Most riders live for taking motorcycle road trips, yet not all riders have a large budget for travel and adventures. There are some fixed costs like gas and tires that won’t change very much no matter what you do or where you go, but there are other things that can greatly reduce your travel costs. A little pre-planning, an open mind and some flexibility can all add up to a better bottom line at the end of your trip.
Camping is the logical choice if you really want to save money. There are plenty of inexpensive and even free places to camp if you spend a little time before your trip looking for them. Camping is free in the US in the National Forest and on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land as long as you are at least 200 feet off the roadway. To take advantage of these free camp sites avoid the “improved” sites where they usually charge for camping, and make sure where you pitch your tent is not posted “no camping”.
Don’t like sleeping on the ground? Well, there are inexpensive alternatives to that as well. Many motorcyclists use CouchSurfing.com, which is a free database of people willing to host other people to sleep on their sofa, or couch as it is. If you want to stay with other motorcyclists, try the Motorcycle Travel Network. MTN is an international network of riders that open up their homes B&B style to other riders.
Membership costs $40/year, gives you access to a database of other motorcyclists that are willing to open their homes Bed and Breakfast style to other motorcyclists. The cost to stay within the network is $15 for one person, and $20 per couple per night. There are some limitations on when other folks are available, and again that takes some pre-planning before your trip to make sure all the places you want to stay are available.
Like to be a little more private? There are a few ways to stay in motels without it costing you a fortune. First, ask for a discount. When you walk up to the check-in counter ask if they have any specials or what their lowest rate is. Then ask for another discount like AAA or AMA or AARP on top of the one already quoted. Sometimes those are even better deals than the straight discount a desk clerk may initially offer.
Traveling in the off season is another way of saving money. Hotels are much more flexible on pricing when they know they won’t be full. Every dollar counts to them in the non-busy season, so use that to your advantage. It’s even possible to name your own price at some—tell them what your budget is and let them decide if they want to keep you for the night.
There are many ways to save on lodging when traveling by motorcycle, so get creative about it. It never hurts to ask, and you just might save a few bucks or make a new friend or riding partner in the process.
Recent Comments