well-known business.  Get off the beaten path, take the smaller highways and roads.  Only then can the uniqueness of the country be found, like the little hole in the wall diner with characters out of a David Lynch movie.

Iowa has cornfields for miles, mostly owned by large corporations such as DuPont and such.  The dark green of the cornstalks against the blue, cumulus cloud sky, create colors so vivid.  The Mississippi River seems cleaner up North.  Rather than the muddy color we are used to in Memphis, its waters have not yet been soiled.  Small islands dot the river, some even inhabited.  I assume they aren’t prone to flooding or else they have good insurance.  But the Old Man seems like an entirely different river than in the South, smoother and controlled.  Perhaps one day I will float it, a dream of mine, either by canoe or more likely a riverboat. 

As long as the roads would allow we drove close to the river in Iowa and Wisconsin until we crossed over into Minnesota…

The Journey Begins!

On the road finally!  What a whirlwind the last week before we left, surreal and rushed.  One minute we were living comfortable in our home in Olive Branch, Savage Manor, and the next we were rushing to move, to store and sell our possessions, and to plan our travels.  The four of us were literally homeless (and still are).  Our daughters, Sofiah and Kaia, jumped from my brother’s house to a friend’s house and then to grandma’s and back.  My wife and I stayed with friends and family as well.  They cooked for us, helped us move, and provided moral support in a way that made us feel loved and wanted.  We were almost sorry and scared to leave.

There were so many loose ends to tie up, especially after living in the Memphis area for most of our lives.  We had to close accounts, forward mail, pay bills, say goodbye to family and friends, and whittle our belongings to such a small amount that we could fit them all in one vehicle.  Driving two automobiles was not an option.  Even though we had two well running, newer autos we wanted one with a bit more cargo space, but mostly we wanted to spend more time together as family.  Taking two cars would be so much trouble!  Coordinating parking, each of us driving for hours without rest, more money for gas…

Honda reluctantly traded our two autos for one, not a deal in my mind, but the salesman was noticeably upset because he made little or no commission.   Our 2011 CRV and a 2013 Accord were traded for our new CRV with the crossbars on top.  We equipped it with a THULE storage box on top which fit more inside than we expected and so we were excited.  Closer by the minute we came to our goal, our dream of leaving the South behind and exploring the country, the world.

Finally, after piling a storage unit to the ceiling with the remainder of our belongings (even after selling so much!) we were ready for the adventure of a lifetime, the stuff dreams are made of.  The four of us, together as family, 24-7, exploring the country, left for Missoula, Montana.  We have a little more than two weeks to get there so we can take our time along the way, hopefully seeing as much as possible, but also relaxing and getting intimate with the best the country has to offer.  Follow us as we begin our adventures!

Savage Manor

For over 7 years we lived in a home in Olive Branch, MS.  It was the house where our daughters grew up.  Kaia, our youngest, knew no other place.  We were lucky to have purchased it when the economy was down and while we lived there we put a lot of work into it: a new roof, new carpet, paint, water heater, and so much more.  Outside we planted fruit trees, berry bushes, and most years we kept a large garden.  A lot of work, yes, but to me, it was a form of meditation and exercise.   

Our home, Savage Manor (since we lived in South Manor Cove) sits on almost 2 acres with over 100 trees.  I know the amount of trees because I once counted and labeled them.  The manor is tucked away in a quiet cove away from busy streets but nearby we had all the amenities we needed.  For the most part, the home was exactly what we wanted and we made the best of it.  No doubt we were sad to sell it.

But sell it we did.  I tried to list it myself for about two weeks and only real estate agents called.  Afterward, I reluctantly listed it with my friend, Jeff Smith, dreading the large fee attached to these types of transactions.  His business prowess proved reliable, however, and after seven showings and a month later, it sold, much easier than we expected.  The best part?  I listed it for more than market value.  Why? 

Well, call me sentimental, but I believe the home is unique and eccentric.  It has more character than most houses around the area.  The trees, the large yard, the gazebo, the built-in bookshelves, the railroad tie fence in the back yard, and so on. The other reason was part of me wanted to hold on to it just in case we desired to return one day.  At least then we would have a home waiting for us.   And even though a property manager and renters would probably be a pain in the ass, the equity would continue to build and be an investment.  Business wise, at least in my opinion, it would make sense to keep it.   

But as I mentioned, we sold it, and surprisingly for cash.  This means that we didn’t need an appraisal, a presupposed obstacle to our earning the price we wanted.  How lucky are we?!  But as always, we wonder if we are making the right decision. We will miss the Savage Manor.

STRESS

I feel I can handle stress and pressure well.  Though my wife tells me I should focus more on one thing, I tend to focus on several things all at once.  This takes time and energy but I enjoy it.  However, I assumed when school was out that I would have time to do more writing, reading, and prepping for our trip.  “Time to relax before the journey,” I mistakenly thought. 

Instead I picked up another job teaching online, enrolled the girls in lessons and camps, my sister-in-law has a wedding (congrats!) and I am trying to do as much with friends and family around Memphis as I can before I go.  Add this to selling our home and possessions, storing the rest, attempting to build a blog and Internet presence, travel plans, lesson plans for homeschool… And I’m certain I left something out.

The stress is here.  Not overwhelming at this point, but I can feel the tension in my body and I can see how I react quicker than normal.  The exercise, the meditation, they help, but they can only do so much.  With only two or three weeks before our adventure I am hoping life will slow down for a bit.  But whom am I kidding? 

Just a rant to let everyone know it’s not easy giving up one lifestyle for another, especially when the future is completely unknown and the roots at home are deep.  Be sure to do a lot of introspection and planning before making a big life decision life we did.  Not that we are having doubts, but the effort required is not a small one...